Abune Dioskoros

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Abune Dioskoros
4th Patriarch of Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church
Patriarchy began	2005-08-07
Predecessor	Abune Antonios
Successor	incumbent

Abune Dioskoros is the 4th Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church. Prior to being selected by the Holy Synod to replace Abune Antonios as Patriarch he was the chair of the Holy Synod. He was also the head of the Seraye district of the Orthodox Church.

This election is, however not universally acknowledged nor is it acknowledged eeclesiastically from the Apostolic Orthodox Churches, mainly the Oriental Orthodox Churches. The reason being that there were several criteria that made the deposition of Abune Antonios and the election of Abune Dioskoros uncanonical, which are:

1) The deposition of an incumbent Hierarch by the Holy Synod must be based on accusations brought against the Hierarch and these accusation should conform with what has been acknowledged as justified accusations, mainly in matters of heresy, financial mismanegement of the Church or mental incompetence and this is an implementation of the Canon Law of the Orthodox Church.
2) The accusations brought to the ecclesiastical court should be heard and challenged by the defendant (the Hierarch) to present his case (defense), then a judgement is proclaimed by the Holy Synod after assessment. This was never implemented.
3) As per the binding ecclesiastical protocol between the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the Pope of Alexandria, being the Hierarch of the mother Church, which created the Holy Synod of the Eritrean Church, approved (ratified) and enthroned the Patriarch and had granted the autocephaly of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church, must approve (ratify) the findings of the Holy Synod against the Patriarch of Eritrea after a proper ecclesiastical trial based on the two above-mentioned criteria.
4)The election of the new Patriarch after proper implementation of the above-mentioned must be ratified and enthroned by the Pope of Alexandria or a delegation representing the Pope of Alexandria

Since none of the above was considered or happened, then the findings and the decision of the Holy Synod and the election of the new Patriarch is not legal, binding or canonical by the acknowledged rules and canon laws that the Oriental Orthodox Churches uphold.

And until this matter is resolved canonically, this decision and election is not acknowledged by any other Oriental Orthodox Church.