Adigrat (Ethiopian Eparchy) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Tesfasellassie Medhin, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Eparchy
Elevated: 20 February 1961
Metropolitan: Archeparchy of Addis Abeba (Ethiopian)
Ethiopian Catholic Church of the Alexandrian Tradition
Country: Ethiopia
Square Kilometers: 132,000 (50,985 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 8, Adigrat [Tigray], Ethiopia
Telephone: (0344)45.43.94
Fax: (same)

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Tigrai
- Latin Name: de Tigrai
- Erected: 25 March 1937
- Country: Ethiopia

Past and Present Ordinaries

Bartolomeo Maria Bechis, C.M. † ( 1937 Appointed - 1939 Resigned)
Salvatore Pane, C.M. † (10 Jun 1939 Appointed - 1951 Died)
Hailé Mariam Cahsai † (20 Feb 1961 Appointed - 24 Nov 1970 Died)
Sebhat-Leab Worku, S.D.B. † (12 Jun 1971 Appointed - 12 Oct 1984 Resigned)
Kidane-Mariam Teklehaimanot † (12 Oct 1984 Appointed - 16 Nov 2001 Resigned)
Tesfasellassie Medhin (16 Nov 2001 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Tigrai
25 March 1937	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Abyssinia (suppressed) (Adwa, Mekelle, Adigrat, Abiy Addi, and Alamata)	Prefecture Apostolic of Tigrai (erected)
Eparchy of Adigrat (Ethiopian)
20 February 1961	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Tigrai	Eparchy of Adigrat (Ethiopian)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Prefecture Apostolic of Tigrai

1950 4,000 1,800,000 .2% 16 16 250 8 ap1951

Eparchy of Adigrat (Ethiopian)

1970 9,848 3,200,000 .3% 33 3 36 273 4 34 14 ap1971

1980 10,500 2,140,000 .5% 45 6 51 205 10 32 18 ap1981

1990 15,145 3,620,000 .4% 61 9 70 216 25 69 32 ap1991

1999 16,625 4,516,625 .4% 73 12 85 195 41 60 35 ap2000

2000 17,016 4,517,016 .4% 68 13 81 210 54 56 33 ap2001

2001 17,120 4,017,000 .4% 74 13 87 196 54 54 33 ap2002

2002 17,427 3,500,000 .5% 74 11 85 205 38 47 33 ap2003

2003 18,014 3,694,650 .5% 75 12 87 207 43 51 36 ap2004

2004 19,326 3,695,962 .5% 72 14 86 224 46 48 36 ap2005

2006 19,994 4,146,000 .5% 66 15 81 246 46 51 35 ap2007

2010 22,687 4,601,000 .5% 77 16 93 243 93 54 36 ap2011

2012 22,900 4,854,000 .5% 75 11 86 266 76 54 36 ap2013

2015 22,711 5,237,000 .4% 74 8 82 276 66 55 36 ap2016

2018 24,951 4,914,480 .5% 74 18 92 271 63 55 35 ap2019

2020 27,698 5,132,000 .5% 70 21 91 304 2 70 56 35 ap2021

2022 24,950 5,761,420 .4% 73 26 99 252 2 75 77 34 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Prefecture Apostolic of Tigrai
1950	4,000	1,800,000	.2%	16		16	250				8	ap1951
Eparchy of Adigrat (Ethiopian)
1970	9,848	3,200,000	.3%	33	3	36	273		4	34	14	ap1971
1980	10,500	2,140,000	.5%	45	6	51	205		10	32	18	ap1981
1990	15,145	3,620,000	.4%	61	9	70	216		25	69	32	ap1991
1999	16,625	4,516,625	.4%	73	12	85	195		41	60	35	ap2000
2000	17,016	4,517,016	.4%	68	13	81	210		54	56	33	ap2001
2001	17,120	4,017,000	.4%	74	13	87	196		54	54	33	ap2002
2002	17,427	3,500,000	.5%	74	11	85	205		38	47	33	ap2003
2003	18,014	3,694,650	.5%	75	12	87	207		43	51	36	ap2004
2004	19,326	3,695,962	.5%	72	14	86	224		46	48	36	ap2005
2006	19,994	4,146,000	.5%	66	15	81	246		46	51	35	ap2007
2010	22,687	4,601,000	.5%	77	16	93	243		93	54	36	ap2011
2012	22,900	4,854,000	.5%	75	11	86	266		76	54	36	ap2013
2015	22,711	5,237,000	.4%	74	8	82	276		66	55	36	ap2016
2018	24,951	4,914,480	.5%	74	18	92	271		63	55	35	ap2019
2020	27,698	5,132,000	.5%	70	21	91	304	2	70	56	35	ap2021
2022	24,950	5,761,420	.4%	73	26	99	252	2	75	77	34	ap2023