June 17, 2016
To All the Bishops, Priests and Faithful of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church—
We wish you a blessed Holy Pentecost.
We learned of the passing late last year of His Eminence Abba Dioskoros. On behalf of the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches of America, we wish to express our condolences to you.
We recognize this as a providential moment, when the Eritrean Orthodox Church has the opportunity to heal the God-forsaken schism within its ranks. We call on the hierarchs of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church to lift the excommunication of His Holiness Abune Antonios and to restore His Holiness to the Patriarchal throne.
Above all, we urge you to refrain from any action or decision that would perpetuate schism within the Eritrean Orthodox Church and within the Body of Christ.
Our fervent prayer is that God-pleasing unity may be restored to your holy Church so that she may more worthily serve our Lord Jesus Christ and bring healing and consolation to all of your faithful people throughout the world, as the union of the Eritrean Orthodox Church with us, your sister Oriental Orthodox churches, is reestablished.
With love in our Savior Jesus Christ,
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian
Primate, Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (New York)
President, Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches of America