Fast for Eritrean Orthodox Church Announced

Three days of fasting and prayer for the clergy and faithful of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church in Eritrea have been announced. The days are to be observed on 24, 25, and 26 July, and clergymen are requested to especially remember Patriarch Abune Anthony of Asmera, who has been placed under house arrest by the Eritrean regime, at any Divine Liturgies they serve on these days. More here.

Eritrean Orthodox Patriarch Visits Milan Synod Headquarters

As part of his ongoing pastoral visit to the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church in Western Europe Patriarch Abune Diyosqoros of Asmera has met with Metropolitan Evloghios of Aquileia and Milan, first hierarch of the Old Calendrist Milan Synod. More (in Italian) on the visit can be found here.

Eritrean Orthodox Abroad Divided Between Two Patriarchs

As Eritrea sinks deeper into an economic depression caused by the dictatorship of Isaias Afewerqi divisions within the Eritrean Diaspora between supporters and opponents of the Isaias regime are becoming increasingly apparent, to the point of dividing the Eritrean Orthodox Diocese of North America, which associated itself with the Coptic Orthodox Church following the Eritrean government's deposition of Patriarch Abune Ant'oniyos of Asmera, between supporters of the deposed patriarch and supporters of the new, government-appointed patriarch, Abune Diyosqoros. More here.

Eritrean Orthodox Patriarch Returns from Jerusalem

Patriarch Abune Diyosqoros of Asmera, the government-backed head of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church, has returned to Eritrea from a pilgrimage to the Holy City of Jerusalem. More here.

Theophany Celebrations in Eritrea

T'imqet (Theophany) celebrations in the Eritrean capital were led yesterday by the government-appointed Patriarch Abune Diosqoros of Asmera and other hierarchs of the government-approved Holy Synod of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church. Despite the recent repression of religious activity in Eritrea thousands of Eritrean Orthodox faithful turned out for the holiday, which is one of the largest (if not the largest) in the Ethiopian Rite. More here.

Eritrean Clergy Drafted

Since the Eritrean government revoked the exemption of the country's Orthodox Christian clergy and monks from military service over 1,400 clergy and monks have been drafted, with the result that numerous churches have been closed due to a lack of priests and deacons. In the present time the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church continues to be administered by an appointee of Eritrea's Religious Affairs Department, with Patriarch Abune Ant'oniyos (Gebre Medhin) remaining under house arrest. More here.

Pictured is Patriarch Abune Ant'oniyos of Asmera.

Eritrean Refugees Held in the Sinai

International human rights groups are calling for the release of Eritreans being held by people smugglers in the Sinai. As the political situation has deteriorated in Eritrea the government has cracked down on dissident political parties and religious organizations, including the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church. People leave the country by any way possible, paying smugglers to get them into Israel and other wealthy countries. More here.