The Holy Father Pope Francis on 19thJanuary 2015 erected the Eparchy (Diocese) of Bahir Dar-Dessie (area 221,775, population 16,215,850, Catholics 17,544, priests 24, religious 47), in Ethiopia, with territory from the metropolitan Archeparchy of Addis Ababa, making it a suffragan of the same ecclesiastical circumscription.
The new diocese in Ethiopia has joined together the two districts of Bahir Dar and Dessie. The Holy Father appointed Bishop, Lisane-Christos Matheos as the first Bishop of the new diocese. Until his appointment Bishop Christos Matheos has been the Auxiliary Bishop of Addis Ababa.
The new Bishop of Bahir Dar – Dessie, Lisane-Christos Matheos was born in 1959 in Addis Ababa. He was ordained priest in 1988 and holds a degree in spirituality from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. The headquarters of the new diocese will be in Bahir Dar.