The last week of the Great Lent ‘Passion Week’ is the commemoration of Lord and Savior Jesus Christ suffering for the salvation of human beings. They are the six days starting from Monday till Saturday of having their own name and meaning signifying the week; So we shall see them each.
Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews and a teacher of Israel, whose secret visit to our Lord was the occasion of the discourse recorded only by Saint John. (John 3:1,10). He came to Jesus during the night when it was dark to talk to Him seeking to avoid others seeing him speaking to our Lord.
In scripted in the Holy bible, a faithful servant is one who keeps the Lord’s word in obedience and serve Him. In the parable of the talent written in Matthew 25:14-30, the story of the five servants is exemplary. For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them….
The Mount of Olive is the highest mountain in the suburbs of Jerusalem, 730 metres over the surface of the Mediterranean, comprising of a mountain range with three peaks; The South peak of the Ascension of Christ, around which all the Christian Shrines of the Mount of Olives are gathered. The North peak (Mount Scopus), on which the Hebrew University of Jerusalem is built. The middle peak with the Augusta Victoria Hospital dedicated to the wife of the German Emperor Wilhelm II. In Hebrew it is called Har-Hazeitim, the Mount of Olives. From the 4th century onwards, the Mount of Olives attracted many Christian pilgrims and monks, resulting to the building of houses of prayer, churches and monasteries on it. A Christian travelling book of the 6th century numbers 24 churches and shrines on the Mount.During the apostasy era, Lord and Savior Jesus Christ taught the disciples about judgment day on the mount of olive.
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ came by the pool and saw the impotent man and asked him, “Do you want to be made well?” He answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
Amid the apostasy era, Lord Jesus was preaching in the City of Jerusalem to attend the Passover feast with the 12 apostles. It is in scripted as “Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.” So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body.” (John 2:13-20)
Accord Saint Yared’s “Book of Tsome Deguwa”, the second week of “The Great Lent” is known as “Kideset” Amharic word to mean “Holy.” Holy is “purity, integrity.” This being the reason that in our Holy Church, all the songs sung and the readings during the “Divine Liturgy” are all regarding holiness. The second Sunday of the fast is termed as “Holy” because it is a dedication of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’s coming to earth for the salvation and blessing of mankind, to be exemplary for holiness during His coming at the apostasy era through His work and His fast which is the Great of all the fasts.
The Great Lent is the holiest fast of our Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of human beings. Therefore, we fast for forty days on the fast following the example of our Lord Jesus Christ. This year’s fast starts on Yekatit 13 (February 19, 2023), and ends at Miyazia 8 (April 16).
The Fast of Nineveh is a three-day fast starting Monday to Wednesday usually abstaining from all dairy foods and meat products. Moreover, it is to more meticulously abstain from food and drink altogether for three consecutive days. This year’s fast starts from Tir 29 (February 6) and ends at Yekatit 1 (February 8).
Mankind was bestowed a hope of salvation as the prophet foretold prophecy about the mystery of “Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” to be born from Holy Mother Saint Mary. Conferring the word of God, Christians fast “The Fast of Prophets.” This fast is amongst the seven fast and thus all in the name of Orthodox Tewahedo religion shall fast. This year’s fast begins at November 24, (Hidar 15) 2022 (2015 E.C) and lasts until January 6, (Tahisas 28), 2023 (2015). At January 7 (Tahisas 29), on the celebration of the Birth of Lord Jesus Christ, it is festival.