Addis Ababa, August 23 (WIC) – The funeral of His Holiness, Abune Paulos, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and Archbishop of Axum and Ichege of the See of Saint Teklehaimanot was held today at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Addis Ababa.
The ceremony was attended by senior government officials, diplomats and religious leaders of various countries as well as thousands of faithful of the Orthodox Church.
Acting Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, who attended the funeral service, expressed his gratitude to the late Patriarch for the latter’s role in bringing about religious tolerance in Ethiopia.
“His Holiness, Abune Paulos played a significant role in galvanizing Christians to rally behind the developmental endeavors of the country,” Hailemariam said. That was a sentiment shared by President Girma Woldegiorgis.
In a speech read by his representative the President praised Abune Paolus for the Patriarch’s ‘relentless’ role for peace, tolerance and development.
“His Holiness, Abune Paulos, through his successful leadership of the Church, further advanced freedom of religion guaranteed by the constitution,” the president said through his representative.
Mayor of Addis Ababa, Kuma Demeksa, said: “Under the leadership of the Patriarch, the Orthodox Church contributed to education by building many schools and providing quality education.”
Abune Paulos, who died on August 16 at the age of 76 after an illness, was the patriarch of Ethiopia’s Orthodox Church since 1992, when he was elected to the highest order of the denomination. His Holiness, Abune Paulos was also president of the World Council of Churches.
Following the death of His Holiness, The Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church on Monday elected Archbishop Abune Natnael of Arsi Diocese as the Locum Tenens (Caretaker) of the Patriarchal Throne until a new leader is elected.
Seven Archbishops, Abune Timotheos, Abune Gabriel, Abune Estephanos, Abune Lukas, Abune Samuel, Abune Matheos and Abune Abraham have also been elected to assist the Locum Tenens and to moderate procedures to elect the next Patriarch.
Speaking at the funeral service Archbishop Abune Natnael said: “Peace building, tolerance and development activities initiated by His Holiness, Abune Paulos would continue.”
World Council of Churches head Rev. Dr. Holland, on behalf of the Council has also expressed his sorrow over the death of the Patriarch.
“The Patriarch had served as a spiritual father for Ethiopia, Africa and world churches,” he said.
Rev. Dr. Holland further said Abune Paulos had undertaken major spiritual activities to reliably resolve conflicts and maintain peace and security in many countries.
Sheik Ahmedin Abdulahi, representing the Ethiopian Religions Union, said that the sudden death of the Patriarch came as a great shock to all Ethiopians.
Several residents of Addis Ababa, including representatives of the Armen, Syria, Norwegian, Catholic and Egypt’s Christian Coptic Orthodox churches attended the funeral of His Holiness, Abune Paulos.