His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan, will undertake an official visit to Ethiopia from September 24–28, 2026, strengthening the historic bonds of faith and fellowship between the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.
At the invitation of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, His Holiness will participate in the celebration of Meskel — the Feast of the Finding of the True Cross, one of the most important celebrations in the spiritual life of Ethiopia. His Holiness is expected to participate in the great celebration at Meskel Square in Addis Ababa and address the faithful gathered for the feast.
The visit is especially significant as an expression of the profound spiritual communion shared by the Malankara and Ethiopian Churches. Both belong to the family of Oriental Orthodox Churches, together with the Coptic Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic, and Eritrean Orthodox Churches. United in the same apostolic faith and sacramental communion, these ancient Churches continue to bear common witness to Jesus Christ across diverse nations, languages, and cultures.
The relationship between the Churches of India and Ethiopia has been strengthened through numerous historic encounters between their Primates. In January 1965, His Holiness Baselios Augen I, Catholicos of the East, traveled to Addis Ababa and participated in the historic Conference of the Heads of the Oriental Orthodox Churches. That gathering marked a new era of cooperation among the Oriental Orthodox Churches and gave visible expression to their unity in faith.
Nearly five decades later, His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Paulose II traveled to Addis Ababa in March 2013 to participate in the enthronement of His Holiness Abune Mathias I as Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. During the visit, the two Primates held extensive discussions concerning the ancient relationship between their Churches and possibilities for greater cooperation in theological education and pastoral ministry.
The fraternal relationship was further strengthened in November 2016, when His Holiness Patriarch Abune Mathias I made an official visit to Kerala at the invitation of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. During the visit, the Ethiopian Patriarch and Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Paulose II worshipped together and participated in several ecclesial and charitable programs of the Church.
More recently, in January 2025, representatives of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church met His Holiness Abune Mathias in Ethiopia carrying a message from Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Mathews III and discussing further cooperation between the two Churches.
The visit of Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Mathews III therefore continues a relationship extending across generations of Church leadership. More importantly, it bears witness to a communion that is not simply diplomatic or institutional, but sacramental, apostolic, and deeply rooted in a common Orthodox faith.
As Ethiopia celebrates the Holy Cross — the sign through which Christ conquered death and reconciled humanity to God — the presence of the Catholicos of the East among the Ethiopian faithful offers a powerful visible expression of the unity of the Oriental Orthodox family.
Though separated geographically by the Indian Ocean and shaped by distinct cultures and liturgical traditions, the Churches of India and Ethiopia remain united at the Holy Altar in the one Orthodox faith, one Eucharistic communion, and one witness to Jesus Christ.
The September 24–28 visit is expected to provide further opportunities for His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews III and His Holiness Abune Mathias I to strengthen the bonds between their Churches and explore new avenues of cooperation, fellowship, and common Christian witness.