Abune Paulos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His HolinessAbune Paulos |
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| Patriarch and Catholicos of Ethiopia, Archbishop of Axum and Echege of the See of Takla Haymanot |
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Abune Paulos at Timket celebration in 2005
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| Church | Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church |
| Enthroned | 1992 |
| Reign ended | 2012 |
| Predecessor | Abuna Merkorios |
| Successor | Abune Mathias (Ethiopia) Abune Phillipos (Eritrean) |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Gebremedhin Woldeyohannes |
| Born | 3 November 1936 Adwa, Eritrea Governorate, Italian East Africa (now Tigray Region, Ethiopia) |
| Died | 16 August 2012 (aged 75) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
| Nationality | Ethiopian |
| Alma mater | Theological College of the Holy Trinity Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary Princeton Theological Seminary |
Abune Paulos (born Gebremedhin Woldeyohannes; 3 November 1936 – 16 August 2012) was the fifth leader, or Patriarch, of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. He served from 1992 until his death in 2012. His full title showed his important roles, including being the Archbishop of Axum and a president of the World Council of Churches.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Abune Paulos was born in Adwa, a town in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. His birth name was Gebremedhin Woldeyohannes. His family had strong ties to the Abba Garima Monastery nearby.
As a young boy, he joined the monastery as a trainee deacon. He later became a monk and then a priest. He continued his studies at the Theological College of the Holy Trinity in Addis Ababa. He also studied in the United States at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary. Later, he joined a special program at the Princeton Theological Seminary.
In 1974, he was called back to Ethiopia. He became a bishop and was given the name Abune Paulos. He was put in charge of working with other churches. However, the new government at the time did not approve of the new bishops. Abune Paulos and other bishops were put in prison until 1983.
After his release, Abune Paulos went back to Princeton to finish his studies. While living outside Ethiopia, he was made an Archbishop in 1986.
Becoming Patriarch
After the government changed in 1991, the previous Patriarch, Abuna Merkorios, left his position. There was some disagreement about why he left. In 1992, Abune Paulos was chosen as the new Patriarch. Other major Orthodox Christian churches around the world recognized him as the official leader.
Leading the Church
During his time as Patriarch, many church properties that had been taken were returned. The Theological College of the Holy Trinity was reopened. Abune Paulos also built new offices for the Patriarch and improved how the church was organized.
He traveled widely to make the connections between the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and other churches stronger. He also worked to bring peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea during a border conflict. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, led by Abune Paulos, became a major group helping people affected by war and drought in Ethiopia.
In 1995, Abune Paulos asked church members to help restore Holy Trinity Cathedral. He led a group that raised money for this important project.
Honoring the Past
Abune Paulos also led the funerals for important figures. These included Emperor Haile Selassie in 2000 and other royal family members. He also led funerals for government officials and opposition leaders.
He successfully asked the British Museum to return ten "tabots" to Ethiopia. These are sacred carvings that were taken in 1868.
International Connections
In 2006, Abune Paulos was chosen as one of the seven presidents of the World Council of Churches. This is a big international group of churches.
In 2007, he visited the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria in Egypt. He met with Pope Shenouda III. This visit helped to make the relationship between the Ethiopian and Coptic Churches strong again. He also visited a Coptic church named after an Ethiopian Saint, Tekle Haymanot.
Abune Paulos also suggested building a university in Entoto. This university would be a center for study and research. He also asked people to protect church heritage for future generations.
A Difficult Decision
Abune Paulos supported the idea of forgiving members of a past government, the Derg regime, who were in prison. These former officials asked for forgiveness from the people of Ethiopia. The Patriarch asked the government to release them. In 2011, their death sentences were changed to life sentences, and then they were freed.
This decision caused strong feelings among many people. Some survivors and families of victims felt it was unfair. Abune Paulos told these groups that Christians should forgive, especially those who show they are sorry. Some people supported his message of forgiveness and national healing.
Other Efforts
In 2008, he traveled to India to meet with the leader of the Malankara Orthodox Church. This visit strengthened the connection between the two churches.
In 2009, there were news reports that Abune Paulos would show the true Ark of the Covenant to the public. This was said to be happening in Axum, Ethiopia. However, the Patriarch quickly denied these reports. He said no such event was planned.
Abune Paulos also held traditional views on homosexuality. In 2008, he joined other religious leaders in Ethiopia to speak against it.
Death
Abune Paulos died in Addis Ababa on 16 August 2012. He had been receiving medical treatment for an illness. Many Ethiopians were surprised by his death. He was buried at Addis Ababa's Holy Trinity Cathedral on 23 August 2012. Many people, including church leaders, diplomats, and government officials, attended his funeral.
Achievements and Awards
Abune Paulos was known as a scholar and someone who worked for peace. He helped bring reconciliation between Ethiopia and Eritrea. He also led the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in helping people affected by war and drought. Because of his peace efforts and humanitarian work, he received the Nansen Medal from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR).
In 2008, he received the Order of St. Thomas, a high honor from the Indian Orthodox Church.
Abune Paulos also met with President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir of Sudan. He tried to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Darfur. He believed that Africans should find their own solutions to problems on the continent.
He was a member of the central committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC). He was also one of the seven presidents of the WCC. Abune Paulos was known for being one of the most educated Patriarchs in Ethiopian history. He had many degrees from important universities.
Abune Paulos was an Honorary President of Religions for Peace. This is a large group that works to bring religious communities together for peace.
See also
- List of abunas of Ethiopia
