The Fourth Month
Tahesas
The gist and mystery of time is wide and deep. The Ethiopian Liturgical Year signifies the Fourth Month, as ‘Tahesas.’ The day time is Nine and the Night is 15. Onwards, the day increases and the night decrease.
The term is referred as “searching, desiring, finding,” according to Aleka Kidane Wolde Keflea and Patristic Fathers.
If we ask what is searched, It is:-
1. the time farmers set out in search of fruit and gather production. Tahesas is a month of searching and gathering.
2. the Month which “Fast of Prophets,” is fasted amongst Orthodox Christians. The Prophets fasted it in search of The Holy Son Coming down from the heavens after a wait of 5500 years, for a medicine. They were on Subea (fasting) for the whole month.
The time from Tahesas 7 until the 29 day is termed as “Age of Sermon/Zemene Sebeket./” Prophecies were revealed to the prophets about the upcoming Christ being Man and Be Born, by many examples; so they preached and thought about it during this age.
The Apostle Saint Paul in his epistle to the Hebrew wrote for us as, “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets.” (Hebrew 1:1) The time that Prophets pursued much the Coming of Christ is “The Age of Sermon.”
This era is grouped into three:-
2.1. The time from Tahesas 7 up to 13 is known as “Sermon/Sebeket/. It means teaching. As we mentioned above, it is the age that Prophets seeking of Christ’s Coming through many prophecies and examples, is commemorated. God’s Own Heart Prophet David said, “Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; We found it in the fields of the woods.” (Psalm 132:6) Other Prophets have resembled by many examples. Commemorating that Preaching of the Prophets, it named as “Sermon.”
2.2. Tahesas 14 from 20 is known as “Light/ Birhan.” The reason for its naming is because the prophets preached about the Lord as a light; and in notifying the Light of the world who evacuate death and darkness; Lord Jesus Christ is near to come.
“I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them,” preached and thought Prophet Isaiah.
Afterwards, the Lord affirmed for us about Him Being Light as, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12) For it is the age which prophets preached about the omnipresent, immutable, He Who cloud is not shaded by clouds; the sky unable to cover the Light off, The True Light’s luminous is near to come, it called “Light.” Prophet Isaiah said, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.” (Isaiah 9:2)
2.3. Tahesas 21 until 28 is named as “Shepherd/ Nolawi/.” The words signify “watcher or keeper of the herd/sheep. Prophet David has prophesized saying, “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel.” (Psalm 80:1)
It is foretold for the ancient Israelis, but executed on the New Testament. Alike shepherd tends or keep sheep, Christ is our keeper. The Lord says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11) The prophet craved for the true shepherd Christ, and so is known to be “Nolawi.”
3. The Three Wise Men “after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” (Matthew 2:1) Men and Angels praise in harmony!
These are few of the extensive reasons for this month to be named as “Tahesas.” Fortunate to us also, there are many feasts to be commemorated and celebrated accord Holy Scriptures. The Book of Synaxarium has scripted Saint’s feasts to be honored daily. But we can mention only the major holidays in this month.
1. The first day of the month, is the birthday of the great Prophet Elias. The prophet coming out of his Mother’s womb is celebrated.
2. On the third day, the entrance of Holy Mother Saint Virgin Mary to the temple and her parents Saint Joachim and Saint Hannah fulfilling Seelete (promising to give their daughter to serve the temple.)
• Also the departure of the Ethiopian Saint Abune Zena Markos is commemorated on this day.
3. Tahesas 12 is the departure of Aba Samuel Zewaldeba.
4. The 16th day of this month is Saint Gideon’s departure holiday,
5. Tahesas 19, is the great feast which Archangel Saint Gabriel saving the three children, Azariah, Hananiah and Mishael from burning fire.
6. Tahesas 22 is he Annunciation of the First Coming of the Holy Son to this world for the salvation is honored. It is both the feast of Archangel Saint Gabriel and Saint Virgin Mary and thus, is a great feast
7. Tahesas 23; this is the holiday that the departure of Prophet King David who is called to be known as “God’s Own Heart.”
8. The Birthday of our Ethiopian Patron Father Rigtheous Abune Tekela Haimanot is on Tahesas 24.
9. Tahesas 28: This is a day known as “Beale Gena” in the local language in the commemoration of Lord Jesus Christ’s Birthday.
10. Also on Tahesas 29 is the feast day for the Birth of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Being Born from Holy Mother Saint Virgin Mary.
May the blessing of the Saints be with us; Amen!