Abuna Merkorios
Encyclopedia
Abuna Merkorios was the fourth Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church elected after the death of Abuna Takla Haymanot in May 1988. His Holiness Merkorios remained Patriarch for three years until 1991, when the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front
(EPRDF) triumphed over the Communist military junta known as Derg
in Addis Ababa
.
, the fifth official patriarch of the church, although many Ethiopians in the diaspora, specially a big number of Ethiopian churches in North America and Europe continue to recognize Abuna Merkorios as patriarch and spiritual leader claiming that he was forced to leave his position. An independent Holy Synod was formed in exile in support of Patriarch Merkorios. It has run many Ethiopian churches in the diaspora and assigned a number of bishops independently.
Currently, Abuna Merkorios lives in exile in the United States
.
Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front
The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front is the ruling political coalition in Ethiopia. It is an alliance of four other groups: the Oromo Peoples' Democratic Organization , the Amhara National Democratic Movement , the South Ethiopian Peoples' Democratic Front The Ethiopian People's...
(EPRDF) triumphed over the Communist military junta known as Derg
Derg
The Derg or Dergue was a Communist military junta that came to power in Ethiopia following the ousting of Haile Selassie I. Derg, which means "committee" or "council" in Ge'ez, is the short name of the Coordinating Committee of the Armed Forces, Police, and Territorial Army, a committee of...
in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
.
Abdication
His Holiness Abuna Mekorios abdicated in 1991. He was followed on the throne of the Ethiopian Church by His Holiness Abuna PaulosAbune Paulos
Abune Paulos is Abuna and Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church . His full title is "His Holiness Abuna Paulos, Fifth Patriarch and Catholicos of Ethiopia, Ichege of the See of St...
, the fifth official patriarch of the church, although many Ethiopians in the diaspora, specially a big number of Ethiopian churches in North America and Europe continue to recognize Abuna Merkorios as patriarch and spiritual leader claiming that he was forced to leave his position. An independent Holy Synod was formed in exile in support of Patriarch Merkorios. It has run many Ethiopian churches in the diaspora and assigned a number of bishops independently.
Currently, Abuna Merkorios lives in exile in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.