With Gratitude to the World Council of Churches

Dear Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay,

We are writing to express our sincere appreciation for your public condemnation of the ongoing campaign against the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and its institutions.

For many years, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has faced sustained pressure, intimidation, and attacks that have threatened its clergy, faithful, and historic institutions. This campaign reached a particularly critical point in 2023, when an attempt was made to divide the Church. That effort was ultimately unsuccessful due to widespread public opposition and peaceful protests in a form of wearing full black outfits by millions of faithful, who stood together to defend the unity and independence of one of the world’s oldest Christian churches.

We believe that these attacks on the Church are part of a broader effort to weaken institutions that have long played a central role in the cultural, historical, and spiritual life of the Ethiopian Christians. Over the years, prominent clergy have been targeted, worshippers have faced intimidation, and churches and monasteries have suffered destruction. Priceless religious manuscripts, liturgical texts, and other elements of Ethiopia’s ancient Christian heritage have also been destroyed. Monasteries that have served as places of worship and pilgrimage for centuries have been burnt down or reduced to ruins.

These incidents have caused profound suffering for countless believers and represent not only a humanitarian concern but also the loss of an irreplaceable part of Ethiopia’s religious and cultural heritage. Despite the seriousness of these events, many members of the Ethiopian Orthodox community feel that their cries and prayers have not been heard.

Your willingness to condemn these acts of barbarism publicly is deeply meaningful. We hope that voice weighs heavily to draw attention to the challenges facing the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and will offer encouragement to those who continue to seek the protection of their faith, heritage, and fundamental rights to freedom of worship.

In solidarity with the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and its faithful, we thank you for your commitment to speaking out against violence and the destruction of religious institutions. We hope that you will continue to monitor the continued efforts to dismantle, break up and weaken the Christian faith that is deeply embedded in Ethiopia for millennia, and that you will continue to be a voice for the voiceless — the millions of people of Christian faith in Ethiopia.

We extend this same gratitude to all Churches and Christian communions around the world — the See of Rome, the Oriental Orthodox family, and the Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Protestant communions alike — that stand in solidarity with the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and her faithful. Your fellowship gives strength to a suffering people, and your voice is a light in a dark hour.

With profound gratitude and respect,

Amhara Advocacy Group in Europe (AAGE)
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