Pagumen: The Thirteenth Month of Ethiopia

September 8,  2016
By Kassa Nigus
The Ethiopian Calendar has 13 months, 12 months of 30 days each and an additional month, at the end of the year, of 5 or 6 days depending on whether the year is a leap year or not. The 13th month of the modern Ethiopian solar calendar is one of the many unique ancient heritages Ethiopia has contributed to the entire world.
 
The Ethiopian calendar gives special consideration to Pagumen for a number of reasons. Let’s see few of them:
A. The Second Advent of Jesus Christ
While the exact date of the Second Advent is a mystery, there are four presiding opinions regarding the matter. One is that Christ will appear on Debre Zeit (Mount of Olives) in the year of St. John, in the month of March at mid night of Sunday. Debre Zeit is also used to name the Sunday that comes halfway through lent. The second opinion is that Christ will come during Pagumen. In this month, the church cites biblical words related to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The other two opinions have been believed to be occur in the months of Tahisas 4-6 /December13-15 and Sene25/July 2.
 
B. The Festival of the Archangel Raphael
St. Raphael holds the third rank among the seven archangels next to St. Michael and St. Gabriel. Archangels St. Raguel, St. Urael, St. Faneuil and St. Saquel follow him in rank in the stated order.  Homily of Raphael, a holy book which contains the miracles of the Archangel, says that St. Raphael has been given the power to lock and open the gates of heaven. (Homily of Raphael, pp.185)
 
One of the most important miracles of St. Raphael is commemorated on the third day of Pagumen. The miracle is related to a church dedicated to the archangel and is said to have been constructed on an island outside the city of Alexandria in Egypt. It is said that the church was threatened to be demolished by a whale and started shaking whilst the believers were praying inside the church. It was later saved miraculously by the Archangel Raphael.
 
The story described in the Book of Tobit, an Old Testament scripture, states that St. Raphael was revealed to a man named Tobia who had a blind father called Tobit. The archangel instructed Tobia to fish in the River of Tigris and the heart and liver of a fish is said to have been served to Tobit, and that cured his eyes.
According to the same story, a woman named Sarah (not the wife of Abraham) was married to seven husbands one after another, but all died on the first night of the marriage.
 
St. Raphael intervened and told Tobia to marry Sarah. He miraculously exorcised the evil spirit and Tobia was spared the fate of Sarah’s previous husbands. St. Raphael is also believed to have been empowered by God to intervene for fruitful marriage, fertility and to reduce the labor during childbirth. He is also said to have performed a number of miracles on this day (Pagumen 3). That’s why the day is celebrated with special vivacity in the churches dedicated to the Archangel. 
 
Pagumen 3 is also called Rehiwe Semay2 literally meaning ‘The opening of heaven’. It is believed that on this day the prayers of believers reach before God in a special manner, and hence the term Rehiwe Semay.
The rain that falls on this day is also considered holy; it is believed that it blesses Christians and protects them from illness and bad fortune. On this day, we see children rinsing in the rain to receive blessing. Women add drops of the sacred rainwater to their dough to have their Injera and bread blessed.
 
C. The Holy Water of Pagumen
 
Besides Pagumen 3, Ethiopian Orthodox Christians also observe the other days of the month by rinsing themselves in holy water at different churches and monasteries. They do this to get sanctified and liberate themselves of all ailments, evil spirits and acts of witchcraft.
 
Christians also associate the days of pagumen with the five days during which the biblical Job was rinsed and cured from his wounds. Job is said to have been rinsed in the waters for five days and was cured on the fifth night. Therefore, the last night of pagumen (eve of New Year/ Enkutatash) is very significant to Ethiopian Orthodox Christians. Particularly in rural Ethiopia, ill and healthy people alike go to nearby rivers to bathe in the waters which are believed to be holy during this period.
 
 Sources:
•    Ethiopic Synaxarium: the month of Pagumen. 
•    ያሬድ ፈንታ ወልደ ዮሐንስ 2004 ዓ.ም. ባሕረ ሐሳብ የቀመርና የሥነ ፈለክ ምስጢር፡፡
•    Bantalem Tadesse, 2010. A Guide to the Intangible Treasure of Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church: Historic Perspective and Symbolic interpretation of the Festivals.
__________
1 Explain the four cycles of years (Year of Mathew, Mark, Luke and John) in  the    Ethiopian calendar system.
2 Rehiwe semay literally means “the opening of the window of heaven”. On this day prayer is offered for the blessing of water and oil; the blessed water is drunk and the oil applied on the bodies of people for cure and blessing. It is believed that Rehiwe semay takes place seven times a year at intervals of 52 days  starting from Pagumen three. (Yared Fenta 2004 E.C PP.48).

The Departure of Abune Tekle Haymanot

August 30, 2016
St Tekle Haymanot was born in Zorare, a district in Selale which lies on the eastern edge of Shewa in December 24, 1192. He was the son of the priest Tsega Zeab ("Gift of Faith") and his wife Egzi’e Haraya ("Choice of God"). Tekle Haymanot was born after his parents, who had failed to have children, pledged their firstborn to God.

He founded a major monastery in his native province of Shewa. He is the only Ethiopian saint popular both amongst Ethiopians and outside of his country. During his time, Shewa was subjected to a number of devastating raids by Islamic aggression and the anti Christian pagan elements which persecuted the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church.  These raids weakened the morale of the Christians in Shewa, and strengthened the practice of paganism. 

However, the coming of this new Apostle introduces a new era in the renewal of Orthodox Christianity. He preached the gospel across the country especially to southern & south western parts of the country. 
He dedicated his life to God and spent his entire time in prayer, penance and preaching the Word of God. Due to his ardent devotion, he received six wings by his God like the angles as reward for his broken leg whereupon he stood too long on one foot for seven years. Finally, he died at the age of 99 years, 10 months and 10 days. 

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church commemorates the feast of the saint  on 24th day of each month of which some are  great annual  feasts – on Tahisas 24 (January 3), his birth,  Megabit 24 (April 2) his conception), Ginbot 12 (April 20)the departure of his relics and Nehasie 24(August 30) the departure of the saint. 

Based on the covenant God made with His saints as mentioned in various parts of the Holy Scripture, such as (Matthew 10:40- 42), today (August 30), many believers came to his famous Monastery, Debre Libanos which is a place of pilgrimage to celebrate colorfully  the feast of the saint.  

Let us invoke the fatherly intercession of St Tekle Haymanot so that he may help us to promote more intense prayers for unity, love and peace!!
Source:

  • Ethiopic Synaxarium
  •  Gedle Tekle Haymanot (Hagiography of Tekle Haymanot).

Filseta: The Fast of the Assumption of St. Mary

August 22, 2016
By Kassa Nigus
Filseta is one of the seven canonized fasts of the Ethiopian church, which is observed as a remembrance of the fast the apostles held in passion of witnessing the falling asleep and assumption of Saint Maryam (Mary). It covers the period from the 1st to the 15th of Nehasie (August 7-22). Filseta literally means movement in the Ge’ez language, and is used to refer to St. Mary’s assumption. 

When St. Mary departed from this world, the apostles tended her body and carried it to Gethsemane for burial. Some of the Jews blocked their way to prevent them from burying the body, and decided to snatch and burn it to ashes for fear it may thereafter bring news of another ‘resurrection’ and ‘ascension’.

Knowing the evil intent of the Jews, GOD sent HIS angel and took away the body of HIS Mother in glory to the Heaven. The Angels then took the body to Paradise, accompanied by John the Apostle, and laid it under the Tree of Life. When John returned to the other apostles, they asked him where the Virgin Mary was. He told them that her body was placed under the Tree of Life by an Angel. The Apostles then said to each other, "John saw and we did not; let us pray and fast that we can see also."

 They fasted and prayed for fifteen days, after which the Angels of GOD brought the body of the Virgin to the Apostles. They buried the body of the Virgin on Sunday. "On Tuesday, three days later, the Virgin Mary rose from the dead, just as CHRIST had resurrected."

St. Thomas the Apostle was not present at the time of St. Mary’s departure. He was on duty in his apostolic diocese of India. As he went back to Jerusalem carried on a cloud, he met St. Mary while ascending. Thomas then said to her, "I was not chosen to see your SON’s ascension in Glory, nor was I to witness yours. How sinful I am!" But She told him that he was the first to see Her ascending, and gave him the garment (also known as Megnez or Seben in Ge’ez) with which her rested body was covered as a token. That filled him with grace and ecstasy.
 
When St. Thomas arrived where the disciples were, they told him about St. Mary’s departure and he said to them as if he knew nothing, "You know how I conducted myself at the resurrection of the LORD CHRIST, and I will not believe unless I see her body." They went with him to the tomb, and uncovered the place of the body, but they did not find it. Everyone was perplexed and surprised. After confirming her death and seeing the empty tomb, St. Thomas told them how he saw her assumption, and showed them the garment which she gave him as a proof. Priests of the Ethiopian church usually cover their hand-held crosses with a piece of garment to remember the Seben St Thomas received from St Mary.   

 Despite St Thomas’ account of St Mary’s resurrection, the Apostles were eager to witness it first hand, and so one year later they started fasting and praying starting from August 7. On the 22nd of August (i.e., after 15 days of fasting) St Mary came with her beloved SON, JESUS. On that day, JESUS CHRIST performed the Divine Liturgy designating St Peter as assistant priest and Deacon Stephen (coming from heaven) as an arch deacon, and gave them the Holy Qurban (Communion). After the service, HE ordered the apostles to preach and witness the resurrection and assumption of His Mother throughout the world. 
 
Filseta is the most dutifully observed fast among Ethiopian Orthodox Christians next to the great fast (lent). The faithful including children, who do not actively take part in the other fasts of the church, fast for 15 days joyfully taking Holy Communion. Church Services including the Divine Liturgy are carried out for an uninterrupted 15 days. Churches across the nation are therefore usually filled with the faithful during this period as many of the believers go on a retreat (subae).  
 
May Her intercession and blessings be with us now and forever. Amen.
 
Source: Ethiopic Synaxarium, on Nehasie 16 (Agust 22). 

Saint Peter: Let us build three Tabernacles, one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah

August 19, 2016

By Kassa Nigus

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church celebrates the Feast of Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ every year on Nehasie 13 (August 19). The feast is observed in remembrance of the revelation of Christ’s Divine glory before the Apostles Peter, James, and John on Mount Tabor.

The Ethiopic name of the holiday, ‘Debre Tabor’, which translates to Mount Tabor, pertains to the mountain on which our Lord manifested His divinity and the glory of His kingdom. The event of the Transfiguration is recorded in three of the four Gospels: Matthew 17:1-9, Mark 9:2-8, and Luke 9:28-36.

Six days after our Lord asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I am?” on their way to Caesarea, He left nine of His disciples at the foot of the mountain and took the remaining three—Peter, John, and James—to the top of the mountain. While they were atop, our Lord was transfigured. His face shone like the sun; His garment became as white as snow. At that moment, He revealed His divinity and the glory of His kingdom. Moses and Elijah were heard speaking to Him. 

Saint Peter then said, “It is good for us to be here; if it is Your will, let us build three tabernacles, one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” As he was speaking this, a bright cloud covered them and a voice was heard from the cloud, “This is My be-loved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” Peter and the others fell on their faces out of fear. Lord Jesus came and touched them and said, “Get up, do not be afraid.” They opened their eyes. As they were coming down the mountain, Lord Jesus commanded them to not tell what they have seen to anyone until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.

The reason why He left the nine disciples at the foot of the mountain while he took the other three to the top, it is because among the nine was the one (Judah) who did not deserve to see His glory; should He have left him alone, Judah would have used that as an excuse to betray Jesus.

In the Old Testament, the presence of light and cloud often signified the Divine presence (Ex.24:15-17). The bright radiance and shining of the face is also a characteristic of those closest to God. Such was the case of Moses who spoke to God face to face. (Ex.34:29-35)  

Likewise, on Mt. Tabor the cloud signified the Divine presence. Despite the fact that there are different mountains in Israel, Christ chose Tabor to be the place where He revealed His divine glory to fulfill St David’s prophesy about the mount saying, “Tabor and Heron shall rejoice in thy name.” (Psalms 89:12) According to the Church’s teachings, Tabor also represents God’s kingdom.  

Why did Jesus choose Moses and Elijah?

If one may ask why He chose Moses and Elijah, it was to fulfill His promise to Moses and a wish that Elijah had. Moses and Elijah represent the two principal components of the Old Testament: the Law and the Prophets. Moses had got favor before God and spoke to God 570 times as mentioned in the Bible. Accordingly, Moses yearned to see God’s face and once asked Him to reveal Himself to him. But God told Moses that this will happen later, and the promise was fulfilled during the Transfiguration. (EX.33:18-23)  

Elijah is considered the greatest of the prophets, and some even went to the extent of mistaking him for Our Lord Jesus Christ when they saw the miracles He performed. So our Lord brought Elijah to Mount tabor to ascertain that he is just a prophet, not Christ.   In spite of their desire to see His glory, when He finally revealed Himself to them, Moses chose to go back to his grave and Elijah to his chariot as they could not stand before His glory.

Symbolism of Moses and Elijah in the transfiguration

As the ten foolish and wise virgins (Matt. 25:1), symbolized all the wise and foolish human beings, the Lord gave us His Transfiguration with Moses and Elijah, as a symbol of the transfiguration which the Lord will grant to all human beings in eternity.

Elijah represents the virgins (of either sex), and Moses represents the married. Rather Moses married more than once. He married Zipporah the daughter of the priest of Midian (Ex.2:19-22). He also married an Ethiopian woman (Num. 12:1), who was a symbol of the acceptance of the Gentiles.

 Moses represented those who were dead. And Elijah represented the living who have not yet died. Elijah represents those who have lived a life of ascetics in the wilderness, as he was himself on the mountain of Carmel; and Moses represents those who have lived in the world with their families in a social life. One of them represents the life of monks, and the other represents the ministry and the guidance of crowds.

The feast of Debre Tabor is the source of a special trend of celebration in the traditional schools of the Ethiopian Church known as Abinet Schools. The feast is known in those schools as the ‘Feast of Disciples` as three of the apostles were honored to witness the Transfiguration.

At least two weeks prior to the feast,  those students who follow their studies in the countryside go house to house begging for grain and other ingredients for baking bread and brewing homemade beer. They then invite believers and church fathers in their localities and celebrate the feast joyously. Therefore, it is crucial that we shall hand down to generations this colorful religious holiday and tradition which are still practiced in our church schools.

                   To Him is the Glory forever!

Source:

• –1986:177- 178.  These Truths We Hold the Holy Orthodox Church Her Life and Teachings. Compiled and edited by a monk of St. Tikhon’s monastery.

• Pope Shenouda III, 1998. The Transfiguration and some meditations upon the feast of the Transfiguration.  

•  ኅሩይ ኤርምያስ 1995 E.C. መዝገበ ታሪክ፤ ክፍል 2፣ ገጽ 145. (Hiruy Ermias 1995 E.C. Mezgebe Tarik,part 2, ,pp.145).

The Conception of the Blessed Virgin Saint Mary

August 13, 2016

By Tsegaye Girma 

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church celebrates the conception of St Mary on Nehasie 7 (August 13). Church manuscripts such as the Synaxarium and Teamire Mariam (Miracles of St Mary) provide some details about St Mary’s parents. 

According to those documents, the father of Mary is named Joachim, and her mother is called Hannah. The righteous couple had produced no child even at the later stage of their lives for Hannah was barren, and they were very sad because of that. Infertility was a cause of shame in those days, and drew insults such as, “O you who lack the blessing of God.”  

Joachim and Hannah were sad due to that, and thus devoted themselves to rigorous prayer and fasting, in isolation to entreated God day and night for a child. They also vowed that if they brought forth a child, they would offer him/her to serve in the Temple of God. 

One day when Joachim was in the sanctuary praying and kneeling in supplication, slumber descended upon him and he slept. While Joachim was napping St Gabriel, the angel of God, appeared unto him, and said to him, “Behold, your wife Hannah shall conceive, and she shall bear you a daughter, and in her shall be joy and salvation for the entire world.” 

Joachim then woke up, went to his house, and told his wife the vision he had seen in the temple. Accordingly, Hannah conceived, and brought forth our holy Lady, the Virgin Mary, the God-bearer, the object of boasting of the entire world. St Mary’s role in the salvation of humanity is profoundly central as she is the one who conceived and brought forth Our Savior Jesus Christ. 

May her blessings and intercession be with us!!

Source:    
• Ethiopic Synaxarium, Nehasseie 7 (August 13). 
• Miracles of St Mary (the book of Teamire Mariam), 1989:16.

 

Filseta: The Fast of the Assumption of St. Mary

August 22, 2016
By Kassa Nigus
Filseta is one of the seven canonized fasts of the Ethiopian church, which is observed as a remembrance of the fast the apostles held in passion of witnessing the falling asleep and assumption of Saint Mary. It covers the period from the 1st to the 15th of Nehasie (August 7-22). Filseta literally means movement in the Ge’ez language, and is used to refer to St. Mary’s assumption.

When St. Mary departed from this world, the apostles tended her body and carried it to Gethsemane for burial. Some of the Jews blocked their way to prevent them from burying the body, and decided to snatch and burn it to ashes for fear it may thereafter bring news of another ‘Resurrection’ and ‘Ascension’.

Knowing the evil intent of the Jews, God sent His angel and took away the body of His Mother in glory to the Heaven. The Angels then took the body to Paradise, accompanied by John the Apostle, and laid it under the Tree of Life. When John returned to the other apostles, they asked him where the Virgin Mary was. He told them that her body was placed under the Tree of Life by an Angel. The Apostles then said to each other, "John saw and we did not; let us pray and fast that we may see also through the will of God.”

 They fasted and prayed for fifteen days, after which the Angels of God brought the body of the Virgin to the Apostles. They buried the body of the Virgin on Sunday. "On Tuesday, three days later, the Virgin Mary rose from the dead, just as Christ had resurrected."

St. Thomas the Apostle was not present at the time of St. Mary’s departure. He was on duty in his apostolic diocese of India. As he went back to Jerusalem carried on a cloud, he met St. Mary while ascending. Thomas then said to her, "I was not chosen to see your Son’s Ascension in glory, nor was I to witness yours. How sinful I am!" But She told him that he was the first to see Her ascending, and gave him the garment (also known as Megnez or Seben in Ge’ez) with which her rested body was covered as a token. That filled him with grace and ecstasy.

When St. Thomas arrived where the disciples were, they told him about St. Mary’s departure and he said to them as if he knew nothing, "You know how I conducted myself at the resurrection of the Lord Christ, and I will not believe unless I see her body." They went with him to the tomb, and uncovered the place of the body, but they did not find it. Everyone was perplexed and surprised. After confirming her death and seeing the empty tomb, St. Thomas told them how he saw her assumption, and showed them the garment which she gave him as a proof. Priests of the Ethiopian church usually cover their hand-held crosses with a piece of garment to remember the Seben St Thomas received from St Mary.   

Despite St Thomas’ account of St Mary’s resurrection, the Apostles were eager to witness it first hand, and so one year later they started fasting and praying starting from August 7. On the 22nd of August (i.e., after 15 days of fasting) St Mary came with her beloved Son, Jesu. On that day, Jesus Christ performed the Divine Liturgy designating St Peter as assistant priest and Deacon Stephen (coming from heaven) as an arch deacon, and gave them the Holy Qurban (Communion). After the service, He ordered the apostles to preach and witness the resurrection and assumption of His Mother throughout the world. 

Filseta is the most dutifully observed fast among Ethiopian Orthodox Christians next to the great fast (lent). The faithful including children, who do not actively take part in the other fasts of the church, fast for 15 days joyfully taking Holy Communion. Church Services including the Divine Liturgy are carried out for an uninterrupted 15 days. Churches across the nation are therefore usually filled with the faithful during this period as many of the believers go on a retreat (subae).  

  May Her intercession and blessings be with us now and forever. Amen.

 Source: Ethiopic Synaxarium, on Nehasie 16 (Agust 22).

The Deliverance of St Cyriacus & His Mother St Julietta

July 25, 2016
By Tsegaye Girma 
The Ethiopian church celebrates the deliverance of St. Qirqos (Cyriacus) and his mother St. Iyyeluta (Julietta) from the tortures of the governor of Tarsus through the help of the angel of God, St. Gabriel. Hamle 19 (July 26) is dedicated to venerate the archangel and to remember his steadfast support to the saints.

The Ethiopian church has also set the 15th day of every Ethiopian month in honor of St. Cyriacus and St. Julietta with the great annual feast falling on the 15th of Tir (January 23). There are also many churches dedicated to St. Cyriacus across Ethiopia. The deliverance of those saints is narrated in the Ethiopic Synaxaruim as follows:

And on this day also St. Cyriacus (Qirkos) and Julitta (Iyyeluta) his mother became martyrs.  When the child was three years old, his mother left her native land Iconium and went with her son to Tarsus fleeing from the Governor who was persecuting Christians. 

Unfortunately, upon their arrival at Tarsus, they found the brother of the governor from whom they had fled. Certain men laid information against them before the governor’s brother, and urged St. Julitta to worship the idols. She responded saying, “Ask the child whose days are three years to tell us whether it is good for us to worship the idols or not.” 

God gave the child strength. Then the child spoke and cursed the emperor and his gods, and all those who were there marveled greatly at him. The governor was ashamed, and he severely tortured the child and his mother. But God delivered them safely many times through the help of St. Gabriel. After seeing the miracles, many people believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, and received the crown of martyrdom. 

Lastly, the Governor ordered to have the heads of St. Cyriacus and St. Julietta cut off. They then received martyrdom and the crown of honor God prepared for them. 
                                     May their prayer be with us!!
Source: Ethiopic Synaxarium, on Hamle 19 (July 26).

Holy Trinity

July 13, 2016

By Kassa Nigus 

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church celebrates the feasts of the Holy Trinity on the 7th of every Ethiopian months, of which the two are the greatest annual feasts celebrated with especial rituals ( on the 7th of Tir (January 15) and Hamle 7th (July 14).

On July 14, the church commemorates the covenant of Abraham, the sacrifice of Isaac and the visit of God to Abraham in the form of three guests under the oaks of Mamre. The account was narrated based on the verse on (Genesis 22:1-18, 18:1-5, 12:1-3, 17:1-8).

The covenant of God to Abraham  
God made the first promise of His salvation of all the people of the earth to Abraham, with whom He also made His covenant to be faithful forever.

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make you a great nation, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing … and in you all families of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen 12:1-3, 17:1-8, 22:1-18).

 The visit of God to Abraham in the form of Three Guests
The main proof of the New Testament revelations that of the Holy Trinity was prefigured in Abraham’s life. This is the famous visit of the three guests of God to Abraham under the plains of Mamre.

And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men stood in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the earth, and said, “My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, while I fetch a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on … since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said” (Gen 18:1-5).

Abraham addresses the three guests as one, calling them Lord. They eat in his presence and foretell the birth of Isaac from Sarah in her old age. In this visitation of God to Abraham, the Church sees the prefiguration of the full revelation of the Holy Trinity in the New Testament. Truly in Abraham every aspect of the final covenant in Christ the Messiah was foreshadowed and foretold.

The sacrifice of Isaac 
 One year after the appearance of God to Abraham in the form of three guests, the prophecy of God was fulfilled. Abraham and Sarah gave birth to a son whom they called Isaac. Abraham was then one hundred years old and Sarah ninety. They loved their only son very much. When Isaac grew up, God wished to elevate the faith of Abraham and thus teach all men through him to love God and obey His will. 

 God tested Abraham by commanding him to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac as a burnt offering. Abraham believed and trusted in God. He obeyed his will, and went to the mountain to slay his child. God stopped him and placed a ram in Isaac’s place saying “for now I know that you fear God, seeing that you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me” (Gen 22:12). Then once more God made the promise that “by your descendants shall all of the nations of the earth be blessed …” (Gen 22:18). 

There is absolutely nothing more precious to Abraham than his son. Indeed, to give up his son would be to give up more than himself. God stops Abraham before he slays his son. God does not want Isaac’s blood… only Abraham’s heart. So He provides a substitute, a ram, which shows the true meaning of all authentic sacrifice—we give to God something precious that represents our very selves.

For such faith, love, and obedience God blessed Abraham and promised him that he would have as many offspring as the stars in the heavens and the sand on the shore of the sea, and that in his offspring all the peoples of the earth would receive a blessing, that is, the Savior of the world would come forth from his descendants.

Source:  Ethiopian Orthodox Church Commentary on the two Old Testament Books of Genesis and Exodus, 1999 E.C. 

The two prominent Apostles

July 11, 2015
By Kassa Nigus 

Every year, on Hamle 5th (July 12), the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido church  celebrates the feast of saints Peter and Paul with various religious rituals in the same day which always coincides with the end of the Apostle’ s fast and the monthly feast of Abune Gebre Menfes Kidus.

 St Peter

St Peter, who was named Simon, was a fisherman of Galilee and was introduced to the Lord Jesus by his brother Andrew, also a fisherman. Jesus gave him the name Cephas (Petrus in Latin), which means ‘Rock,’ because he was to become the rock upon which Christ would build His Church. Then he become one of Jesus Christ’s 12 apostles and spent most of his life preaching the gospel after Jesus’ death.

St Peter was a bold follower of the Lord. He was the first to recognize that Jesus was “the Messiah, the Son of the living God,” and eagerly pledged his fidelity until death. In his boldness, he also made many mistakes, however, such as losing faith when walking on water with Christ and betraying the Lord on the night of His passion.

Yet despite his human weaknesses, Peter was chosen through the mercy of God to shepherd His flock. After the descent of the Holy Spirit, Peter became a fearless and powerful preacher of the Gospel. He performed many wonders, healing the sick and raising the dead, and even his shadow had the power of healing the sick. The Acts of the Apostles illustrates his role as head of the Church after the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ. Peter led the Apostles as the first Pope and ensured that the disciples kept the true faith. St. Peter spent his last years in Rome, leading the Church through persecution and eventually being martyred in there. 

 St. Paul
 St. Paul was born in Tarsus five years after the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. He wrote fourteen epistles which are included in the writings of the New Testament, and through them we learn much about his life and the faith of the early Church. Before receiving the name Paul, he was Saul, a Jewish Pharisee who zealously persecuted Christians in Jerusalem. Scripture records that Saul was present at the martyrdom of St. Stephen.

Saul’s conversion took place eight years later after the Ascension of Jesus Christ as he was on his way to Damascus to persecute the Christian community there. As he was traveling along the road, he was suddenly surrounded by a great light from heaven. He was blinded and fell off his horse. He then heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He answered: “Who are you, Lord?” Christ said: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” (Acts 9:1-6)

Saul continued to Damascus, where he was baptized by Ananias, one of the 72 disciples and his sight was restored. He took the name Paul and spent the remainder of his life preaching the Gospel tirelessly to the Gentiles of the Mediterranean world. (Acts 9:10-19)

In general, St. Peter and St. Paul are two of the most well known saints who are mostly responsible for spreading the Christ’s message in the days of the early church. As to why they are celebrated on the same day, scriptures have it that they were executed on the same day in 69A.D under the command of the Emperor Nero and buried in Rome. 

According to the scriptures, Paul was beheaded while St. Peter was crucified upside down at his own request because he said he was not worthy to be sacrificed in the same manner as Christ. 

Since we are among the first people, who accept Christianity by the apostles themselves, celebrate this day made holy for us by the apostles’ blood. Let us embrace what they believed, their life, their labors, their sufferings, their preaching, and their confession of faith in order to be sharers of their blessings. 

Source:
Ethiopic Synaxarium: the book of the saints of the Ethiopian Church, on the month of Hamle 5 (July 12) 
Hiruy Ermias 1995 E.C.Mezgebe Tarik, part-2, pp.119-126.


The Fast of the Apostles

July 9, 2016
By Kassa Nigus 
The Fast of the Apostles is one of the oldest fasts in the church, and was previously known as the “Fast of Pentecost” or the “Fast of the Disciples.” However, during the Ecumenical Council of Nicea in 325 A.D., its name was changed to “Fast of the Apostles” which is carried through till today1.

The scriptural foundation for the Fast is mentioned in the Holy Gospels (Matt. 9: 14-15) & (Mark 2:19-20), when the disciples of John and the  Pharisees criticized the apostles for not fasting, “Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.2” 

The  commentary meaning of these verses is that  Christ was referring to His being taken to be crucified; but in the wider sense it is understood in terms of His Ascension into heaven, and his commission to preach the Gospel, which can only be accomplished with prayer and fasting3.

The duration of the Apostles fast depends upon the date of Easter, and therefore it varies from year to year. It always begins with the end of Be’ale Hemsa (season of Pentecost), or with the Monday after Pentecost, and terminates on Hamle 5th (July 12), the day that commemorates the martyrdom of the Apostles Peter and Paul. 

The Church calls us to keep this fast according to the example of the holy Apostles, who, having received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, prepared themselves to preach the Gospels to the whole world. It is of great importance to remember that all the works of the apostles were through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The same is with every decision made in church nowadays. It is always in light of the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Any decision made otherwise is unwise; thus, it is vital to continually ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance in our life. We pray that God may bless us throughout this fast.

  May the prayers, intercessions, and blessings of all the apostles be with us all. Amen.

Source: 
• 2Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church Holy Gospel Commentary (2005/6). (ወንጌል ቅዱስ ዘእግዚእነ ወመድኃኒነ ኢየሱስ ክርስቶስ፡ 1997 ዓ.ም.)
•1The Fast and Feast of the Apostles (http://www.copticheritage.org/rites/23_the_fast_and_feast_of_the_apostles). 
• 3Bible፡ the King James Version (1769).