Abuna Atnatewos II was the Abuna or head of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (1869–1876). He was brought to Ethiopia by Emperor Yohannes IV, who raised the $20,000 to pay the Patriarch of Alexandria Cyril V.[1]
Abuna Atnatewos actively worked against the influence of Catholic missionaries; Asseggahen wrote to Antoine d'Abbadie that Atnatewos anathematized the Catholic bishop Massaia, and threatened to excommunicate the inhabitants of Shewa were they to associate with him.[2]
The Abuna supported Emperor Yohannes' campaign against the Egyptian attempt to annex Hamasien.[3] It is reported that Abuna Atnatewos was wounded at the Battle of Gura, later dying on 29 June 1876.[4]