The largest Eritrean Orthodox Church in the country, St Mary, is located in capital city Asmara. St. Mary had 96 ministers, but only 10 of them were issued IDs that exempted them from military training.

Similarly, in rural areas, where most Orthodox churches are located, the maximum number of priests and deacons allowed to serve in any church is 10. The rest are expected to report for military service if they are under the age of 50. Besides churches, the new campaign also forces many in Orthodox monasteries to be conscripted into the army.

In 2006, the Eritrean Government had informed churches of its decision to rescind a long-standing exemption of clerics from compulsory military service.

Patriarch Abune Antonios, the head of the Eritrean Orthodox Church, has been under house arrest since January 2006 after he openly criticized the government’s interference in church affairs. The government also responded by replacing him with a hand-picked pontiff.

Almost 45 per cent of the Eritrean population belongs to the Eritrean Orthodox Church. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom has for three straight years listed Eritrea under “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPCs) – the label given to the worst religious freedom violators.

It is estimated that some 2,000 Christians are currently detained without trial or charge in Eritrea with some in metal containers and others routinely tortured.

R..10:40-11:15 am

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