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St. Mary Church in Washington DC threatens Ethiopian Review with a lawsuit

Posted on by Elias Kifle

Debre-Selam Kidist Mariam Ethiopian Orthodox Church priests in Washington DC threaten to sue Ethiopian Review over a statement from members of the Church (click here to read) that was posted on the web site a few days ago.

The DSK Mariam priests are currently facing angry members after reportedly announcing that they have placed the Church under the authority of Aba Gebremedhin (formerly known as Aba Paulos), who claims to be the patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

Aba Gebremedhin was a low ranking priest in Los Angeles before the Tigrean People Liberation Front (Woyanne) came to power in 1991. When the Woyanne overthrew the Derg regime, he went to Addis Ababa and had forcibly removed Patriarch Merkorios using the military powers of the Woyanne.

Abune Merkorios had escaped assassination attempts and managed to escape to Kenya, denying legitimacy to the Woyanne priest/cadre Aba Gebremedhin. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church has a long-established rule that a new patriarch cannot be appointed while the incumbent patriarch is alive. The Catholic Church has a similar rule.

The only qualification Aba Gebremedhin has to claim that he is the patriarch is that he is from the same ethnic group as members and leaders of the ruling party — the Woyanne tribal group.

Aba Gebremedhin, who travels with an army of bodyguards, is facing a stiff resistence at home. He is determed to rule the Church by brute force no matter the cost.  This gun-totting, self-proclaimed “patriarch” had once ordered one of his bodyguards to gun down a dissident priest inside a church in Addis Ababa. He has also eliminated several church scholars from the Church’s administration for not showing loyalty to him and Woyanne rulers.

Because of these reasons and more, Ethiopians inside the country and around the world do not accept the authority of Aba Gebremedhin as the leader of the Orthodox Church.

Reportedly, a heated controversy arose inside the DSK Mariam Church in Washington DC recently after the priests informed the church-goers that they have accepted Aba Gebremedhin as their patriarch. This has casued a great deal of anger and outrage among the church members. Ethiopian Review’s role in this was simply posting the statements issued by the church members.

Instead of hiring a law firm at a great cost and threatening Ethiopian Review, the DSK Mariam priests could simple have issued a statement telling their side of the story, if they believe that their members have no reason to be angry about. The unintended result of the threatening letter from their law firm is that now Ethiopian Review believes that the priests may have some thing to hide. We will try to find out the truth and make it public. If the DSK Mariam priests have no association what so ever with Aba Gebremedhin and his Woyanne criminal friends, they have no reason for concern.

Read the threatening letter from the law firm below (click here for pdf)

SOLOMON, MALECH & COHEN, P.C.
7910 WOODMONT AVENUE, SUITE 1430
BETHESDA, MARYLAND 20614
MATTHEW HERTZ, Esa.
PHONE: (301) 913-9004 * FAx: (301)913-0382

TO; Elias Kifle
FAX NO.: 202-449-5640

FROM: Matthew Hertz, Esq.
RE: DSK Mariam Ethiopian Orthodox Church

DATE: July 6, 2007

My firm has been retained by the DSK Mariam Ethiopian Orthodox Church to address concerns they have regarding vicious lies being spread about them both in print and on the radio. It is my desire to address these statements in a civil and cooperative environment so more drastic, litigious measures need not be taken. There are very serious accusations being levied by yourself and others and these statements are not only false, but could cause serious damage to be inflicted on the Church, and it is this damage I am attempting to avoid.

It is my understanding that certain statements have been made, incorrectly, associating the Church with various political factions and political points of view which are absolutely erroneous. These statements have led to confontations between the church and a small handful of its members and has now led to this false information being disseminated on the Internet where there is no telling how many people may read this information and assume it to be correct.

As an attorney and a defender of the United States Constitution, I would in no manner attempt to hamper anyone’s freedom of speech. This is one of the basic tenets of our country and should be protected at nearly any cost. However, freedom of speech does not entitle you to make statements that are lies, inflammatory or could lead to or encourage violence upon another. This is in fact what you are either doing, or heading towards doing with your statements, and they will not be tolerated.

I have advised the Church that they have several options at this point, the least of which is this letter requesting that all statements of this nature against the Church cease immediately, as well as an immediate withdrawal of any statements on any web site regarding this matter. Should this not happen within the next seven (7) business days, the Church may avail themselves of other options including but not limited to a lawsuit for libel, slander, injunctions against future statements, a request for financial damages as well as attorney fees.

I do not need to explain to you the cost or time that will be wasted by all parties if this matter proceeds beyond this stage. It is not in your best interest, nor the Church’s to continue beyond this letter, but the Church is prepared to do whatever it has to in order to preserve its own reputation, the image and reputation of its Priestess and the valued name of the Congregation.

I implore you to consider your next steps carefully and decide if it is really worth continuing the propagation of blatant lies in light of the consequences that can befall you should these statements continue in any form whether that be spoken or published.

I also direct that you do not contact anyone from the Church regarding these matters and direct all future communications to myself, in witing.

I look forward to your full cooperation and the end of this unnecessary ordeal.

Respectfully,

Matthew Hertz

CC:
Client

46 thoughts on “St. Mary Church in Washington DC threatens Ethiopian Review with a lawsuit”

  1. I see a lot of similarties between you and weyenes! they are comitted for their belief , nothing will take them back, may be death, you also have weynes blood!! you are very determined for your objectives !!you are a fighter, your strugle is continuing till one man and one bullet will left!! go for it Eli!! I am proud of you… Who knows some day we will hear your fight with christ himself in person!!!

  2. To Whom It May Concern:

    It is not uncommon to identify Aba Gebremedhin, who was assigned as Pathriarch of Ethiopian Orthodox church by the dictator socialist guerrilla fighter Meles Zenawi. The incumbent was threatened to death and fled home. Since then, Aba Gebremedhin together with Meles campaigned against Ethiopian churches and church men. Many churches were burned in the Eastern part of the country,(Arbagugu district), in the Southern and Western part too.

    The man who is in the church in Addis, designated as patriarch namely, Aba Gebremedhin, is a political activist who frequently travel with armed body guards.

    True, a church man in the church was killed by his body guard at his presence in Addis Ababa.
    Secondly, when the fanatic Islam slaughtered dozens of christian children, men and women in the south-western part, the patriarch, Gebremedhin remained calm. It means he was encouraging the other side of the game though masked patriarch of christians. How about Lalibela church’s “Cross” who stole it? and why? Obviously the TPLF/EPRDF regime militia gave a cover by firing gun and the known Aba Gebremedin gangsters lotted. Being frustrated and short of market deal, they said it is found.

    Did Aba Gebremedhin denounced the killers of innocent civilians during 2005 election in Addis Ababa? Absolutely no.

    Hundreds and hundreds of crimes can be enumerated agianst such person and his hench men during the last sixteen years.

    Coming to the point; the hench men (Priests) in Sent Marry church (DC) who are assigned by Aba Gebremedhin from Addis and those who were applouding, are rich or wealthy. They invest money to calm medias as they are doing now aginst Ethiopian review. Well, this is an indirect plot by the Marxist-Leninist Meles regime of Ethiopia. Of course they got good enough money because they had stolen arcs made of gold and anicient church monuments. To substantiate the issue one can go Nairobi, Kenya visit a big shop at the center of the city. So should such individuals be a priest? Is that the will of God? I will leave the answer to readers.

    Ethiopian Review editor; proceed exposing killers, and those who are gambling against our Orthodox churches.

  3. elias kifleGod bless you
    i hope you will not be intimidated by the
    the power of money that an attonry is bought
    to change the truth and make a make beilive
    in courts.instead of trying to find the truth the said attonry is ttrying to silence you from speaking the truth.we jhope not only the people but the church of God needs to freed from the tyranny of mlese and his self appponted patriarch,

  5. Why such an intimidation tactic by the Church if they are innocent. Could members of the parish say something on the issue, if what their priests are saying is not acceptable to them, thus exposing them to the wider public.

  6. Hi five to Elias kifle!
    It is just amzing that the DSk Dc mariam used the money collected from the member agisnst free exression. The truth can not be silenced. I want to salute the members of DC mariam who gave stiff resistance to the messanger of Aba G/medhin. Elias you the true son of ethiopia who exoposing the inside enemies like the board director of DSK dc mariam some hodam priests.

  7. What a shame, the church leaders are going after a reporter insted of fasting, praying, telling the truth, preaching the word of God and pulling all ethiopians together. I am disappointed to read this, Ethiopian review do the right thing, they can not shut you down, tell the truth….the truth let you free.

  8. ER good job you should keep doing what ever you have been doing,may God bless you. Please contact and send a copy of all documents to major media including Washington Post,20/20 and ACLU this is going to be a good case for Ethiopians in Diaspora not to be intimidated by weyane tugs.Also it doesn’t hurt to complain to the American Bar Association.

  9. As far as my knowledge is concerned, those the so called religious leaders who declare themselves an an “independent” or show thier loyality for Aba G/meden( Tegedalay Meden) are higly corrupted and materialized for the two reasons:
    1. The own the public church by thier own name( like thier private house-privatized it).Because of that they don’t want to be adminstored by the people. On top of that they embazzel a huge amount of money collected from the followers.

    2. They are investing at home( like buildings) with the money thy looted through the help of Tegedaly Meden. Because of that reason they afraid the public.

    Any way if they dicide to go to court, we have a solid evidence the expose their corruption in front of the public.

    God Bless Ethiopa!

  10. Hi Mr. Elias:

    I don’t understand what you benefiting by spreading lies and terrors on peoples to kill each other. Irresponsible and slander religous congregation can spark chaos, violence and conflicts, leading to untold miseries for the people. The church has a right to defend the congregation and the church against irresponsible poltical party simptizers and website and radio clan leaders. it is a right action to stop the madness of Mr Elias on the name of law. It is not intimidation for those who don’t know where they leave, USA is a land of law, there are enough laws to ensure a system of redress for those who see themslves wronged by an irresponsible press. For your hint the following paragraph might teach you in the future.
    Freedom of the press does not mean that the press or journalists can knowingly print lies or gross errors. If journalists write what they know to be false or if they write facts that they should have known or they should have suspected to be false and they made no effort to determine the accuracy of those facts, they can be sued for libel, slander or defamation of character. Libel (a writing that is maliciously false or obviously false and which harms a person’s reputation or exposes him to public scorn or hatred or hurts his business reputation), slander (the same as libel except the false facts are transmitted orally), and defamation (again, similar to libel and slander except the false communication, oral or written is intended to harm the reputation the person who the false information is about) are the type of law suits that can be brought by someone whose reputation, career, business or family has been harmed by the dissemination of the untrue facts.

    It is important to recognize that libel, slander, and defamation are individual rights and not governmental rights. The government cannot sue the press for libel, slander or defamation. Also, it is important to recognize that these are civil lawsuits, meaning they are for money damages. No journalists in a democracy should go to jail for writing articles, no matter how inaccurate or objectionable they may be. Finally, these civil lawsuits are aimed at journalists and the press after the article has already been disseminated and read.

  11. Hey Elias,

    On this one, we are with you to the hilt, that is ONE HUNDRED PERCENT! Tell them ‘BRING THEM ON!’ Tell them ‘DO YOUR WORST!’.

    Ethiopians are behind you and don’t shrivel on us now!

  13. Dear Editor,

    As a non politically affilated ctizien, i should ask this website and other similar websites to differnetialte poletics and religion. You should not put benizin on fire which will at the end may bring danger for our church. If you can, try to close the differnces between the two faction relgion leaders and work for the unity of our church. Other wise please, in the name of God don’t contribute for widening the Gaps between our fathers. We all are one and the same. I belive this is a temporary problem and GOD Will soon make our church united. This is my always prayer.

    Let God Bless our church and our country!

    H/Mariam

  14. Bekele Maru and the likes are choking to swallow the truth. People in back home are living b/n death and life. Bekele try to throw your junk article on aiga forum not on ethiopians forum. Let the truth be told here. One thing I have forgot the abune kewstos the messenger of aba G/medhin was consdering the woyane junta govt as resonble one while all the govt before woynne are labled the as muderer. He realy said it loudly and clearly last sunday at dsk dc mariam. Elias keep the good work expose those hode ader priests and board director in Dc mariam.

  15. I think you are entering a business which is not for you. Why don’t you leave the church? Are you promised that you ‘ll be a bishop when the so called exiled synod is on power? Please, don’t post any issue about the church. Don’t use the church for your political stand. We know, it is not Abba Pawlos,nor Aba Mekorios who is leading the church; we wait for the day that God give us a true leader who is far from power thirsty and is God fearing.

  17. To be fair to all sides, Ethiopian Review should have contacted the priests of the church and given them the chance to respond — at the same time — to the accusation by the group instead of publishing the view of just one group, this time the opponents of the priests.

    I personally do not know what is going on in the church. It would be useful for someone (may be from ER) to tell us about the dispute between the priests of the church and some members of the congregation so that we too can make a fair comment.

    As it is now, we are only hearing one side of the story. Thanks.

  18. Keep on fighting this Woyanne cadre Aba Gebremdhen until his era get cappute with Melase. Don’t give up. Some member of the church are blind folded ignoring the situation of our country in the name of religion.To be colled as an Ethiopian Orthodox Church member,first we have to fight for the existance of our Country.

  19. Dear Publisher, readers and commentors:

    How can an individual or group who don’t study anatomy comment on the human body? To be qualified as an orator, you have to have knowledge of the subject that you give speech about! Whoever wrote this article has no idea, has never seen or thought about reading the Canon Law of the Ethiopian/Coptic Church (from where the Law was handed-down)!

    He/she made another statement concerning Aba GebreMedhin’s deposing of Aba Markurios. That is impossible

    (1) No one, two, three or even four bishops can do such a thing–it’s not in his/their power

    (2) Aba Markurios wrote a nine-page letter denouncing himself and his actions (this was made available to the public) that he committed with the Derg Regime

    (3)When all Ethiopian Orthodox bishops assembled after the Derg’s fall, there was a unanimous decision to remove Aba Markurios, because of his heinous crimes against the population and the Church members

    (4) The Canon Law of the Ethiopian/Coptic Church is used often as a shield, not a sword. If the write of this article had any common sense, he/she would have done small research to understand the history of Canon Law. In the late 1940’s, the Coptic Pope Yusab was removed from the patriarchal throne(and soon later died), because he was (allegedly) accepting money to ordain bishops/priests.

    First investigate, then write.

    (5) I have met and seen HH Abune Pawlos on several occasions and I have never seen bodyguards protecting him, only umbrellas and deacons.

    (6) Only brainwashed/egotistical Ethiopian Orthodox members do not accept Abune Pawlos as Patriarch. He was elected (unanimously) as Patriarch. Even those who do not agree with Aba Pawlos, do not denounce him as patriarch.

    Our beloved Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church is always experiencing adversities by the devil(s). Those factions who bastardize the faithful will face the Lord’s judgment, here and in the world to come.

    Most of these comments are made by those who either don’t go to Church, don’t receive the Holy Mysteries or want political attention.

    ‘Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them that also hate him, flee before him.’ Psalm 68: 1-3

    Sincerely,

    SaifePetros

  20. This letter Matthew wrote seem arrongance to me. It sounds like a Weyane prepared this but signed by some American lawyer. Why would the church accept illigitimate pope who is a killer? Unless the church is kidnapped by Weyane hooligans. That is the only explanation. If there is the documentation of the ousting of Aba Merkorios by this killer pope Gebremedihin, that is proof that no church inside or outside of Ethiopia should follow the current pope because he is illigitimate!

    Unity, Prosperity and Peace for Ethiopia!

  21. Mr. Matthew Hertz please read this.
    Shame on you, for been defendant of the public enemy. The church belongs to Ethiopians in general those priests dose not own our church, they are just nominated and assigned by the people to serve. They have to serve the interest of the people, not their own agenda. As I said Ethiopians church never involved in any low suites. If you aware it is not a political organization or some public office. Here the only lawyer, the only low, and the only judge is our creator that we pray to. Stay out of our church. No media in the USA own or run by Ethiopians should be limited to what and what not to say and write. The people have the write to read, listen and mead their own decisions.

  22. Your website is full of lies. At least don’t lie when you discuss the church. Even in your current statement, it looks as if Abune Paulos forced Abune Merkorios to leave. I am sure every body agrees that he didn’t do that. Abune Merkorios left himself. Whether Abune Paulos should have taken the post is another issue. But Abune Melkezedik also took the post atleast temporarily.

    Please leave the church alone. Both Abune Merkorios and Abune Paulos are our fathers. We love them both. Please leave them alone. They will workout their differences.

    But you deserve the lawsuit.

  23. I think ER is a hate website… should be close without question.

    In fact all those who wirte hate on ER should be face the law of US… We can’t mix freedom of speech with hate speech… war mongering with peaceful

    In fact ER is histroy of being a hate web site… telling people to kill and burn down our city and our beloved people…

    In fact the church should go for every thing that ER stand for not only what he said about them…

    Dear ER those people you think who supporting you in this forum they will not be their when you were defending yourself you will not see a single man to take your pleace… therefore don’t ever turst those people and dig yourself…

    In fact the Ethiopian govt. and all other agence should help the curch to fight you and send you to Ethiopia to face your crime against Ethiopian people…

    Those day will not be far… anyhow I wish all the govt. people support and to take you to courst even for one day then the Ethiopian people will learn freedom of speech doesn’t mean insulting and lying and telling people to kill and burn….

  24. The priests of Mariam do not understand the religion they are teaching about. The wholy bible says love your enemies. Even if some one who is telling them the truth is taken as an enemy, the bible; they say they are teaching their followers, doesn’t say prosecute. These priests are investors, they don’t want to loose their potential customers to another church.
    Instead of using the money to help the causes of the religion, which is to teach the bilble and help the unfortunate, they want to use it to prosecute or to threaten others from telling the truth.
    These priests have no moral high ground. They are all after the money of their followers. By the way is there any audit on the church’s money and how it is collected and used? Do our priests declare their property before and after they serve a particular church? What do you think is the reason for the fight between our churches? Do you think it is religion or money and politics? I have a problem of distinguishing our priests from an ordinary mafia.

  26. Eden,

    For long our culture from seeking law…. we say don’t dry our dirty laundry… because of this taboo many of us stop from seeking the law and suffer for so long.

    Look what those so called cud demonstrator doing when the govt. call meeting? what they don’t know is the govt. too have freedom of speech to speak… but those so called demonstrators closed down many govt. meetting at the same time asking freedom of press back home… while refusing to give the same freedom of speech to the govt.

    You see the govt. did not take action because of our taboo… the demostrators know this and abuse it for long… this taboo must be broken

  27. To all Ethiopian brothers and sisters!

    The 52 pages document released by woyane is applied on DSK Mariam in DC priests and board directors. The priests and those elected members of the board are building a house by sending their wives in back home. At this point of time, their wives are having good time with Aba g/medhin. We should not leave this matter to DSK mariam memebers nor to ER. This is our fight.we all need to join this fight bys using every maeans of opprtunity. We need to bring DSK mariam back to the public. Let ER prepare some platform to tackle this issue and we need to get together start to act.

  28. Elu endet new negeru? looks like , the tune is getting its momentum,I think you need to give a chance for yourself, The most majority of the congrgation, made their free desison. This is purely a matter of church goers. as far as I am concerned you are not the member of mariam church. leave this issue to them!! Some day the Alimighty God himselef will reveal the congregation , wheather they made a right decision or not! we, the sandinstan Revolutnerist need to stay out…. No business for us there!! Aluta continua!! I am still proud of you!

  29. ER/Elias Kifle

    I read the above bloggs and understand ER/Elias kifle and some of your bloggers believe in bloodshed. It remembers me the derg era. I think you guys trying to bring that system here in USA. We will fight you to death. We lost so many brothers and sisters the reason we didn’t say anything to you guys to keep the unity to defend woyane from killing our brothers and sisters. For us You guys and Woyane are the same both of you killed a generation. If you don’t keep you mouth shut with your derg cadre friends the consequence will be worst. Believe it or not your derg cadre patriarch and his followers are nothing to me. I see them a murdrers and betrayers of the Ethiopian people. Don’t try to tell us what to believe or which church we go this is a free country. You guys are talking aba Paulos, I know he is a devil. Is ther any one can tell me how many votes aba Merkorios had in Mengestu Parliament. Both patriarchs are sent from god to punish the Ethiopian people. I am asking to pray and ask for a better one instead of ignite a fire and put a gas on it to widen differences. I hope you will stop your devil behaviour.

  30. What a shamefull religious leaders!!!!!.Our almighty JESUS christ warned us that at the end of the day more folks will come in his name. so these shamefull weyanes cadres will face God’s justice and even we will bring them to justice for their misusage of the our churches for their hidden mission. All ethiopia’s orthodox churches must stand together and free our churches from those weyane’s cadres the so called” priests”Such a bandas priests were supported italian’s invasion of ethiopia . SO ethiopians we are lossing our country at home , should we loss our churches in diaspora because of selfish and non religious weyane’s cadres priests who do not have any moral ground to considere them selves as ahead of the churches. Stand up guys. what are waiting for? Those who are pro weyane’s priests will be punished by almighty GOD,because they are cooperating with well known dictator who killed christians in including priests in the churches and muslim in mosqes.what is intsersting for me is that Dr almaz zewude elected as amember of the chair leaders. this is very intersting.Dr almaz zewude has cooperated with shaleqa yosef and taken the money’s of the popular party kinijit. what is she going to do around the church s.marry’s church? clean the church from the money hijackers. GOD bless ethiopia and it’s ppl amen

  33. Elias you are disgraceful man! Your intentions are purely motivated to divide the Church even further apart. You are an irresponsible journalist who is motivated to bring our Church down by providing the public with falsified and unfounded information. What a shame. Get off your high horse. STOP slandering our Church and come to your senses. And for all you out there who opposes our DSK decision to retain attorney, wake up and small the coffee. It’s a right decision by the Church to retain an attorney for two good reasons. One, to protect the reputation and the good name of the Church from liars like Elias. two, to depose irresponsible journalist like Elias from the net and to prevent him from dissementing a false and unfounded information the public… Elias, Please use your peanut brain if you even got that much and come to your senses…

  34. This looks like part of Woyane plan to infiltrate and control and muzzle all opposition forces at home and abroad. They forced out non-tigre priests throughout the world including Kenya and other African countries.

    This is part of Meles plan to silence the Diaspora, as he has done to our people at home. Let us not allow him any more to silence our people as well as the Diaspora.

  35. It is very sad to read this article that DSK Mariam Church priests are determined to fight the war of Woyanne against Ethiopians who are determined to expose the crime of Melese Zenawi against Ethiopians.I uesd to be one of those church goers and I feel betrayed now that those priets who are fed and clothed by us,the immigrants,turned against Ethiopians and took side with the illegitimate Aba Gebremedihin.The head of this Church and its board members have no moral authority to preach gospel because they are typical priests who sold their moral for “firifari.”
    If they keep pursuing this law suite,Ethiopians should support the editor of Ethiopian Review financially.As long as they spent our money on lawyers the people should stop giving money to this particular church and make a donation to other Ethiopian Churches.The last time I checked we are living in a nation where freedom of speech is protected by the constitiution.
    Those people who attend DSK Mariam must also keep their money in their wallets then these so-called priests will be forced to get a job to pay their bills.
    Good job Elias.We stand with you.

  36. my friend Banda, it’s evident to see by your remark that you lack depth in your knowledge and understand of the “freedom of Speech” as it relates to the Constitution. Even though the Constitution does protect freedom of speech, it does not protect or give permission to journalist to defame or slander any established institution such as DSK Mariam or its members. You need to brush up on your Constitutional knowledge. With that said, it’s the duty of DSK Mariam’s Congregations and Board members to protect the Church’s reputation and her name from irresponsible and baseless accusations. It is clear to see that Elias is a foolish and crass journalist who seems to care more about dividing the Church than stating the Truth. This Irresponsiblity on the part of Elias surely will cost him if he does not cease this foolishness. Elias please get a life and leave our church alone.

  37. ‘GOOOD SAYSEMA MESKEREM AYTEBAM’. These people are totally secular they have nothing to do with eternal life. They reached to buy an attorney to defend their sins rather than confessing it to God. Basically such people are not the true followers of God. Their god is their belly as The Holly Bible says. They think that their head Meles Zenawi is here to send journalists to Kaliti. These people are blind because of the unlimited sins they commit.
    Elias thank you for your courage to reveal this devil act.

  38. Hello Elias, We are on your side. Your enemies and your friends all know that you are a fighter. Backing down on fight has not been part of you and that is what brings back to your website over and over again. We all know that the priests in that church and the priest called Tsebate in Atlanta are part of the Shalleka and The Dr. Getachew Haile reactionary group. Their nature can be summarized in one sentence: they have to rule the church and lead any political group. If not they will do anything to divide us, to betray ourcore values and eventually sell us to our arch enemy Woyanne that is killing our people in every corner of the country including the Ogaden, Gambella, Gondar and Addis Ababa.
    Elias you are become the voice of the voiceless- and keep on. Thanks.

  39. elias do you know about ethiopian orthodox church? i don’t think. you always lied about the x-patriarich. we never heared he said that he escaped assasination. but that is your lie. not his. you can oppose woyane direct. but don’t bring other ethiopian enemies here to gain support. the x-patriarich is surrounded by all pro protestant clergies who has the desire to convert the mass orthodox community to anti narry group and they are our enemies morethan woyane. i am not advocating about woyane but you should behave what you doing.

  40. Dear Mr. Elias

    I don’t know and pretend to understand why you are trying to promote the so called “Sidetegnaw synodos”.
    Well, may be you have something to gain by the division and chaos inside the Eth.O.T.C.
    But if you claim to be a true Ethiopian, please be careful what you write about the church and its followers. I know we have freedom of speech here in America, but as the say “freedom is not free”. So don’t blow it for the rest of us by abusing it. Dig in, find out the correct info, the true fact before you write anything about, I think, any subject. People (your readers)will respect you for being thorough on all your articles. Otherwise you will become “the Enquirer” or some “Gossip” column. Readers of these type of “drive by media” really don’t respect the writers but are there just for the gossip, for the fix.
    Mr. Elias: I don’t think you want these kind of readers.I am sure you want quality and faithful readers, that are not so shallow and flip flop.

    When you write negative things about E.O.T.C., whether intentionally or not, you must know that you are actually creating division b/n its followers.If it is the truth, it should be reported with facts and evidence as such. But if it is a gossip or hearsay, it should be posted as such – with a warning. You do that and people will love you for that. I don’t think you should feel intimidated by anyone, but you should feel obligated, as a reporter, to report ONLY THE FACT, nothing less.
    I don’t know if you are a Christian or not. But, if you are a member of the E.O.T.C., please be obligated to be only constructive. If you are not, I guess all my comments so far become irrelevant to you. Since why would any outsider care about the Church.But I hope and pray that you care.
    Because problems inside the Church are not new, there have been and there will always be until the Second Coming of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is the fact of the Holy WORD of God. But it doesn’t mean we have to be part of the problem. Because there are only two options, be part of the solution(to bring unity,peace and harmony to the body of the Church) OR be part of the problem, by being an instrument to the division, mistrust, squabble and so on and on.
    If we care about the church, let us follow the long tradition of the church by standing behind the true fathers and leaders of the church.
    As far as I am concerned,I am not crazy about the Current Patriarch Abune Paulos, but that doesn’t prevent me from following the Holy Synod. Because the Holy Synod is above anyone and is led by the Holy Spirit, as the Holy Bible teaches.
    A Synod,in the history of the Orthodox Church, has never been in exile. Not during the dark age( Savage Roman persecution)or The Muslim Savage Gragn Mohamed or Evil Felasha Yodit Gudit persecution.
    So do we have to accept,now,against all the fact (99.9% of the clergy is in still in Ethiopia),that the Holy Synod is in exile.When we know how the former Patriarch Abune Merqorios resigned his position by coercion from his own friends(the former Abune Zena Marqos and former Abune Melketsedeq)had finally ended up here in America. That is the fact. Call back home and find out for yourself, if there are any of you who don’t know this.
    Hence, we cannot accept any claim that the so called “Exiled Synod” is legal. It doesn’t mean we don’t respect or like the former patriarch Abune Merqorios. I have nothing against him.
    This is the fact and it should prompt all of us who want to see a united church to work together and be constructive. Woyane/Ehadig or Aba Paulos will pass away, people and governments come and go but the Church of Christ(E.O.T.C.) is everlasting. So please let us not exchange the eternal for the temporary.
    If we have to report on a story, let us stick to the facts only. Because if somebody or someone wrote or spread lies about you(Mr. Elias), I know you won’t like it. Hence be senstive to others too.
    May God bless our church and its followers,
    Hope you find this constructive enough to bring about a positive change so that we read and hear good things about Ethiopian Review.
    Thanks

  41. Arat Kilo,
    As a registered user, more familiar and in long term communication with ER’s Elias, it is good to find your comment and suggestion to him. Faith might be shared among common denominations or as human beings, but it is also a very personal journey that needs to be nourished and struggles despite the odds and challenges. Our religions are also mostly inherited and also passed from other generations like our names. As it is, some could question their own faith in relation to their country, world, culture and identity.

    The EOTC case along political divide at its worst is a very new culture of the current situation, and the label “legal” holy synods in the diaspora has become what it is, to those who decorate its history and meaning. To most Ethiopian T.Orthodox Christians, the traditional sacred rule that Ba-ande Kideste Beth Christian Enaminalen ( We believe in one Holy Church of our faith) is a part of the worships prayers: you think it, repeat it. hear it and believe it. The Catholic church’s mass also affirms in its worship, “We believe in one Catholic church…” for its own faith. If you are a visitor, you believe some of the Christian messages and sermons and may not repeat or believe what “the faith” affirms for its own denomination and sacraments.

    When the EOTC is “two”, it adds more confusion. Aba Pawlos might have his own problems that is not accepted by some, and Aba Merkorios as well could be disputed, in the eyes of Aba Paulos’s supporters. I think the mis informed E.T.O.Christian is in the most awkward situation. That is the % of Christians most vulnerable… with dis service. In this political environment of turmoil, the EOTC is also expected to be a part of the Human Right Advocacy and rightfully an important and proper role. The trouble is, the appeal is mostly to the regime’s super power supporters and the regime, not to any outsider invader. The bad catch is, in having “TWO” EOTC Holly synods and “both legal”(?).

    The EOTC has never been so badly used in politics like these few years that I know of in our life time. Then again, the previous Patriarchs might have all the holiness, wisdom and knowledge, but not attained an Ivy league education of a PHD level like Aba Pawlos, the controversial and serious issue and open secret of ethnicity is also another factor. Elias as a member of the media could continue to give information, but unless one is familiar with his style and systematic methods (

  42. Re: EOTC and law suit
    Please note that some how this part of my post was cut off.
    ———-
    Elias as a member of the media could continue to give information, but unless one is familiar with his style and systematic methods (

  43. Dear Eden:
    Thank you for your comment.
    But the fact or the issue at hand remains.
    That is : are you(anyone who is commenting about the current situation of the Church) being PART OF THE SOLUTION or PART OF THE PROBLEM ?
    If we are writing comments,opinions, reports,…so on…; based on our emotion, hates, dislikes, likes, support, affiliation, so on…; to a particular person, group or body, we can never be unbiased to stick only to the truth. If the person is not a Christian, then no rule applies, basically. Because he/she has his/her own, which can be anything. And his/her comments come from what he/she thinks is right or wrong, there is no absolute truth. Because the ABSOLUTE TRUTH IS GOD or HIS REVEALED HOLY WORD.
    Hence a Christian thrives to be always fair, balanced and true to his/her comments, ’cause his/her point of reference is the truth. He/she never gives comments without finding out the truth behind the story(any story). As they say: there are always two sides to a story. When we all thrive to be honest like that, we become part of the solution. Actually, bringing our people together; to unity,peace, harmony,etc….
    I know some people don’t like that, even if they call themselves “Christians”.
    So, we all should ask ourselves this: AM I PART OF THE PROBLEM OR PART OF THE SOLUTION ?
    Let’s think about it the next time we write any comment

    God Bless

  44. Dear Arat Kilo,

    You do have a point in your statemnet,
    “So, we all should ask ourselves this: AM I PART OF THE PROBLEM OR PART OF THE SOLUTION ?”
    ————————————————-
    It may not always be pre determined that way, and at times could be relevant to the process it self,however, both sides of reasonable accurate report contributes a much better service for solution.

    If both sides want to be part of the solution, freedom of choice and open dialogue in that very church can take place while they still have the former congregation/ members/supporters/board members and merge “the new… under Aba Pawlos”.

    That very church commands a capacity of over 1000 people and its original image has continued to portay the old traditional, patriotic type of churches found in Ethiopia some times in the city or the out skirts of Addis. It is also very much like the peoples church and the way some christian denominations have special place for St.Mary,many have been witnessed in confessing their prayers answered in that church. It had also built a good reputation for serving the community. Again, to be part of the solution, one hopes that the former members just do not leave the church and try to be a part of the solution with the new arrival. I do not know the changes now. This is from sporadic visits several months ago.

    God Bless for solutions

  45. Fight with the right soldiers and there will be no more war. What happened to the mission of Abuna Yeshaq? Was he not the last remaining peice of the Divine Monarchy still active in the church? The rest it truth have be sent to us as a punnishment. The angel from the east said hurt not the earth not hte trees nor the seed until I have sealed them with the seal of the living god… Rev 7. Igziabheir Masgan Haile Selassie I the last rightous leader of the church sent Liake Mariam MAndefro to the west before and during the time aba gabre medhin was at princton. My family drove him to Princton to graduate Dr. and master in divinity. Then he used the sons of the devil(NYPD) to drive out chrisians from a building that the King of Kings purchased for Paulos’ spiritual big brother Abuna Yeshaq who showed apulos around when he was lost in the US. The building was taken by force and Gabre medhin order police into the sanctuary with shoes on to arrest deacon gabre igziahbeir, finai, wolete mariam, and other innocent members. Now where is the remaining peice of Ethiopa’s devine monarchy? in Jamaica where the true good shepard and actual holy son of ethiopia Kiduse Abba Yeshaq rests. UNfortunately Paulos is never satisfied. He took the Rastas to court in order to usurp the Kings property again. They hate ethiopian and they are etiopians the world puzzles over this. Why was the conquering lion taken of the flag. because the anti christ runs the wolrd now no longer the King of Kings. Who Amlak blessed no man curse Igziahbier masgan I am already Tesfa Mariam and no on can steal my salvation.

    Anonymous replies:
    April 30th, 2012 at 4:14 PM

    good job rasta

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