A Grand Millennium Event at Addis Ababa Exhibition center

Mahbere Kidusan has launched its millennium exhibition which is to last for ten days, 2-12 March 2008, at the Addis Ababa Exhibition center. The exhibition will show across the ages the church’s achievements in evangelical, economic, social, artistic, legal, admisterative, ecological, tourism and other spheres of action, says Kesis Dr. Mulugeta Seyoum who heads Mahbere kidusan’s Millennium committee.

Being an age old Church, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahado church, has offered a lot both at notional, continental and global levels. According to Dn. Solomon Asres, Coordinator of the exhibition, the objective is to stir the generation’s sense of responsibility by demonstrating the past, present and possible future of the Church.

Mahbere kidusan has been preparing itself for a solid year to make the exhibition a success. So far, symposiums and seminars have been held as part of the millennium plan.

Preparation of the exhibition has needed a lot of financial and human resource which the faithful have duly shared and they are still needed to boost their contributions including prayer.

As the committee has indicated, papers will be presented at the same venue on March 8 and 9, 2008. Relationship between the church and state Institutions, the Church’s place in Development and Social Justice, and the church’s Administrative Structure with parish councils and Sunday schools in focus are the themes of presentation.

It is to be recalled that Mahibere kidusan has been preparing different exhibition since 1996 both in the country and abroad with the same broad theme- The Ethiopian church Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

Assembly Resumes as of 9 March 2008

The monthly assembly that used to be held at the patriarchate hall every last Sunday afternoon of Ethiopian months resumes after months of interruption, general Secretary of Mahibere kidusan has announced.

Daniel Tesfaye, the General Secretary, has indicated that the assembly which has been bringing together university students and the faithful once a month to listen to the voice of God was interrupted since July. The interruption was a force majeure because the patriarchate Hall was housing a months long exhibition.

The assembly will now be conducted in the premises of Mahbere kidusan’s Head office which is under construction near the patriarchate church of St. Mary. Daniel Tesfaye has called up on all to actively participate in the holy get-together.

Moslem Elders hand over Hooligans to Police

Moslem elders at Kebena District, Gurage Zone, are reported to have given away Moslem hooligans who tried to disturb a Church inaugural ceremony. The gangsters who threw stones at the attendants when a newly built St. George’s Church was being inaugurated are now under police arrest to taste the arm of the law thanks to the elders who showed unreserved cooperation in locating the hideouts, police said.

A resident of the Gurage town of Wolkitie, sheik Akmel Nesro, has angrily denounced the hooligans who have, in his words, “done a filthy thing that no one shall think of leave alone acting it”. As we have willingly handed over these hooligans to police, we will do our best not to see anything taking roots which would bread the hearts of Christians, the Shiek has underscored.

Police on its part has said that the case of the arrested hooligans is under investigation and efforts will also be made to raise the awareness of the society to control such unhealthy tendencies.

Similar vestiges of extremism have been posing obstacles throughout the Church construction, it was learnt. According to Worku Birega and Abera Abza, committee members, the battering from the gangsters has brought physical disability upon some members.

Asres Wolde and kifle Wolde, also committee members, have said that they are happy to see the hooligans arrested who have tried to spoil the good image of religious co-existence the place is known for.

Meanwhile, Residents have made material and physical contributions during the construction. The Faithful of the Church who live in different parts of the country have also contributed some seventy thousand birr for the work, the committee has reported.

Gundagundi to be renovated

The fourteenth century monastery of Gundagundi, Eastern Tigray zone, is to be renovated with its historic colours unaffected, the administrator of the monastery says.

Father kidane Mariam kahsay, the administrator, has indicated that the Church’s wall and ceiling was dilapidating due to lack of renovation.

After repeatedly bringing the matter to the attention of the government and other pertinent bodies the Japanese government has assisted the renovation study, the father has added.

Approached through the cultural Bureau of the Tigray region, the government of Japan has assisted the study to renovated the monastery without affecting its persevering features. Professor Miaki, a Japanese, has paid a visit to the monastery some five times undeterred by the transportation difficulty. Having conducted the study, he has now submitted the design of renovation to the monastery. The actual work will, as the administrator said, be started soon.

The ministering ancient parchments and other holy untensils have been saved now thanks to the Region’s cultural bureau which supplied the monastery with a modern shelf, the father said.

Yet, as Aba kidane mariam has indicated, the monastery’s challenges are multi- faceted. The monastery’s community is as to him being famished for there is no means of income. This is because the former regime confiscated the land holding.

Since no road has been constructed, the faithful also find it very hard to visit the monastery there by curbing a possible financial resource. If there were a road, says Aba kidane mariam, tourists and pilgrims will undoubtedly frequent the monastery which is embellished with lots of historic assets. He has called upon the government to give priority to this lack.

The absence of a modern road has limited the market access of the monastery’s horticultural produce.

The fourteenth century monastery which once sheltered over one hundred fifty hermits is now left with no more than ten of them due to the above-mentioned crippling challenges.

The father has called upon those who can to assist the monastery directly or via Mahibere kidusan’s monastery and Church Help Division.

Seven sites Venerated for Church construction

The Jinka, South Omo, center of Mahibere kidusan has managed to have venerated seven sites in different districts of the zone for Church construction.

With the collaboration the center has with the diocese officials and the laity, sites in Dasenech, Lemo Gento and Hamar districts have been venerated by His Grace Abune Inbakom, Archbishop of the south Omo Diocese.

According to Ato Zelalem Getachew, the center Head, new Churches are already opened since last January in places called Lemogento, Otla, Tenbel, and shishir.

The Holy Trinity Church of Tolta, St. Gubriel of key Afer and St. George of wub-hammer have been renovated.

The construction and renovation work has needed some half a million birr. Mahbere kidusan, faithful in south Omo and Ethiopians in diaspora have contributed a lot, Zelalem has indicated.

Famous Hymnologist Rests

Hymnologist of Zur Amba Abune Aregawi Monastery of South Gondar, Melake Arayam Guangul Mekonnen has passed away.

The Great Father has taught for 44 years in the same holy site of St. Yared Abune Aregawi and Emperor St. Gabra Meskel.

Knowing that he was very much advanced in years, Mahbere kidusan has been paying for the substitute teacher while pensioning the late father.

      Praise be to God. Amen!!