Hindus Urge New Ethiopian Church Patriarch to Promote Interfaith Dialogue

Ethiopia is home to one of the world’s greatest Christian religious-historical sites.

Distinguished Hindu Statesman Rajan Zed

(RENO) - Congratulating His Holiness Abune Mathias, 71, on his election as the sixth Patriarch of Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church headquartered in Addis Ababa, Hindus hope that he would promote interfaith dialogue in the world.

Mathias, who has been serving as the church’s archbishop in Jerusalem, will now be the leader of largest of Oriental Orthodox churches and Ethiopia's about 45 million Orthodox Christians, which is more than half of its population.

Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, urged new Patriarch Mathias to pioneer interfaith dialogue working together with various world religions and denominations on issues facing the humanity, as serious and honest interfaith dialogue was the need of the hour. This dialogue might also help us vanquish the prejudices, caricatures, etc., passed on to us from previous generations, Zed added.

Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed out, “Religion is a complex component of human life. Dialogue helps us to see interconnections and interdependencies between religions and even similarities in doctrines”. Religions should at least work together on common religious concerns like peace-making and peace-keeping, social and economic development, freedom and human rights, Zed stressed.

Ethiopia is home to Lalibela in its north, a World Heritage site which ranks among the world’s greatest Christian religious-historical sites.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal.