List of abunas of Eritrea - Misplaced Pages

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Abuna of Eritrea

Bishopric
oriental

Eritrean Cross (identical to the Coptic cross)
Incumbent: Basilos Since 10 December 2024
Style	His Holiness
Information
First holder	Phillipos
Established	7 May 1999
Cathedral	Enda Mariam Cathedral, Asmara
Website
lisantewahdo.org

Oriental Orthodoxy
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The Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church is part of the Oriental Orthodox communion, and it was granted autocephaly by Shenouda III, Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church, in 1994 — a year after Eritrea gained its independence from Ethiopia. Shenouda III ordained five Eritrean high-ranking clergy as Bishops of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church on 19 June 1994 in Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo, Egypt. This would allow the formation of a local Holy Synod for Eritrea. Shenouda III also agreed that a newly elected Patriarch would be able to consecrate on his own new bishops and metropolitans for the Eritrean Church. The Patriarch of Eritrea also carries the title of Abuna in line with the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

After declaration of autocephaly of the church in 1994, the position of Patriarch of Eritrea remained vacant until 1999 when Phillipos became the first Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

Patriarchs of Eritrea

No.	Abuna (Birth–Death)	Reign	Notes
1	Phillipos (1901–2002)	1999–2001	Born in Endadeko as Tewolde Berhan
2	Yacob (1924–2003)	2002–2003
3	Antonios (1929–2022)	2004–2006	Deposed by the Eritrean government; under house arrest since January 2006. Born in Hembrti as Gebremedin Debretsion
4	Dioskoros (1934–2015)	2007–2015	Reign disputed by followers of Abune Antonios. Born as Diosqoros Hagos Mendefera
5	Qerlos (1927–2022)	2020–2022	Reign disputed by followers of Abune Antonios until 2022.
6	Basilos	2024–present	Scheduled to be official consecrated on 26 January 2025.

Timeline

References

"Orthodox patriarch of Eritrea sacked". 1 February 2006. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 5 February 2007.
Cole, Ethan (29 May 2007). "Eritrea installs controversial new orthodox patriarch". Christian Post.
"Abune Qerlos Elected as 5th Patriarch". Ministry of Information of Eritrea. 2021-05-13. Retrieved 2021-06-13.
"Official Consecration of His Reverend Abune Qerlos, 5th Patriarch of Eritrea". Ministry of Information of Eritrea. 2021-06-13. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
"His Holiness Abune Basilos Elected as 6th Patriarch". Ministry of Information of Eritrea. 2024-12-10. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
"Metropolitan Basilios Elected as Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church". Coptic Orthodox Church. 2024-12-09. Retrieved 2024-12-24.

v t e Patriarchs of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church
Phillipos (1999–2001) Yacob (2002–03) Antonios (2004–06) Dioskoros (2007–15) Qerlos (2021–22) Basilos (2024–present)

Patriarchates in Christianity

Traditional ecclesiastical jurisdictions of primates in Christianity, sorted according to earliest apostolic legacy and branched where multiple denominational claimants:
bold blue = Catholic Church, light blue = Eastern Orthodox Church, bold/light green = Oriental Orthodoxy, italic blue = Nestorianism

Early
Christianity
(Antiquity)
(30–325/476)

Pentarchy
(five
apostolic
sees)

Patriarch of Rome (1st cent.)	Holy See (since 1st cent.)
Patriarch of Constantinople (451)	Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (since 330) Latin Patriarchate of Constantinople (1204–1964) Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople (since 1461)
Patriarch of Antioch (1st cent.)	Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch (since 518) Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia (since 1058) Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch (since 519) Maronite Patriarchate (since 685) Syriac Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch (since 1668) Melkite Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch (since 1724) Latin Patriarchate of Antioch (1099–1964) Armenian Catholic Church (since 1740)
Patriarch of Alexandria (1st cent.)	Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria (since 451) Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria (since 451) Latin Patriarchate of Alexandria (1219–1964) Coptic Catholic Patriarchate of Alexandria (since 1824)
Patriarch of Jerusalem (451)	Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem (since 451) Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem (since 638) Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem (since 1099)