Abuna Theophilos

Melaku Wolde Mikael (Known as "His Holiness Theophilos")

Second Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (1971–1976), Scholar, Martyr

Born Apr 24, 1910

Debre Elias, Gojjam, Ethiopia

Passed Away Jul 14, 1979 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Lifespan 69 years old

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"The Church belongs to Christ, not to military committees; you may kill this body, but the altar remains holy forever."

Archival Overview

Scholarly second Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church who founded Holy Trinity Theological College, secretly executed by the communist Derg regime in 1979 for steadfastly refusing to subordinate the Church to state atheism.

Biographical Record

Melaku Wolde Mikael was born in Gojjam on April 24, 1910. A brilliant scholar of Ge'ez liturgy and world theology, Abuna Theophilos was the founding Dean of Holy Trinity Theological College in Addis Ababa, training the modern clergy.

Elevated to Patriarch in 1971, Theophilos modernized church administration and expanded ecumenical relations with the World Council of Churches. Following the 1974 revolution, the Marxist Derg deposed him in 1976. Refusing to bend to Marxist atheism, he was secretly executed by strangulation on July 14, 1979; his remains were disinterred and given a patriarchal funeral at Holy Trinity Cathedral in 1992.

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Rest in Peace Forever remembered and cherished Your legacy lives on in all of us With deep gratitude for your life and light

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Final Resting Place

Perpetual Memorial

Holy Trinity Cathedral (Kidist Selassie)
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

                         GPS: 9.0310, 38.7670                    

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