STATEMENT BY: HIS EMINENCE METROPOLITAN SERAPHIM
Monday, 05 February 2007
THE BRITISH ORTHODOX CHURCH CHURCH SECRETARIAT 10 Heathwood Gardens, Charlton, London, SE7 8EP Telephone: 020-8854 3090 Facsimile: 020-8244 7888 Email Address: boc@nildram.co.uk Website: http://www.britishorthodox.org/ 4 February, 2007 STATEMENT BY HIS EMINENCE METROPOLITAN SERAPHIM
Recent reports about the shameful treatment of His Holiness Abune Antonios, Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Church; to the effect that agents of Mr. Yoftahe Dimetros, the government appointed General Secretary of the Holy Synod, recently entered his place of confinement and removed his pontifical insignia and other personal effects, is further evidence of the indignities to which this holy and venerable prelate has been subjected since his illegal and uncanonical removal from office.
The despicable behaviour of Mr. Dimetros and of the faithless members of the Holy Synod under the intruded leadership of Bishop Dioscoros, and all those who willingly support their actions, are a shame and reproach to the Orthodox Church of Eritrea and the fruits of the apostasy and tyranny of the President of the Republic of Eritrea. These men have sat as false judges of Patriarch Antonios and, having demonstrated themselves to be without respect or pity for his consecrated calling, his health and well-being, have now placed themselves under the judgement of Almighty God.
I urge all Christians to pray fervently for the persecuted Eritrean Orthodox Christians and not to forget the Patriarch in his captivity but to keep him in special prayer and hold him and his righteous cause before the Lord in ardent supplication.