The congregation of the newly consecreted St. Gebriel Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church sing and dance during a service Sunday in Hammonds Plains. The former Anglican church was donated to the local Ethiopian congregation, giving the community a permanent place of worship. (TED PRITCHARD / Staff)

A place to worship and to rejoice
Ethiopian Christians now have church of their own in metro
By LAURA FRASER Staff Reporter
Mon, Aug 1 – 4:54 AM

Dancing barefoot, with teeth gleaming between stretched, smiling lips, the women fill the church with cries of unabashed joy. Drummers accompany the ululation, harmonizing with the sound of a dozen children clapping along, partly in time.

After years of seeking shelter for their spiritual community, the tiny congregation of St. Gebriel Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has found a home and, in that, cause for celebration.The pile of shoes at the front door of the Hammonds Plains-area church grew from 8 a.m., when communion, song, and worship began. Socks and skin sank into the sanctuary’s red carpet where the congregation had set up about two dozen plastic or well-worn upholstered chairs, their bare feet an homage to the Old Testament story of God telling Moses to remove his footwear before entering a holy place.

Each person in each chair has his or her own story. But collectively, they represent the narrative of many immigrants who came to Canada hoping for a new life still grounded in the faith and culture of their homeland, said deacon Les Zewdie.

“Most immigrants (from Ethiopia) when they come . . . they are shocked and they don’t stay in Nova Scotia because (there) is no Ethiopian Orthodox Church or community (and) then they just run to big cities to see their culture,” the deacon said.

“So one of the things we (asked ourselves) is how are we (going) to help immigrants to stay. So one of the things is what you see today. When they see this (place), they are spiritually happy.”

Sixteen years ago, Zewdie came to Nova Scotia from Ethiopia’s capital city of Addis Ababa. His network of Ethiopian friends here grew as he connected with those who shared his faith and his words.

English is the second language for most of those who call themselves part of this congregation of about 30 parishioners. Zewdie and a bishop led the sermon and songs in Amharic, the language most commonly spoken in the eastern African country and something Zewdie said parents in the church want their children to be able to speak and understand.

Edgewood-Oxford United Church and the Coptic Orthodox Church of St. Mena, both in Halifax, used to give them a place to come together. But sharing space meant that the Ethiopian congregation had to limit their time for worship, which can easily run from 8 to 11 a.m.

The congregation was too small to afford to build a church of their own, so Zewdie approached the Nova Scotia diocese of the Anglican Church to see if they had any vacant buildings.

“We heard from them that they really longed for a home to call their home,” said Rev. Tammy Hodge.

So she and the congregation at St. Nicholas Anglican Church in Upper Tantallon donated their former place of worship.

The church sits just off Hammonds Plains Road near Lucasville Road and had been empty for nearly 10 years. Initially, Hodge said, she didn’t think the building could be brought up to code. But through fundraising and sweat equity, the Ethiopian community began renovating the tiny building last September.

(…)

The Ethiopian church in Aksum claims to have the actual Tabot, which is meant to be the tablet of stone on which the Ten Commandments were inscribed, despite much controversy over its location. Each Ethiopian Orthodox Church, however, has a replica of the Tabot as a means of consecrating its status.

The Tabot’s appearance Sunday caused some women to drop to their knees and lower their heads in supplication. Outside, cars slowed down along the Hammonds Plains Road to watch the musical and colourful procession snake around the church and then back inside for more drumming, bugling, singing and dancing.

The celebration continued in the kitchen downstairs and outside where families gathered to eat traditional Ethiopian food and come together. Children crawled from lap to lap, kissing cheeks of different women and different men, seemingly at home with all.

“We are happy,” said longtime parishioner Enana Birru. “We are happy. We are open early, we go out late. We can any time use this.”

Tiblet Kidanu helped translate for Birru, 56, adding some comments of her own.

“We didn’t have the pleasure (before) to mingle, to eat, because we had to leave the building,” Kidanu said. “This gives us the liberty to stay as long as we would like, to have fellowship together, to break bread.

“We want the kids to be proud of their heritage so they can grow within the church that their parents and grandparents grew.”

( lfraser@herald.ca)

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Article posted in Ethnic/Religious/Racial solidarity
  • Ataklty

    I like the movemment of our church in Halifax. However, the congergation of St. Mary’s and St. Gabriel church is working hard to bring our community together. We like more people to come and see our services.
    There is no easy development without no facing issues. We have the same faith but two principles. We believe working on our differences will bring our christianity as one.
    Peace
    Ataklty

  • Deacon Solomon

    Yes, we love to see our Ethiopian Orthodox Tewhado St. Mary’s and St. Gabriel church is doing good. However, I was one of the leader in the mass service during the celebration with the bishop. Also, with the help of God I was the one who brought the two churches St. Mary’s and St. Gabriel together with the guide of Aba Halimariam and with some of the congregations of the churches to bring peace to our community. Since then Aba has been the leader the two churches since November 2010. Eventhought, we have some issues internal but we have one faith and one Doguma in the history of Ethiopian church. Therefore, I like to see permanet peace in our church. Also, I like to thanks to St. Nichola Parish for been supporter to our congregations now and in the future.
    Deacon Solomon/Beniyam

  • Birhanu

    The members of the St. Mary and St. Gabriel church have come together in peace and renovated the small church in Hammond’s plain that the St.Nicholas Parish church have generously gave to us. The members of both churches want to worship together in our new found home, for that both churches have to come together and strengthen our peace and love, and try to be a good example for our children and community.
    I would like to thank the Chomes Aba Hailemariam for keeping both St Mary and St Gabriel church together in peace.
    -Thank you; Birhanu

  • Ataklty

    Thanks to Bishop sure and the congegrations of St. Nicholas church for your support and comments on our celebrition of St.Gabriel Tabot annually. We will invite you too on the coming celebrition of St. Mary’s Tabot as well. St.Mary’s church and it’s Tabot has been in Halifax for 6 years now, and we have celebritied the tabot several times. This is how we please our God with all Tabots in our church’s history in Ethiopia or outside ethiopia. However, our church congegration has been asking howcome there is only one Title at the church now. Answer: We are going to fix it soon, because it was put there without the congegrations and committee aproved. Therefore, the two churches Titles will be there as everyone like and understand it. Sorry for taking too long to fix it. Now the chairman has provied all informations to let us now soon.

  • Committee

    Dear Laura,
    The ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo St. Mary’s and St. Gabriel congregations would like you to improve our Title on the Webside to “Nova Scotia: St.Mary’s and St.Gabrielas church in Halifax” rather then St. Gabriel only. There are two churhes at 1608 Hammond Plains Rd and the Title is very important to our congregations.

    we thank you for your co-operation.

    St. Mary’s and St. Gabriel Committee.

  • Committee

    To Whom It May Concern:
    We, the St. Mary’s and St.Gabriel committee would like to let any organiations or governments to know that. Our church congregations has been mischeived from get to go by Deacon Les Zewied and some of his church memebres. When the two churches St. Mary’s nd St. Gabriel church united in October 2010. Our goal was to pray together and to creat peacefully ethiopian community by working on our differences together. However, we have found out that the Title of “united” was used for personally interest.

    Please be carefully when you get approached for donations or any help as ” Ethiopian St. Gabriel church”. Since there are some people with double face in our congregations and using our church memebres… purpose. The congregations and the committee will take any legal action if necesssary to stop the issues.
    Thank you
    St. Gabriel and St. Mary’s committee.

  • Judith Mills

    Hello,
    My son, who is adopted from Ethiopia, and his Canadian-born father have attended the St. Mary’s church since before the two congregations came together in the new church. We are divorced and my son’s father has our son with him on Sundays so he is the one taking our son to church. However, he was going less frequently since the church moved to Hammonds Plains, so I took my son one Sunday in June, to see for myself what it is like. I was deeply impressed by the sacred atmosphere and the beauty that is so authentically Ethiopian, of this church. As an Anglican, I am very proud of my own church community for making such an important and generous donation.
    However, since the altercation a few Sundays ago, my son is again not attending as his father is hesitant to risk exposing him to disruptive behaviour as occurred that Sunday at the church. I would like to have contact with whomever is in a position to provide me with accurate information about the current status of the obvious conflict and whether or not it is indeed resolved, so my son can return to church.
    Thank you.
    Dr. Judy Mills 444-9043

    • Committee

      Thank you Dr. Mills, we are working on it. The truth is the truth. There are people with double face in any socity. So in our church. Please do not get disencouragh with the situation. We love our unity which the St. Mary’s and St. Gabirel united church congregation likes to do. However, if our unity is break or any positive change come from the St. Gabriel commiitee we will let you and your son know through email.
      Thank you for your understanding
      St.Gabriel and St, Mary’s committee

  • Williams

    It appears this self-congratulatory congregation flooded the comment section with a few of their members. Well, here are a few comments of my own to demonstrate that not all Canadians roll over and acquiesce to the drum roll.

    No thanks to “multiculturalism”, but my country of Canada is coming apart at the seams with this uninvited influx of NON-white races from poor 3rd world countries, who’ve not only invaded our major cities….. but are now being ensconced in small-town Canada?!

    Undoubtedly, these Ethiopian people rode the gravy train into Canada on the “refugee ticket” that required no job skills, nor intelligence. For most, their only entry requirement was a warm body coupled with a sob story, and then instantly become wards of the Canadian taxpayer. And those FREE transfers amount to over ($4,000,000,000 [billions]) every year to support all classes of foreign refugees living in our country.

    In this particular case, 99.99% of Canadians have not, and never will visit Ethiopia. Nor do they care knowing about that foreign culture, or of the people in that faraway African country.

    However, once these “enriching” foreigners land on our Canadian soil, they suddenly become a news story supposedly worthy of our interest?? I felt no joy in reading this story. This gushing news article is symptomatic of how our own hard-fought values are diminished by the favoured mass influx of incompatible peoples.

    The immigration flood-gates are deliberately left open for the purpose of diluting the majority race, and this ongoing phenomena was instigated by sinister elite forces who don’t reside in Canada. If you think that is some conspiracy theory, I urge you to research this matter on your own initiative.

    Ethiopia is STILL a poor African country after thousands of years of “development”. In contrast, our early White European settlers began carving out raw territory about 400 yrs. ago, that eventually became a nation called Canada a scant 144 years ago. So what can Ethiopians offer us that we can’t do for ourselves? Nothing! They, and other similar nationalities become a burden on our country, including a net financial loss in support costs year after year.

    But, then we have many sycophantic Canadian reporters writing in awe. and giving recognition to foreigners wanting to preserve their transplanted habits and customs on our soil. These are some of the “useful idiots” whom the elites speak of.

    Hypocritical, left-leaning White people often give lip-service to the “joys of diversity” except when “diversity” moves in next door to them.

    “White guilt” and its equally embedded companion word, “racist”, are trigger points that dis-empower White Canadians from their power of speech when broaching any race-related topic.

    Mass media brainwashing techniques is the culprit here, and perpetuated by more “useful idiots”….. beginning with gullible politicians who’d shamelessly sell ‘grandma’ for an ethnic vote to naive reporters who continue to sell the “party line”.

    ….and, did I mention that White people are a rapidly diminishing minority, now reduced to a mere 8% of the world’s 7,000,000,000 people??

  • 16 year old Proud Ethiopian and Canadian

    At first to be honest, your long, very inaccurate and disturbing comment really upset me, even enraged me.
    But today in class we were talking about ignorant people, those who just talk with out knowing..and to be honest you are exactly the person who fits that description.
    Yes, you are entitled to your own opinion and it is freedom of speech, but I find it weird how you took this time out of your day to bring such negativity upon Gods name, this is about church, and has nothing to do with the country of Ethiopia.
    But I don’t think its fair to judge a country with out knowing anything about it. How can you have so much to say, while at the same time know so little.
    You are the most narrow minded person I have ever came across.
    You speak with such big words, but that letter made you sound so rude, arrogant and STUPID.
    There was one thing that caught my eye, when you referred to Canada as it being YOUR country and US being the immigrants.
    Lets go a few years back when this land was owned by the First Nations, who was the immigrants then?
    I may be born in Ethiopia, but have grown up here and I am also proud to say I am a Canadian.
    You’re opinion of what you think of me, does not affect that FACT.
    You also said Ethiopians were uneducated?
    Some of my closest family members are Doctors, lawyers, nurses and guess where they are from? ETHIOPIA.
    Since you are so smart, I’d also like you to name me who the Chief of Spacecraft for NASA is? an ETHIOPIAN by the name of Kitaw Ejigu.
    What African country was not colonized by the Europeans? ETHIOPIA
    what country is named 48 times in the bible:ETHIOPIA
    Where do you think scientist believe humanity started? ETHIOPIA
    At the time of King haile selase, go RESEARCH what Ethiopia did for Canada, and then come back to me.
    This great man inspired big names like Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King and even Malcom X.
    Ethiopia was also voted 6th in the 2007 top travel destination, proving you wrong when you said 99.99% of people don’t and won’t visit Ethiopia
    To be honest I don’t feel bad for the people of Ethiopia I feel bad for people like you, so narrow minded, so uneducated you will never really understand anything.
    I love Canada, and the amazing, welcoming Canadians. So it is fair for me to say you are not Canadian, you disgrace Canadians. Maybe one day you will visit Ethiopia, but until then you should really keep your mouth shut, because you are just embarrassing yourself.

    The reason I wrote this long letter to you is not because I was hurt, but because maybe a 16 year old girl could educate you.

    It is just as cowardly to judge an absent person as it is wicked to strike a defenseless one. Only the ignorant and narrow-minded gossip, for they speak of persons instead of things.
    Lawrence G. Lovasik

    God Bless Ethiopia and Canada
    and I hope he opens your eyes to new things and places.

    • M and D

      Is this enough comments for Deacon Les Zewied St.Gabriel church member. Looking for your long term benefit to be a “prist and be free of tax” is hurting our young ethiopian and canadian children. Look what the next generation will tell about you when you distract the unite and peace of the two church. The people of halifax will live together for ever but will have unforgetable of your evil movement.Yes, there are some people support you but they do not know your goal and they will know it one day.

      Do you have a faith or a fake believe in God? People in your commnity are saying what evil person he is.we never see perosn like this. Come down and have a faith in God and be truly christian.

      Do not mislead your own people for youe own benefit.
      Mand.

  • Ellisa

    Mr lisanu zawde please stop spreding your fals propaganada on ethiopian church i know you very well and i have banch of docment about you what was diong when you was university student. please keep away from church you can’t be a Deacon and stand infront of God
    Rememeber me
    This is jhone
    you don’t Have a Grace God
    thank you

  • Williams

    Attention: “16″ yr. old Ethiopian immigrant

    Upon checking this thread again, I see you wrote a few words in response to my first post.

    You’ve stated my post “upset” and “enraged” you. My words on Canada’s immigration/refugee fiasco were mild in comparison of how other Canadians would have expressed themselves.

    Neither your ad hominem attacks on me, nor your praise-worthy embellishments of your country, nor of your people’s achievements, are of any concern to me or other Canadians. I couldn’t care less about Ethiopia. If you’re so enamoured with your country ……, why aren’t you living there??

    “Lets go a few years back when this land was owned by the First Nations, who was the immigrants then? I may be born in Ethiopia, but have grown up here and I am also proud to say I am a Canadian.”

    I’m always amused whenever ignorant 3rd-world foreigners who arrive in MY fully developed nation, and who willingly partake of OUR vast social welfare network and use our transportation and other modern infrastructures….. then have the audacity to insult their 85% WHITE majority benefactors by tossing in “this land was owned by the First Nations” argument.

    Like many NON-white immigrants arriving from poor 3rd-world hellholes, these same uninvited refugees (probably like yourself) often try to induce the “white-guilt” syndrome among gullible Canadians, so as to bolster your own personal insecurities.

    Denigrating our British/French ancestors’ massive achievements, who literally carved out forested tracts of land through blood, sweat and tears, will not win you any friends in MY country. Contrary to what you’ve been led to believe, MY country does not “belong to the world“, nor to you. It belongs to the people who built and developed a nation called Canada from the ground up, and you are simply a recent guest.

    Our ancestors were not “immigrants” who landed in a modern airport, and greeted by welcoming immigration officers, nor supported with a social welfare and health-care structure, nor were they lavished with monthly welfare cheques, offered free job training sessions, nor coddled at every step to help them get established.

    My ancestors were PIONEERS arriving in rickety sailing ships after a 2 month dangerous ocean voyage with their axes, saws, etc. and then met with primitive and hostile Indians whose own arrival originated from somewhere else …..a few thousand years before my ancestors.

    Did our modern day “First Nations” people build the airplane you arrived on as an African “refugee”? Did they allow you free passage into Canada? Did (or do) they financially support you today? Did they build the roadways, the cars, the trains you see around you? Did they invent modern in-door plumbing you use every day? I could go on, but anyone with an ounce of common sense would see my point.

    “So it is fair for me to say you are not Canadian, you disgrace Canadians.”

    You may say anything you wish, but I was born and raised in Canada decades before you came to MY country. You’re the intruder and not a real Canadian…. as you claim to be.

    You may carry a Canadian passport, but in the eyes of most Canadians, you are not one of us. Similar to me emigrating to Ethiopia as a White person and claiming to be bona fide Ethiopian, your people would laugh at me for uttering such nonsense.

    In fact, you’re simply a “visible-minority” pawn in these phony immigration schemes that has wider implications too long to spell out here. However, I could ask — how does your presence in our country benefit us, and what can you offer us that we can’t manage ourselves? Answer: You are of no benefit to us, but you and your family are certainly benefited by us.

    Don’t you find it strange that Canadians had a higher standard of living in the 1970s prior to mass 3rd world immigration? And, with today’s high unemployment we need to import Ethiopians and other Africans to “help” boost our economy when most African countries and their peoples are still basket cases in their own lands? The prime example is South Africa — built and once managed by White people, but since 1994 has vastly deteriorated under Black rule.

    The disastrous affect of “multiculturalism” has harmed our country to a degree that calls for a solution to prevent further damage. Stop all immigration for one generation!

    Incidentally, Nelson Mandela was a terrorist. Most African states are proof that if the indigenous population are left to run the country it turns into mass murder and survival of the corrupt.

    (Michael King) a.k.a. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a fraud and a hypocrite who plagiarize many of his writings. He was a notorious “womanizer” with strong leanings toward communism and whose public records remain sealed until about 2027. Why??

    Malcom X – another left-wing communist, and possible terrorist.

    Great examples of YOUR people.

    • StoicKnight

      Thank you for your intervention Williams, it is as if you were reading my mind!

  • Euonymus

    Williams, you read my mind!

  • anonymous

    Thank you William for showing us that racism and discrimination still surrounds us.

  • anonymous

    Please just keep your comments to yourself
    you are giving us a bad name!
    Thank you.

  • Proud immigrant

    I guarantee you are only saying this because you are behind the computer screen.
    you are probably one of those people who sit on your computer no girlfriend or friends… just you and the computer.
    Did typing that to a 16 year old empower you?
    You low life, know nothing jackass.
    There is no point in any one trying to get through to you though because you are narrow minded.
    There is also one weird thing.. you say that immigrants are on wale fare yet most of the richest, doctors and lawyers are immigrants.
    ANYWAY .. I don’t blame you for being so narrow minded, you were probably raised in a house hold who have the same views as you and feed you false information.
    Now you have not only attacked Ethiopians but all of the immigrants of Canada.
    have a great and wonderful day

    • StoicKnight
  • Euonymus

    Proud immigrant,
    are you one of those immigrants who call their country of origin “home”?

    You are enraged only because William speaks the truth you were never told.
    You were stuffed with slogans such as “without you, we would be nothing” or “you bring culture”.
    Canada and the West were doing great before the wave of mass migration.
    And we have our culture that does not need cultural crutches from the third world.
    Perhaps you have heard of some of these:
    Goethe, Proust, Steinbeck,Jan Sibelius, George Enesco, Smetana, Tolstoy, Brecht, Woolf, Picasso, J.S. Bach, Handel, Johannes Gutenberg, Vivaldi, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Liszt, Chopin, Wagner,Led Zeppelin, Queen, Pink Floyd, Medieval architecture, Baroque architecture, Umberto Eco, Albert Einstein, Gottfried Leibniz, Louis Pasteur, René Descartes, John Locke, Swift, Shakespeare…

    The list is endless. And this list gives you an idea about the influence and power of the Western civilization and culture.

    Canada has its own great writers, painters, sculptors, scientists and musicians. And they are of European stock.

    If you live under the impression that the kuskus (“couscous”) has tremendously contributed to the development of the Canadian/Western culture… dream on.

    If you live under the impression that without the wok and the wonton soup our civilization would have suffered… dream on.

    If you live under the impression that without your accents and costumes, our culture would have died… dream on.

    Hopefully, some stupid whites will move to your country and begin insulting the indigenous population.

    If you are a Canadian citizen, you should have known by now that Canada’s founding peoples are the First Nations, the French and the English.

    And history cannot be changed, no matter how hard the multi-kultist wish to do so.

    If you don’t like this part of the history, too bad.
    Since you have chosen to come to Canada, kiss the land of this country.

    Stop insulting people and learn to have a civil debate.

  • Anbesaw

    O my,

    I got through all the comments from top to the very bottom. All these comments wasted one hour of my life which I will never get it back.

    As Ethiopian, I am so sad to see ethiopians pointing your fingers at your brother. What is the point of mentioning the name of individual who has done NOTHING WRONG but have been serving his church and community. What benefit have you gained by humiliating an individual. If you loved God, you (whoever writing nonsense)would not curse individuals. This is ridiculous and pathetic.

    Ellsa commented, “you don’t Have a Grace God.” who are you to judge someone. I have known Les for along time, he is my role model and my brother. Ellsa, you CAN’T please God by humiliating his creatures.

    As for those CLOWNS who talks trash about immigrants, I don’t think you represent Canada. Immigrants are hard working, dedicated and self driven. I don’t know if you have a family doctor but if you do, i am sure your family doctor is an immigrant. If you go to Universities ( I am not sure if you know what “university” is), you will find out that most instructors are from abroad (immigrant). you clowns and your collaborators really are NARROW MINDED. I still love Canada, regardless of your negative comments.

    Any comments posted here regarding Church in my opinion is trash as I don’t find them fruitful and educational.

  • Euonymus

    Anbesaw,
    You claim to be Ethiopian.
    Whatever your profession is, I am sure that Ethiopia needs you more than Canada.
    As for what you call “clowns”, their ancestors have built the foundations of a social system that brought you and those like you here.
    People like you came here and got subsidized housing, free language courses, free health care, etc.
    Sure, many immigrants are hardworking people, but many more are just parasites.
    Your ignorance and self-entitlement are the result of our government’s lack of respect towards the founding peoples of Canada.

    You said: “All these comments wasted one hour of my life which I will never get it back.”

    Were you forced to keep reading?
    I guess you kept reading because you found some comments really informative, as probably you have never read a book about the Canadian history.

  • Enana

    Why are people adding comments that we do not need to know of either countries. The people in Halifax are looking for support of their activites in their church. Do you think all this infomations are their solutions. Please do not say a lot and thank you.

    My question to that stupid Deacon les Zewide who distract the unite of St. Mary’s and St. Gabriel church. Do you understand what is going for history to your church.

    Damage is done by now to the St. Gabriel church. The St. Gabriel and St. Mary’s congregation should remove Deacon Les and the other committee as soon as possible in order to get stablity in the church.Otherwise the Anglican church or St. Nichalo church should think to help as the breaker through to the situation of this people. They sound both membres have invested in this property.
    Thank you

    • Enana Abatea

      p/s do not write any comment in my name i will take this vary seresly i respect Decon les , he is a vary good servant of God. I am looking help who use my name i will contact law inforcement as well as the news peple from which emale or server this person wrote. For your information Decon Les is working hard for the community. he is the best modele of all ethiopians but , you folx just seting and talke i know four of you are jus jeless of his kwnolage and his skill .
      God bless Canada and Ethiopia

  • johnny

    my comments is towards all the Ethiopians in Nova Scotia, me myself am from Toronto and to hear this kinda of stuff happening there is just really disappointing because we all came from way way way far from Canada and we are fighting in God’s house, when are we gonna learn the way of living in peace and not gossiping bout people, you all blaming it on les zewade but yet he is the reason you all have your own church in halifax still you guys insult him like he’s some kinda of kid.i know les zewda for along time and he is the nicest guy and God gifted guy that i have ever known and you guys hate him because he is smarter, and he have a better life style. i wouldnt blame you people cause you all work as a cab driver and all you guys do is gossip bout people and all them negative things you can imagine of.
    how about we start living the peace life your kids and all of the Congress is asking for..

  • Wond

    I think the congregations do not have the power.They might get lead by one person’s mind. If that is right, leave them get stack all their life with that person then.If they have a brain please think what will happen to your church and your children with this negatives committees. Therefore, the people should call for a great discussion with their prist and the committee and remove all these dictotars from their positions.
    god bless and good luck if my comment help you.

  • anonymous

    Jonny, Correct me if I am wrong but, isn’t Les a taxi driver himself?

    • Amazed

      You are wrong. Be corrected! Les has a decent, professional job. Are you gonna apologize to him?

  • Anbesaw

    anonymous: Jonny, Correct me if I am wrong but, isn’t Les a taxi driver himself?

    O well, He drives once in a while because Taxi driving is not his career. He has a great career unlike other Ethiopian.

    • Ene-Alehu

      I would like to give some comment to this congregations. What is the purpose used Vandalism? Deacon Les said,” there is no internal issues in his church” and some call yes there is interenal issue because there are two churches at this building and the St.Gabriel is trying to take over on the St.Mary’s membres as well as their money.

      My understanding. Vandalism has been used for fundraising by les and his team because in the newspaper it said ” They’re reaching out to the community to see if they can find any possible donors willing to help fund a new sign”.

      This looks taking advantage the media to ask for fund before Deacon Les solve his internal issues. Are you sure that your committee or the congregations do not have $500.00 dollar to replace the sign or are you trying to mischeived the public? I am hopping this church to pass a good image to the next generation rather then all this trash and stupide movements. Deacon les is acting like he know things but he is damaging the people’s church. I would like to see Deacon Les to be removed or improve himself or and the people has to call on the Anglican church as well as st.Nichoals parish for a meeting. Hope my comment is helpfull.
      Thanks

  • maferia

    I love Ethiopia!

    Dear Some Wolf Ethiopian,

    You are not in the Jungle or in primitive societies where there is no justice; if you have issues, then take legal actions. This is Canada, a well developed nation, that gives everyone equal opportunity. You are embracing yourselves and your Country. I don’t blame Williams or others that gave negative feedback towards Ethiopia.

    Please, if you have a habit of cursing or insulting, you are in the wrong country (just pack your rags and go back to whichever refuge camp you came from). You seem pretty good at cursing, I don’t know who awarded you Bachelors of Cursing Degree to you some Ethiopians taxi drives.

    In Conclusion, I suggest you to learn some English and improve your education while driving taxi. By the way I am a proud Ethiopian unlike you are.

  • Andu-Ale

    Hi Johnny,are you taking a side?. You do not know that much about Leasanu Ziwed. He is the most egnorant and self-fish person. Whether he drive a Taxi or the other brothers. we are all woring for living Ok. Just as roofing as you do too.

    Let me tell you what Leasanu did to the St. Mary’s church members in halifax. He came to St. Mary’s church with some of his group and Aba Halimariam in octobre 2010. They call for unity with us. We as ethiopna people christians, we looked at it as a good idea and well to our church and to pray together.
    During this time we agree in some conditions and to work on our difference that we have so our community can pray and have a peace unitll the issues of our church solve.
    However, Leasanu and some of his stupid team started to work on their hidden agenda under the name “unity” which was the created by the congregations for the peace of our children and community.
    Well, God is good. We know who is leasanu and his team by now.The people will get help from their God and support will come from the Anglican church as well as from St. Nichoals Parish.
    Leasanu is good in hiting a drum and singing church songs but he does not have a great faith in God. He is worshiping Davil rather God. God love honesty people and who work truth’s work. Not by cheating money from St.Mary’s church or other organization under the name of St. Gabriel church. First, tell Leasanu to have a faith in truth work that loved by the people and work for the people then he will get loved by the people.

  • Andu

    Johnny think les is smart but he is not like the others. He act like evil taxi driver. All people are working for living Ok J. So yes, les drive taxi just for you infor. call him ok just to make sure.

  • Anbesaw

    i know those individual that commented using different names. They just need to brush their teeth with OMO (Ethiopian bleach) so that I will not talk crap.

  • Grant

    is Ethiopia located in East Africa? Can someone tell me a little bit about Ethiopia? I am interested in visiting.

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  • mengistu hailemariam

    i heard on bbc that Ethiopia and Eritrea will be reunited for once and only and become one big nation of the great once know Ethiopia.

    thank you Melese and Esayas for reuniting our country.

    stay one, from Harare Zimbabwe

  • Euonymus

    To all those involved in this messy situation,

    As far as I can see, even in Canada, you cannot get over your conflicts.
    This church sounds more like a problem in Halifax and the Ethiopian community is more divided than united thanks to this church.

    You came to Canada, be happy and behave like Canadians. Learn to speak and write proper English, learn our customs, traditions, read books about our history, scientists and artists.

    Put aside your sect-tribal hatred. You should have left it in Ethiopia.

    I am sure that many of you came here as refugees.
    You were given protection and the chance to build a new life.

    But you chose to live in your small ghetto, quarrel and hate each other…

  • Tesh

    I am a student at Dal. My professional is lawer. I can help any one if you have a problem. I know that no one can deal with me and I will take any legal action if you have some fund for court. I have awarring some of the st. Mary’s group before so I will follow up on that case if necessary.
    Thank you
    Tesh

  • Andu-Ale

    To Maferia is Les. This is not a jock. You should consider if you are hones then tell the truth. Why did you dam the St.Gabriel committee and went to st. Mary’s church? You know how to take money from them and you and some of your group like to renovted the old church then your groups are trying to throw out the st.mary’s members. God is there and my pray is with them.
    I Love you guys. Sorry Enana,This is not Enana Abatea. This name is Enana. Some people are using my email too and i will like to do the same as you do. Can you tell me when meet the lawyer. Please and thank you.
    Andu

  • http://www.cireport.ca/ CIReport.ca

    Comments on this thread are now disabled.

    The issues expressed herein demonstrate deep divisions within the African diaspora. A majority of the comments seem to be personal vendettas and have detracted from the story.

  • Diane

    Is the Church still functional? I would like to visit it – if it is civil & functional.

    Thank You
    Nova Scotia Tourist