I preferred to stay calm until we hear the result of the Holy Synodal (HS) Urgent meeting. But I am tempted to say the following on the whereabouts of the turmoil just now:

* Members of the Holy Synod (more than 40, including members of the permanent synodal council) have arrived at Addis since Friday.

* as the canon of the church has it, members of the HS should perform the usual prayers one day before the commencement of the Holy Council. When the Office of the HS called for the prayer at Menbere Patryark Qidist Maryam Church, His Holiness (HH) informed the office that he won't take part in the prayer. Reason - he do not accept the meeting to be held as planned (today 07.07.09).

* sources confirmed that HH is well nourished by the wrong information that the HS will remove him from power. Not true, according to reliable sources. But one fact is true: almost 85% of the members of the HS are outrageous about his irresponsible action suspending the Executive Body (EB) the HS has established and the actions he took against Addis Ababa Diocese and its Archbishop. HH know this very well. And he is afraid of the challenge and reproach from the HS.

* the strategy HH (with his ignorant advisers) designed was the idea of involving 'outsiders' in the HS meeting. 'Outsiders': department heads of the patriarchate, dioceses' managers, heads of parishes in Addis and seniors citizens. This is shameful. We know that some selected fathers (monks) used to take part in the meeting in the 1950's and 60's. There were reasons for that. But it was stopped and clearly written in the HS's meeting procedure that no one is allowed (except for reporting purpose) to take part in the HS meetings except Archbishops. This was a poor strategy.

* members of the HS were against that idea. Yesterday, a clear and strong letter was written to HH: if he won't show up and chair the meeting, they will hold the meeting and decide on the agendas presented by the permanent HS council.

* HH understood the strong stand and the zero availability of rooms to win the support of some HS members. And he orally agreed to chair the meeting today. But the night passed and HH came up with a different idea. No, he said.

* Now, the HS meeting is going on with or without the presence of HH.

Predicted outcomes of the meeting:

1. they will postpone the meeting to next week. Because HH's ordinal annual celebration is going to be held on Hamle 5 (in five days). So not to blacken the 'colourful' celebration which observed by diplomats and other dignitaries.

if this will be so as predicted, I fear that many Archbishops will be either tortured (by the gangs in the patriarchate) or lobbied to drop their stand. Because all will stay in the compound of the Patriarchate and dine together with the Patriarch.

2. they will form one body who will be charged to solve the problem between HH vs Abunes Samuel and Timoteos

3. to corner members of the HS, HH is predicted to come up with the idea that he won't keep his position if Abunes Samuel and Timotewos will be kept in the EC.

I don't think the fathers will accept him. But I afraid that the golden one year for this EC to bring change in the church's administration will be ruined by this sort of dialogues which are supposed to be raised by HH and co.


The most excruciating view around the patriarchate today is the enormous amount of men in uniform. Shame!!!!!!!!!!

AD21