An Eritrean Eritrean Orthodox priest Father Mussie shishay send @mail letter (date 15/11/2014) His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia about persecution of Christians in Eritrea.
Date:
November 15. 2014
His
Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia
22,
Danilovsky val
Danilov
monastery DECR MP
115191
Moscow, Russia
Email:
csi@mospatr.ru
Tel/Fax:
+7 (495) 633-8428
Russia
Priest
Mussie Shishay
Email:
fathermusieshishay@gmail.com
Eritrean
Tewahdo Orthodox Church in Switzerland and Freedom of Religion in
Eritrea
Switzerland
“Remember
those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who
are mistreated, since you also are in the body.” - Hebrews 13:3
“Open
your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and
needy.” - Proverbs 31:9
My
name is Priest Musie Shishay. I am a Priest in Eritrean
Orthodox Tewahedo Church. I am in exile because I was persecuted for
my Christian faith. I crossed the dangerous route of the
Mediterranean Sea which took the lives of thousands of my countrymen
in order to seek asylum in Europe. And now I am freely serving as an
Orthodox Priest in Switzerland in a church called Medhane Alem
(Savior of the World) Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church in Zurich.
I
am writing this letter because although I am now in a much safer
place, I do not want to forget the misery of my spiritual fathers and
brothers who are in prison in Eritrea. I am appealing to you as your
son to be a voice to those Christians who are perishing in Eritrea's
dungeons and have no one to defend them in this world (Proverbs
31:8).
His
Holiness Patriarch
Kirill, we Eritrean Christians are forced to exile because of the
severe persecution inflicted upon us by the current regime in our
country. The government of Eritrea waged a war upon our faith. There
are more than 3000 Christians in different prison cells in Eritrea
because of their faith. All this is without any kind of proper
judicial procedure. Among the prisoners is Abune Antonios, the
Patriarch
of the Eritrean
Orthodox Tewahedo
Church.
There are also many Orthodox Priests, Deacons, Teachers and Leaders
of the Church in Eritrea who are in prison.
I
plea on behalf of “The Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church in
Switzerland and Freedom of Religion in Eritrea” to the Russian
Church by realizing the misery of her sisterly Church in Eritrea
(Galatians 3:26-28) to make a call to the Eritrean government on
behalf of His Holiness Patriarch Antonios and the many incarcerated
Eritrean Christian and the thousands young Eritreans who have been
victims of human trafficking. Justice has been perverted in Eritrea
for long (Habakkuk 1:4).
His
Holiness Patriarch Antonios as a true child of God and a kind
spiritual father loves the needy and comfort the hungry; and after
serving in different capacities as a Monk for more than 35 years he
became a Bishop. Then while he was serving as a Patriarch of the
Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church he has became a victim of
persecution till this day.
After
the imprisonment of the Third Patriarch Antonios the first, about
2000 Priests have been scattered from their spiritual service,
Churches and their country. Out of these 30 Priests are in prison.
And
the families of the prisoners are not allowed to visit them and no
one knows whether they are still alive or dead. And 14
priests and deacons are prohibited to enter into the compound of the
holy Church; and 10 spiritual fathers are in a house arrest inside
the city of Asmara.
And
because of severe persecution inflicted upon them 49 servants of the
office of the Patriarch and the national Diocese; and 32 spiritual
fathers and monks in a monastery; and 5 female monastic monks (one of
them is here in Switzerland seeking for asylum) fled from Eritrea to
save their lives. In total around 1700 servants of the Orthodox
Church are in exile. Moreover 1350 Priests and Deacons despite their
Priestly order do not allow it, they are currently in a forced
military conscription. The
severe persecution imposed upon Eritrean believers of Christ could
not be fully expressed in words.
According
to the above mentioned figure more than 3500 Monks, Priests, Deacons,
Teachers and Servants of the Church are either in a forced military
conscription or in exile. This loss of spiritual servants causes a
much regrettable damage to the needy Eritrean Church. In consequence
there is an acute shortage of Priests and Deacons in Eritrea
specially in those churches which are located in rural areas. Those
religious students who spent many years to study the Christian faith
in monasteries, instead of shepherding the believers are forced to
leave their country. Recently more than 10 Monks fled to the
neighboring country Ethiopia and we could not even able to assist
them because of our own deficiency. Here the most distressing issue
is our young people who suppose to lead the church in the near future
are leaving the Orthodox Church because of inside and outside
pressures.
The
Eritrean Orthodox Church is divided into different groups because of
the Eritrean government daily interference in the private affairs of
the Church. As they strike the Shepherd they
could able to scatter the sheep of the flock (Matthew 26:31). Some
churches are already been closed not only because of the regime's
hostile policy towards religious teachings and ministry in Sunday
School; but also because of there is an acute shortage of Priests and
Deacons. In addition the Bishops in Eritrea have no power to make an
independent crucial decision and give spiritual guidance. They are
under severe repression by the Eritrean regime. The government
control every activity of the church including tithes and offerings.
This is all done through inside collaborators of the regime. And
sadly this all happen while many true servants of the church are
forced to exile in Ethiopia, Sudan, Israel, Europe and North America.
His
Holiness Patriarch Kirill, Eritrea is among the top ten countries in
persecuting Christians in the world. If it is allowed to continue
like this Christianity be weakened and Christians will be extinct in
Eritrea.
His
Holiness Patriarch Antonios is 88 years old and a diabetic and a high
blood pressure patient; and our holy father is suffering without
proper medical attention since his imprisonment in 2007. He is also
denied to go abroad for medical treatment. Therefore this is a plea
on behalf of our holy father so that the Russian Church through its
spiritual authority upon the Russian government and together with
other Churches and other governmental and non governmental agencies
to make the necessary and right pressure for his release and the
release of all Prisoners of Faith. And to demand the Eritrean
government to respect freedom of religion in Eritrea and to respect
the human rights of all Eritreans.
I
am so grateful in His Holiness's effort to help our brothers and
sisters in Christ who have been persecuted in the Middle Eastern
countries; and the same way I plea to you the equal attention to be
given to the plight of the Eritrean Christians (Proverbs 31:8).
Therefore
the holy Church of Russia may appeal to the Eritrean government:
As
the health condition of our holy father is in a very critical
condition and as it is deteriorating daily; he should be urgently
released and get proper medical attention; -
The holy father should be re-instituted to their rightful spiritual position;
-
The Eritrean government to stop interfering in the private affairs of the Eritrean Orthodox Church;
-
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill to lead us from front in fighting modern day slavery of human trafficking in Sudan, Sinai Egypt and Libya, which mostly affects the Eritrean youth who fled from their home country because of severe oppression.
Finally
I humbly ask your prayer to those beloved brothers and sisters in
Christ who are in Eritrea's prison and for the peace, justice and
prosperity of the nation of Eritrea.
Sincerely
yours,
Your
Son Priest Mussie
Shishay
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