Berhanu Borena, PhD

Reflecting here all, but my own personal views only. Not other body's points, but my own reflections.

[Orthodoxy Daily News @OrthodoxyNews]

Ethiopia: Abiy Ahmed’s Oromo mercenaries are killing civilian Christians, who are ethnic Amharas, in East Wollega, while the PM is drone-striking schools and hospitals in the Amhara and Tigray regions. The picture depicts a priest who was killed by Abiy’s Geda mercenaries.

[POLITICO @politico]

Trump orders flags lowered to honor Dolly Parton https://t.co/zGIv1HyyJX

[TIME @TIME]

TIME’s new cover: Dolly Parton, the beloved country-music superstar, died in Nashville at 80.

Known for writing about the lives of working-class people in more than 3,000 recorded songs and later giving away nearly 300 million books to children around the world, Parton’s life was a true Cinderella story. https://t.co/9hT8kjv3S0

[Berhanu Borena, PhD @BerhanuB]

Ah, a sad news. Rest in Peace Parton.

https://t.co/WcO36TKklR

[Berhanu Borena, PhD @BerhanuB]

I found this interview of Ethiopia Ambassador to Israel so informative.
https://t.co/WGux8DLyRx

[Berhanu Borena, PhD @BerhanuB]

I loved this.
Hebrews 13:7, "Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct."

[Catholic Arena @CatholicArena]

POLAND 🇵🇱

Europe's TALLEST statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary has been officially unveiled for the Feast of the Assumption

[Berhanu Borena, PhD @BerhanuB]

Ethiopia’s Nominal GDP Dropped by USD 50bln after Floating: EU Chamber Report

https://t.co/izR5ZRoO2p

[Berhanu Borena, PhD @BerhanuB]

A lot of memory at Kennedy Library. In deed it is a land mark.

[U.S. Embassy Addis @USEmbassyAddis]

Ambassador Massinga joined State Minister of Education Kora Tushune and Addis Ababa University and Ethiopian Academy of Sciences leadership to celebrate seven decades of U.S.-Ethiopia partnership in higher education. The event honored the historic legacy of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Library while celebrating the future, as #AAU and nine other top Ethiopian research universities celebrate significant progress toward institutional autonomy.

The event marked the 60th anniversary of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Library, laid by Senator Robert Kennedy in 1966 in honor of President Kennedy's legacy.  In his remarks, Ambassador Massinga highlighted that, "The Kennedy Library remains one of the most visible symbols of the enduring U.S.-Ethiopian partnership.”  Ambassador Massinga was also pleased to announce that the U.S. Department of State’s Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation will support a preservation project to protect this historic library for generations to come. From the 1950s Point Four initiative to today, the U.S. remains Ethiopia's partner of choice in advancing higher education, academic exchange, and institutional capacity building. #USinEthiopia #Freedom250

[Dawit @HOAAffairs]

For centuries, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has been a guardian of civilization; preserving ancient Judeo-Christian traditions and sacred works such as the Book of Enoch and the Book of Jubilees, or “Little Genesis,” while isolated from much of Christendom. Ethiopia also offered refuge to the earliest followers of Islam, helping preserve a faith not its own. Today, as political forces seek to weaken and dismantle this historic institution, defending the Church means defending Ethiopia’s spiritual inheritance and an irreplaceable part of humanity’s shared heritage.

@soldierofchris @OrthodoxHistory @OrthodoxUnion @Orthodox_Way1 @ocaorg @Orthodoxy2019 @UN_HRC @UNHumanRights

[U.S. Embassy Addis @USEmbassyAddis]

Congratulations to the Ethiopian Public Health Institute on 100 years of protecting Ethiopians! For over 60 years, the United States has partnered with @EPHIEthiopia to strengthen public health and combat infectious diseases that threaten both Ethiopians and Americans. Here is to another 100 years and to continued U.S.-Ethiopia health cooperation! #USinEthiopia

[Wazema Radio | ዋዜማ ሬዲዮ @Wazemaradio]

“አዲስ አበባ ሕብረ ብሔራዊ ከተማ ናት እያልን ለአንድ ክልል ልዩ ጥቅም የሚያስገኝ ውሳኔ አናስተላልፍም” ተመካካሪዎች

- የኦሮሚያ ክልል ከፍተኛ አመራሮችን ጨምሮ ከተማዋ የኦሮሚያ ክልል ዋና ከተማ እና መቀመጫ ትሁን የሚለውን ምክረ ሀሳብ ያቀረቡ ተመካካሪዎች ደግሞ፤ ምክረ ሀሳቡ በሥራ ቡድን ደረጃ ውሳኔ እንዲተላለፍበት ጠይቀዋል። የዋዜማን ዝርዝር ዘገባ ያንብቡት https://t.co/pmYhhe8DzP

[World Council of Churches (WCC) @Oikoumene]

WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay strongly condemned the reported drone strike on the Abbay Giyorgis St Arsema Unity Monastery in Ethiopia’s Amhara Region on 22 July, killing two civilians and injuring several others: https://t.co/q9ki2qFFOM

[ኃይለማርያም/ ባንቴ @yefelekebay]

እንደዚች ሴቲዮ አማርኛን የሚፈተፍት የለም የምር 😅😅😅 የሌለ ነው ምትመቸኝ።

[DNE Africa @africa_dne]

Amhara: Ethiopian Orthodox Patriarch Condemns Monastery Attack

Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Patriarch Abune Mathias has condemned recent attacks targeting religious institutions and worshippers in the Amhara and Central Ethiopia regions, calling on authorities to investigate the incidents, hold perpetrators accountable and strengthen protections for civilians and places of worship.

In a pastoral message issued on July 25, Abune Mathias expressed “deep sorrow” over a July 22 drone strike on the Ghion Abay Gadam-e Asketes Saint Arsema, Abune Aregawi and Saint Kirikos Fathers and Mothers Unity Monastery in Borena Woreda, South Wollo Zone of the Amhara Region.

The Patriarch said he learned with grief from the South Wollo Diocese that ascetic monks who had dedicated their lives to prayer were killed in the attack, while others were injured and monastery property and sacred items were damaged.

Reports indicate that at least two monks were killed and more than 10 others injured in the strike. Deutsche Welle, citing the monastery’s abbot and the head of the local church administration, reported that the attack hit the living quarters of female monks, killing at least two people and injuring 11 others.

Emahoy Welete Maryam, a monastery member who said she witnessed the attack, reportedly said the victims were preparing winter grain supplies when the strike occurred.

According to Abba Elias Teshager, the monastery’s administrator, two women died in the attack, one at the scene and another while being transported to Mekane Selam Hospital. He said six people suffered severe injuries, including traumatic amputations, while 14 people were affected in total.

Archpriest Qesiss Endale Semagn, head of the Borena Woreda Church Administration, said victims were transported to medical facilities with support from the local administration. He added that two people sustained serious injuries, with one urgently referred to Dessie Referral Hospital.

Other reports have put the death toll as high as seven monks and nuns, but the figures could not be independently verified.

Abune Mathias also condemned a separate attack reported on the same day in the Hadiya and Silte Diocese in the Central Ethiopia Region, where a place of worship was allegedly demolished and worshippers were attacked.

Describing the incidents as “completely unacceptable and condemnable,” the Patriarch said attacks against defenseless ascetics who have devoted their lives to prayer and peace were forbidden before God and brought shame before history.

“Raising hands against ascetics who have no material means to defend themselves and who pray for the peace of the country is forbidden before God and shameful before history,” Abune Mathias said.

He stressed that monasteries serve as centers of prayer, peace and spiritual heritage, arguing that protecting them is not only a religious responsibility but also part of upholding the rule of law and preserving national peace.

The Patriarch urged authorities to conduct investigations, bring those responsible to justice, provide assistance to victims and strengthen security around monasteries and churches across the country.

He also emphasized that protecting religious institutions should not be viewed solely as a religious matter, saying government and law enforcement bodies at all levels have a responsibility to protect human dignity, uphold the rule of law and safeguard national peace.

The statement marks Abune Mathias’s second public appeal in recent weeks calling on authorities to protect civilians and religious institutions amid recurring armed attacks.

In June, the Patriarch urged federal, regional and local authorities to act against violence in East Arsi Zone of the Oromia Region after a series of deadly attacks left civilians killed, churches damaged and hundreds of people displaced.

[Global Folder @Global_Folder]

An Ethiopian village girl named Elisabeth Desta has captured widespread attention online after photographs showcasing her natural beauty went viral across social media platforms.

Reports indicate that the sudden popularity has drawn interest from modeling agencies and fashion industry professionals. Steps are currently being taken to assist her move to Addis Ababa, where she could potentially begin a career as a professional model.

Her unexpected rise has motivated many users online, who are celebrating how one viral moment can create transformative opportunities.

[Berhanu Borena, PhD @BerhanuB]

Exactly.
Their argument is inconsistent.

[Tibor Nagy @TiborPNagyJr]

So if as Egypt and Eritrea say only littoral states have anything to say about Red Sea, then logically only nations which put water into the Nile, can determine its use.
https://t.co/LafPurgQBs

[Fabrizio Romano @FabrizioRomano]

⭐️🇪🇸 Ferran Torres celebrates an historical goal for Spain’s lead vs Argentina! 🦈

[Berhanu Borena, PhD @BerhanuB]

Viva Spain.
Never felt Argentina shall will.
They don't deserve championship this year.

[Pope Leo XIV @Pontifex]

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all Americans on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This anniversary stands as an invitation not only to celebrate the nation’s remarkable journey, but also to reflect upon the responsibilities that the sons and daughters of this country bear to one another, and to the generations who will inherit the nation that is being shaped today. https://t.co/jIio4BBg9v

[Berhanu Borena, PhD @BerhanuB]

USA is a shining exemplary functioning democrat republic. Great achievement of generations, that worked hard, paid in blood at times, for its promises. We all shall preserve this successful human political experiment forever. Congratulations America.

[The White House @WhiteHouse]

🇺🇸 America’s 250th is here and we want to know how you're celebrating 250 years of America. 🎆

Share your celebrations, favorite traditions, and the stories that make you proud to be American!

📲 https://t.co/8WHSzWgbIB