Should we write off Abune Petros?

Naol Befkadu Kebede

On Tuesday February 6, 2024, His Holiness Abune Petros, the secretariat for the Holy Synod of EOTC, was held at Bole International Airport as he was entering Addis from a month old visit to U.S. Subsequently, he was denied entry to country and was made to return to U.S. This news has not been welcomed by the EOTC who requested the government to let Abune Petros enter the country.

The event has divided the country as usual. Some adherents of EOTC support the decision of the government while others reject it as another form of persecution on the church.

Arguably there has not been a controversial figure as Abune Petros in the EOTC in recent times particularly in the post-EPRDF era. He has been representing the church in many occasions that put him as a controversial and influential figure.

He was the archbishop of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church of the New York Diocese before his arrival in Addis following the merger of the two Synods in 2018. In June 2022, Abune Petros was elected as the secretariat of the Holy Synod where he eventually became an influential figure in the recent history of the church.

Abune Petros’ influence did not began here. He is a well spoken person by the members of the EOTC cathedral in New York and surrounding areas. He has also earned Doctor of Ministry degree from San Francisco Theological Seminary making him one of the few highly educated members of the Holy Synod of EOTC.

In this piece I will try to discuss some of my perspective on this person and conclude if the actions taken by the government was right or not.

The Controversial Person

For many Orthodox and non-Orthodox Christians, Abune Petros is a well-known figure due to sharing the name with an Orthodox martyr who opposed the invasion of Ethiopia by fascist Italy in 1936. In the eyes of adherents, Abune Petros, the current secretary of the Holy Synod of EOTC, seems to embody the spirit of the 20th-century martyr.

Abune Petros got popularity particularly after the January 2023 EOTC schism where 3 Archbishops who are members of the Holy Synod appointed 26 Bishops for Oromia and Southern nations independently. Abune Petros fiercely opposed this decision by the Archbishops and the subsequent schism.

He gave regular presses on EOTC tv asking Orthodox Christians to remain vigilant and pray and fast about the church. He also stood against the government’s decision in protecting the newly appointed Bishops in Oromia.

His speeches were charismatic, prompting many adherents to change their profile pictures on social media to images of Abune Petros and Abune Abraham, the Chair of the Holy Synod.

Abune Petros’ history of criticizing governments predates January 2023. During the war in Tigray, he took a firm stance against the TPLF, publicly supporting the war and declaring, “TPLF is buried and gone not to return.” This positions Abune Petros not only as a defender of the church’s rights but also as a figure involved in politics.

Members of the Oromia and Tigray Orthodox churches accuse Abune Petros as being an Amhara extremist who is trying to bring the old ‘glorious’ days EOTC by mixing politics and religion. Therefore, as much as Abune Petros is loved and adorned by some Orthodox Christians, there also Orthodox Christians who do not favor this person for his alleged affiliation with the Amhara politics.

Having that said, I ask, should we then write off Abune Petros? Should we view him solely as a theologian turned politician or vice versa? Or does Abune Petros bring importance to the church?

Contrary to the expectations of many of my friends, I posit that Abune Petros might be a paradoxical blessing amidst adversity. In the subsequent sections, I will elucidate my reasons for this perspective.

A Blessing in Disguise

Why do I believe Abune Petros is the person Ethiopia needs at this time despite the fact that the man has been associated with many of the things I have been standing against (i.e. the war in Tigray and Oromia)?

1. An EOTC Bonhoeffer

Many people would regard Abune Petros as an Amhara extremist but I’d say, confidently, that he is rather an embodiment of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the 20th century Lutheran Pastor who stood up against the Nazi Germany.

My Tigrayan friends would be disappointed in me for regarding this man as a Bonhoeffer but bear with me. If your perception of this man is stuck at his unequivocal support for the federal government in the war in. Tigray, then you will miss many big details. Hear me once.

In the January 2023 schism, Abune Petros was not afraid to stand against the Abiy regime. He spoke publicly denouncing the measures of the Oromia regional government. He initiated the emergency meeting of the Holy Synod in early February 2023 to declare a countrywide fasting and prayer where millions of people showed up in black dresses. In those three days of fasting and prayer, he made frequent appearance on tv denouncing the actions of the government. He was not intimidated by the powers of the day!

Whether you like it or not, this man stood against the superpowers of his day! Now tell me which evangelical leader came out to denounce the government’s action whether be it during EPRDF or post-EPRDF era? None.

Instead, evangelicals were having merry time with the government when thousands of people perished in war. You may immediately point that Abune Petros actually supported the Tigray war. Yes, he did. It was wrong. But at least you do not find a statement from this man celebrating the measures taken by the federal government or the Prime Minister against the Tigrayan people. A mere accusation of “he hates the Oromo people” or “he supported the genocide in Tigray” is not going to be sufficient to write him off. Yes, this person supported the war in Tigray and Oromia. However, he did not associate himself with the seasoned authorities. We can denounce him for his statements against the Tigrayan and Oromo people but give him the benefit of the doubt for not selling himself to the authorities, unlike most of the Protestant leaders.

Yes, he was against the formation of an Oromo Orthodox Clergy which I was rooting for. However, this man went on to protect the dignity of his church to the point of giving his life. He never retracted. He never apologized. He stood on his ground. That takes courage!

That is the Bonhoeffer life. That is what it means to live a life that worthy of martyrdom. That is what it means to be a religious father – much like Abune Petros of the 20th century.

Going out public and inspiring millions to stand for their faith is not a job for everyone.

2. A Public Theologian

Abune Petros is not only an EOTC Bonhoeffer but also a public theologian, not seen in EOTC in recent years. I had the chance of attending his public lectures several times. He is eloquent and well mannered.

For someone who tunes to his lectures, they feel the authority on which the man stands on as he teaches. He rebukes wrongful actions and behaviors inside or outside of the church. His theology does not stop at the gate of the cathedral. His vision for the country is mesmerizing. He cries before multitudes hoping he will be understood more.

Yes, the man has problems. He publicly criticized his own colleagues in Oromia and Tigray for dividing the church. Nevertheless, he did not love to be endorsed by the political parties when they released statements after statements saying they stand by the side of the church. He warned, “We are hearing several political parties have relied with us. We want to tell them that the church is not a political party. Do not steal our movement. You can support us outside but do not try to disturb our struggle.”

The man is not without mistakes but he is also vigilant not to associate himself with any political entity. He knows the ramifications.

He urges believers to be steadfast in prayer. Not to be worried or intimidated by the news of the day. Hear me, friends, what then are you looking in a religious figure at this particular time in history? Isn’t the answer Abune Petros?

He applies his Doctor of Ministry. He ministers. He is busy with his schedule giving lectures at Holy Trinity Theological College and travelling across dioceses to elevate the spirit of the ordained ministers in the church. He loves his church. He does not want the church to be divided. He believes problems can be fixed by dialogue. (Even though I don’t think that is the case.)

Yes, he is biased and sometimes his bias goes to extreme. But this man is doing what Paul instructed the elders at the church in Ephesus, to “Pay careful attention to yourselves and. To all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28, ESV)

He does his public theology in humility and courage protecting the church and the flock from any attack. That’s public theology in life, at the cost of one’s life.

3. A Reformer en Chief

Allow me to ask one speculative question. When was the last time EOTC excommunicated a member for an alleged connection with Tehadiso? Has anyone heard of an excommunication by EOTC synod of anyone for being Tehadiso in recent times? Not after 2022!

Not only EOTC stopped excommunicating members for being Tehadiso but also after 2022, some of the Tehadiso members rejoined the church because there has been what I believe, an emergence of an accommodative atmosphere in EOTC. In light of this, one must ask where did this influence come? Does it have anything to do with Abune Petros? Perhaps it does or it may not.

But I want to believe that it has something to do with this man and his influence. Instead of excommunicating members for believing “Jesus is Lord” and “Jesus is the only way to heaven”, the church started to embrace its Tehadiso members and began an extensive bible study program to edify every member of the church. He is among those who transformed Mahibere Kidusan from being an apologetics-only ministry to a Bible teaching and reforming agent of the church. This is incredible, friends!

Currently the EOTC tv and MK tv are busy teaching bible lessons for every age group. The church accommodated ministries like Finote Tsidk and Janderebaw movement. Orthodox Christians are eager to listen to the word of God from their teachers more than ever! Now, what if I tell you Abune Petros is the reformer en Chief behind all this?

As much as it sounds untrue, this is the reality we should accept. Abune Petros is the main driving force of change in EOTC to reform the church’s practice and theology towards gospel centeredness.

Should we write him off then?

Simply, no, we shouldn’t.

Abune Petros has been a disturbing figure for many including me. He supported the war in Tigray and justified the war in Oromia while maintaining silence about the war in Amhara which led many to believe the man is a radicalized Amhara. Hence, he deserved to be deported to U.S.

However, I do not agree with this decision by the government to deport this man because by deporting Abune Petros, Ethiopia is deporting an EOTC Bonhoeffer, a Public Theologian and a Reformer en Chief. Not only EOTC but Ethiopia needs this man!

Those who celebrated the deportation of this man, are celebrating the silencing of the church. There is no reason the government that deported Abune Petros today will not kill Pastor X tomorrow. History tells us that before Derg imprisoned and killed Rev. Gudina Tumsa of EECMY, it killed Abune Tewophilos of EOTC. The evil that is knocking on EOTC’s door, will definitely knocks the evangelicals’ someday.

For this reason, I join millions hands and hearts in denouncing the actions taken by the Ethiopian government to deport Abune Petros. Let the man live and minister in his homeland!