ዓይኒ ዘለዎ ይርአ፡እዝኒ ዘለዎ ይስማዕ ልቢ ዘለዎ

የስተውዕል !

On the early morning of Sunday, HH the Popewent to the Virgin's Cathedral in Asmara, HH and

theaccompanying delegate arrived there at 8 AM,

andafter reading a chapter of "Acts of the Apostles",praying the prayer of Thanksgiving and offering

theincense around the Altar, the EnthronementCeremony of the New Patriarch then started.

First: Abune Kirollos, the following Metropolitanin the Holy Synod's Hierarchy, read the Patriarch'sPledge at the presence of HH the Pope.Second: the Rev. Eritrean Metropolitans andBishops read the testimonial recommendation of theNew Patriarch addressing it to HH the Pope.Third: HH the Pope officiated the OrdinationPrayers, followed by all the other Rev. Coptic andEritrean Metropolitans and Bishops successively.Fourth: HH the Pope placed His hand upon theelected Patriarch's head and prayed. Some of theprayers were said after taking off his black headdress.

Fifth: HH the Pope uttered the three signs of thecross in the name of the Holy Trinity upon the head of the elected Patriarch saying: "we call you Abune Antoniuos the Patriarch of Eritrea in the name of Father the Son the Holy Spirit, One God Amen, Blessed is the Almighty God, Blessed is His only Son our God Jesus Christ, Blessed is the Holy Spirit the Parakleet" HH said the Three Signs of the Cross inEritrean Language (Tigrinya), Coptic, Arabic and English. Then HH signed the Priesthood costumes and the Crown with the Cross.Sixth: when the chanters were singing the hymnof the descent of the Holy Spirit (Pi EpnevmaEmparakliton) HH the Pope began dressing the NewPatriarch (Abune Antoniuos I) with the PriesthoodService Costume.

Seventh: HH the Pope went up the Apostolic Seatthen He dressed the New Patriarch with the Cope and enthroned Him with the Patriarchal Crown among joy and Cheers of everyone.Eighth: HH the Pope made the New Patriarch siton His Seat saying," we seat you Abune Antoniuos as a Patriarch for Eritrea in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit Amen…"

Ninth: HH the Pope decorated the New Patriarch

with a Cross and an Icon on his chest, gave him a hand Cross as a blessing.Tenth: HH the Pope held a new Pastoral Staff inHis hand and said to the New Patriarch "here you are, take the Pastoral Staff from God who confined you with His flock and from your hands He demands their blood". HH then gave the Pastoral Staff of the Orthodox Church in Eritrea to Abune Antoniuos I, He kissed him with the Apostolic kiss congratulating himon the Blessed Gift which he was granted by God at the hands of HH, who is considered the Successor of St. Mark the Apostle. HH the Pope then left, and the New Patriarch officiated the Liturgy Prayer with His Metropolitans and Bishops and also with Their Grace of the Coptic Delegate: Bishop Bachomious, Bishop Sarabamoon, also Bishop Metaous and Bishop Youanes who both joined them as well. The State's VIPs and the Foreign Ambassadors attended the Enthronement and the Anointing Ceremony.

El-Keraza Magazine Editor-in-chief: His Holiness Pope Shenouda IIIThirty-Second Year Friday 7th May 2004 – 29th Baramouda 1720 Price 75 pt. Issues 15, 16