Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church

The Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church (Tigrinya: ቤተ ክርስትያን ተዋህዶ ኤርትራ) is one of the Oriental Orthodox Churches with its headquarters in Asmara, Eritrea. Its autocephaly was recognised by Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria, Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church, after Eritrea gained its independence from Ethiopia in 1993. Thus, the Eritrean Church accords a primacy of honor to the Coptic Church.


Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church
ቤተ ክርስትያን ተዋህዶ ኤርትራ
Bet'ə K'rstian Tewahədo Ertra
Enda Mariam Cathedral in Asmara, the seat of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church
AbbreviationEOTC
ClassificationEastern Christianity
OrientationOriental Orthodox, Orthodox Tewahedo
ScriptureOrthodox Tewahedo Bible
TheologyMiaphysitism
PolityEpiscopal
PrimateVacant
RegionEritrea and Eritrean diaspora
HeadquartersEnda Mariam Cathedral, Asmara, Eritrea
FounderThe Apostle and Evangelist Mark in 42 AD Alexandria, Saint Frumentius in 328 AD Axum (according to the Eritrean Orthodox tradition),
Abune Phillipos in 1993 AD Asmara (modern)
IndependenceFrom the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in 1991
Members3,030,000
www.lisantewahdo.org

Sources differ on the percentage of Christians in the Eritrean population, with most figures being close to one-half, although some sources report slightly more than 60%. Almost 90% of Eritrean Christians are followers of Oriental Orthodoxy. The rest of the population is almost entirely Muslim.

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