WCC mourns loss of His Holiness Abune Merkorios

In a condolence letter to His Holiness Abune Mathias, patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, World Council of Churches acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca expressed great sadness at the passing of His Holiness Abune Merkorios, fourth patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, patriarch and catholicos of Ethiopia, archbishop of Axum, and Ichege of the See of Saint Taklehaimanot.

“We express our sincere condolences to all the faithful of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church living in Ethiopia and in the Diaspora, and give thanks for his life and Christian witness,” wrote Sauca. “Together with His Holiness Abune Merkorios, you both made history in 2018 when you decided to share the See of Saint Tekle Haimanot, as a symbol of the great reconciliation and unity of your Church after more than 25 years of division.”

Sauca added: “May God bless the soul of this holy man, and may he rest at the right hand of the Father. The wider ecumenical family stands with you in prayers and thoughts as you go through this time of mourning.”

Read the full letter of condolences

WCC mourns loss of His Holiness Abune Merkorios

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