The Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church is part of the Oriental Orthodox communion, and it was granted autocephaly by Shenouda III, Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church, in 1994 — a year after Eritrea gained its independence from Ethiopia. Shenouda III ordained five Eritrean high-ranking clergy as Bishops of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church on 19 June 1994 in Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo, Egypt. This would allow the formation of a local Holy Synod for Eritrea. Shenouda III also agreed that a newly elected Patriarch would be able to consecrate on his own new bishops and metropolitans for the Eritrean Church. The Patriarch of Eritrea also carries the title of Abuna in line with the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.
After declaration of autocephaly of the church in 1994, the position of Patriarch of Eritrea remained vacant until 1999 when Phillipos became the first Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church.
Patriarchs of Eritrea No. Portrait Abuna Reign Notes 1 Phillipos 1999–2001 2 Yacob 2002–2003 3 Antonios 2004–2006 Deposed by the Eritrean government; under house arrest since January 2006. 4 Dioskoros 2007–2015 Reign disputed by followers of Abune Antonios. 5 Qerlos 2020–2022 Reign disputed by followers of Abune Antonios until 2022. 6 Basilos 2024–present Officially consecrated on 26 January 2025.
Timeline This is a graphical timeline of the patriarchs of Eritrea. They are listed in order of first assuming office.
The following chart lists the patriarchs by lifespan, with the years outside of their tenure in blue.
See also Coptic Christianity List of abunas of Ethiopia Tigrayan Orthodox Tewahedo Church
References