The Holy Synod of the Œcumenical Canonical Orthodox Church Worldwide (ŒCOCW) joins the faithful of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church in demanding religious freedom for its exiled Patriarch.
According to a report by George Alexander, Secretary of the Orthodoxy Cognate Media Network, a significant portion of the Christian population in Eritrea are being severely persecuted for their religious faith and approximately 2000 to 3000 Orthodox Christians are being detained in Eritrean prisons. Unfortunately, many Evangelical and Pentecostal Christians are also being brutally attacked for their faith as well.
Of great significance is the extremely disrespectful manner in which the Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church, His Holiness, Abune Antoios, who was reportedly forcibly removed from his patriarchal residence and throne. Since that time Patriarch Antoios has been reported to be illegally detained by government officials at an undisclosed location. Patriarch Antoios’ major offense apparently was his strong resistance to Government intrusion into Church affairs such as his refusal to excommunicate three thousand members of the Medhane Alem, an Orthodox Sunday School movement.
The Holy Synod of the ŒCOCW views religious freedom as a universal right that all governments should respect, as well as a human right that is inalienable and proper to the existence of humanity as we all seek to actualize the greatest essence of our human potential and spiritual energies for the betterment of both society and government within their rightful spheres of operation.
The Holy Synod of the ŒCOCW calls on all Christian Churches, leaders and the faithful of all religions to petition the World Court to intervene on behalf of Patriarch Abune Antoios and all peoples and religious communities being denied their rightful international religious freedom.
Let all the faithful remember that” freedom denied to one religion is freedom denied to all religions!”
†The Holy Synod of the Œcumenical Canonical Orthodox Church Worldwide
Website: www.ecumenicalcanonicalorthodoxchurch.com
No comments:
Post a Comment