Condolence Message to Arch Bishop Zacharias of Ethiopian Orthodox Church from His Grace Alexios Mar Eusebius

DSWA/G/24 /2012 August 17, 2012

My dear Abuna Zacharias,

We are extremely saddened to hear of the repose of His Holiness Abune Paulos, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Abuna Paulos' zeal for Christ and dedicated years of service to the Holy Church is commendable. While a bishop, his being a victim of political turmoil in Ethiopia and being jailed for many years is a great testimony for the Christian church. After he was elected Patriarch, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church experienced tremendous spiritual and temporal growth, and this is his blessed legacy.

His Holiness was a friend of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and visited our church in India in December 2008. I had the opportunity to meet His Holiness personally during that time. I consider that as a memorable moment in my life. His Holiness had agreed to participate in the centenary celebrations of the establishment of the Catholicate in India, to be held on November 25th, 2012. In America, the Ethiopian Orthodox and the Malankara Orthodox churches have a good level of cooperation. Some members in our Mission church in Spokane, Washington, are Ethiopian Orthodox in ancestry. In addition, the youths in both our churches hold common programs occasionally, including the recently held Oriental Orthodox Youth Conference. It is our wish that this bond grows and bears much fruit.

On behalf of the Malankara (Indian) Orthodox Church, especially the Diocese of South-West America, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the Church of Ethiopia, to the Holy Synod, clergy, and all the faithful of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

We thank the Lord for the life of His Holiness Abune Paulos and pray that his memory be eternal. May God Almighty grant His Holiness a resting place among the great Patriarchs of Christendom.

Yours in Christ,

Alexios Mar Eusebius

Metropolitan