Patriarchs (Bible) Patriarchs (Bible) The patriarchs ( "Avot" or "Abot", singular "Ab" or Aramaic: אבא "Abba") of the Bible, when narrowly defined, are Abraham, his son Isaac, and Isaac's son Jacob, also named Israel, the ancestor of the Israelites. These three figures are referred to collectively as the patriarchs, and the period in which they lived is known as the patriarchal age. They play significant roles in Hebrew scripture during and following their lifetimes. They are used as a significant marker by God in revelations and promises, and continue to play important roles in the Abrahamic faiths. More widely, the term patriarchs
Abuna IV, the last Copt to lead the Church of Ethiopia. The first Patriarch of Ethiopia was Abuna Basilios, who was consecrated 14 January 1951. The most recent Patriarch of Ethiopia was Abune Mathias, who succeeded Abune Paulos who died on August 16, 2012. The Syriac-Aramaic word ܐܒܘܢܐ "Abuna" is used for bishops by Syriac Churches, literally meaning 'our father'. Abuna (Syriac: ܐܒܘܢܐ "Abuna", Arabic: أبونا "’abūnā", literally 'our father') is also a title used among Syriac Christians and Coptic Christians to refer to a priest. The title is used either by itself or with the priest's given name (for example,