ካህናት ንእምነቶም ክሒዶም ክፍርሙ ...
Priests forced to betray their religion and sign on a petition
"The sons and daughters of the church must go to Sawa for the national service", Yoftahe Dimtros orders
The group led by Yoftahe Dimtros is terrorizing people at the Mekane Hiwet Medhane Alem church in order to execute the conspiracy it orchestrated together with Abune Dioceqroson who usurped the holly authority of the Patriarch to sit on the unholy chair of authority and the former priest Habtom Rusom who was condemned by the Patriarch.
The goal of this conspiracy is of course to get rid of the innocent individuals. Moreover, it is to attack the Patriarch Abune Antonios and the four religious scholars of the Tewahdo church who are languishing in prison: Qeshi Gebremedhin Gebregergis, Qeshi Dr. Futsumbrhan Gebrenugus, Qeshi Dr. Tecleab Mengstiab and Merigeta Yitbarek Berhe. Last but not least, these conspirators are planning to formulate a prosecution on the grounds of "religious defamation" and to this end, they are collecting documents that assist this prosecution.
The conspirators have allegedly come out with a document which includes a key message that reads “We declare that the teachings we were spreading and following at the Tewahdo church were wrong and scandalous, thus we request forgiveness”. It is expected that above 60 priests and deacons will sign this document which was created by Yoftahe Dimtros, Qeshi Samuel Tsegay, Aba Marcos and Aba Lucas. Taking the government as their shield, these individuals have taken the holly authority of God through haughtiness and arrogance , thus leaving a dark stain in the Saint Mary church which, throughtout its history, taught the truth and good deeds of life. What's more heartbreaking is the fact that a decision has been made to neglect priesthood, church services and remunerations to priests and deacons who refuse to sign in the document.
It is made clear that both men and women members of the church who fail to sign the said document will be immediately arrested. Furthermore, the presence of priests, deacons and youth who are on the government's payroll as spies have sent a serious wave of panic throughout the Tewahdo Church. With the intent to deepen its impact, this malicious plot is designed to primarily target those who have large families.
Though Yoftahe also ordered all priests, deacons and monks under 50 years old to serve under the compulsory national service, independent sources are confirming that those who maintain close ties with him won’t be affected by his order. Neither the Derg nor the previous rulers had forced the sons and daughters of the church to join the army. As it is said, "To kill a fish you have to drain the river dry" , so in order to eradicate the religion of Christianity, servants of the religion are being eliminated through a system that is both methodical and evil.
It is known that Patriarch Antonios has condemned Yoftahe Demetros who is protected by the gun to talk nonsense in the church.
Although codemned by Patriarch Antonios, Yoftahe Dimetros, emboldened by the power of the gun, continues to spread his nonsense in order to destabilize the holy church.
We don’t have guns, we have no faith in propaganda and we are not politicians. We believe in the cross and the bible. Please help us with your prayers and by notifying the international community about all that has befallen us.
In the name of God, Saint Mary and in the name of the truthful and holy religion we are mourning day and night!
Orthodox Christians from Asmara.
End
Translation by MBrhan & S.M.