SW News: In the midst of escalating tensions within one of the world's oldest Christian Churches, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, at least three people were killed and at least four others were injured in an attack on a church in southern Ethiopia on Saturday, February 4.

The Orthodox Church-affiliated Tewahedo Media Center said that two young men and a woman were killed in an attack on St. Michael Church in the Shashamene area of Oromia. The conduct of the local police constituted "public murder," according to a widely publicized declaration from the Holy Synod.

If the Ethiopian government does not take concrete steps to halt the unlawful acts of the illegal organization by February 12, the Holy Synod has scheduled a day for peaceful protest. The Holy Synod severely rebuked the unlawful imprisonment and harassment of managers, department heads, priests, ministers, and churchgoers in the dioceses of the Archbishops who have formed a breakaway Church.

Archbishop Abune Henok of the Addis Ababa Diocese called the events in the Oromian city of Shashamene "reprehensible and heartbreaking."In protest of a "government-backed coup attempt" to overthrow the Holy Synod, the archbishop requested that his adherents wear black during the Nineveh Fast, which began on Monday.

The Ethiopian Church, one of the oldest in the world, is in danger of splitting as a result of last month's clergy action. The ten-year leader of the Church, Patriarch Abune Mathias, deemed the breakaway synod invalid and excommunicated the bishops. The prime minister's words acknowledging the "illegitimate entity" and intervening with its acts are also criticized.

The schismatic bishops accuse the church of favoritism and linguistic and cultural hegemony, claiming that Oromia congregations are not served in the language spoken by the majority of the people. However, the patriarchy denied such assertions.

The government and the Orthodox community have had contentious ties because of the Tigray war and charges of religious persecution, such as the church burnings a few years ago. The World Council of Churches voiced "deep worry" on Friday about recent events at the Ethiopian institution.

In the meanwhile, WCC general secretary Jerry Pillay requested that Ethiopian government authorities aid the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church in promoting unity and peace.