Addis Ababa, October 23, 2026 (FMC) — The October plenary session of the Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church began today, with Patriarch His Holiness Abune Mathias I calling for renewed efforts to strengthen public trust in the Church, correct institutional shortcomings and advance peace and reconciliation in Ethiopia.
In his opening remarks, the Patriarch underscored that trust is fundamental both to giving and receiving, stressing that the world expects integrity and trustworthiness from members of the Church.
He said the Holy Synod bears a duty and a divine responsibility to work diligently to build and reinforce trust in the Church.
Addressing institutional challenges, the Patriarch pointed to shortcomings in resource management, the Church’s engagement with its faithful and the execution of its apostolic mission, which he said were not keeping pace with the demands of the times.
His Holiness called on Church leaders and the faithful to correct mistakes and address existing distortions.
He also emphasized the need for the Synod to thoroughly examine gaps in the Church’s operations, develop lasting solutions and identify opportunities to strengthen planned and coordinated work across dioceses both in Ethiopia and abroad.
On national peace, the Patriarch noted that the Holy Synod can fulfil its spiritual, social and economic missions entrusted by God when peace prevails in the country.
Beyond prayer, he said, the Church must also discharge its responsibility to foster understanding, mediate disputes and promote reconciliation in response to emerging challenges.
The plenary is expected to discuss the role the Holy Synod can play in advancing peace in Ethiopia, with the Church also set to convey a peace appeal to relevant stakeholders.