Nuns and Priests Flee, More Churches Shut in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region

Crux ^ | 8/4/22 | Fredrick Nzwili

[marshmallow]

NAIROBI, Kenya — Catholic bishops in Ethiopia warned that insecurity is shutting down churches and forcing more priests and nuns to flee, as consequences of the war in the northern province of Tigray are felt across the entire country.

The bishops reiterated that the insecurity also had made it difficult for the church to effectively carry out its pastoral work in many parishes — including those in the Diocese of Adigrat in Tigray.

“The church is facing a great challenge, especially the lack of peace in our country. … Many of our parishes, including Adigrat Diocese, share the challenge. Priests and sisters have fled their monasteries due to (in)security, and the number of closed chapels and monasteries is increasing,” Cardinal Souraphiel Berhaneyesus, chairman of the Ethiopian bishops’ conference, said in late July.

For more than 20 months in Tigray, Bishop Tesfaselassie Medhin of Adigrat, his priests, and the people of the region have remained cut off from the rest of the country as a government keeps a blockade in place.

While urging the parties in the conflict to focus on peace, dialogue and reconciliation to end the suffering of the people, Cardinal Berhaneyesus said the citizens are still being killed and exiled because of their identity in many places.

[married21]

Ancient apostolic church. Prayers for them.

[packagingguy]

Here we go again. Looked it up and sure enough it was Muslims.

Our area has a large Ethiopian community, food is great, pretty Orthodox churches.

It seemed like a nice place to visit, Ethiopia.

You know who’s behind the Islamic radicals. They are three letter agencies.

(Nobody trusts the US Gov anymore, that’s obvious)

[wouldilie]

Used to live in Asmara. Motorcycled through Tigray a lot. Very poor area. Axium was very interesting. Great historical stuff. Province is best known for dust and camel crap. Large motorcycle obstacles.