Fasts – Page 7 – Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church Sunday School Department

The Great Lent

The Great Lent (Fast) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 40 days after His baptism is one of the seven proclamations that our church commands us to fast. Christians follow the example of our Lord and fast it every year. It has eight weeks (52 days), eight Saturdays and eight Sundays; and each of the Sundays are named after the Psalm of Saint Jared; The First Sunday Zewerede: He who comes down, The Second Sunday is Kedest; Holy/Sanctify, The Third Sunday Mekurab: Temple, The Fourth Sunday is Metsagu: Infirmity, the Paralytic, The Fifth Sunday Debre Zeit: Mount of Olives, The Sixth Sunday is Gebre Here; Faithful Servant, The Seventh Sunday is Nicodemus: A ruler of the Jews and The Eight Sunday Hosanna/Savior: Palm Sunday.

The Fast of Nineveh

Fast of Nineveh is three days subsequent fast and repentance of the Ninevites by the warning message of the Prophet Jonah. It is known to be the fast of repentance, humility and the return to God. Thus, the Church considers this fast amongst the Great Fast; Lent and other Fasts.

Weeks of the Prophet’s Fast

The three weeks before the birth of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the prophets fast are called are called Sermon, Light, and Nolawi. These weeks reflect on three different ways in which the prophets expressed their longing for God’s salvation in this world and how our Lord responded to them.

The Fast of the Prophets

Merit by the grace bestowed upon them, Prophets in the Old Testament foretold the coming of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Salvation of mankind with His coming, His birth from the Virgin and baptized in the Hands of Saint John, suffer and be crucified upon the cross. They yearned for the His revelation and awaited for the fulfillment of the prophecy, fasting and praying…

Fast of Judith

Epoch the Israel entered in military maneuverings of Holoferenes, the Army General of King Nebuchadnezzar, the Assyrians arise to dominate the world. By the time the Israelis endured the King’s inducement and carnage, Judith, a wealthy widow who was living under God’s command spending most of her days in solitude, prayer and fasting saved them from the Holoferenes and the Babylonian empire.

The Fast of the Assumption of Saint Mary

One of the seven canonized fasts of the Ethiopian church, The Fast of the Assumption of Saint Mary is observed as a remembrance of the fast the apostles held in passion of witnessing the falling asleep and assumption of Saint Mary. It takes place from August 7-22. Filseta literally meaning the movement in the Ge’ez language refers to Saint Mary’s assumption.

The Great Lent

Amid Apostasy era, LORD Jesus Christ fasted for forty days and nights in the desert to his promise of Adam’s salvation. Holy Bible stated the fast as “The Great Lent.”Later than his baptism, LORD Jesus Christ was challenged by enemy Satan, where he was consequently encountering obstacles during his fasting. He faced all the evil and tribulations for our atonement of human race; and hence all Christians in the name of Christianity fast “The Great Lent” for their emancipation of sins and Salvation

The Holy Cross and its Celebration

The Meskel Holiday is celebrated on Meskerem 17 (27th of September) and Megabit 10 (19th of March). The word Meskel means, Cross and the feast commemorates the finding of the True Cross by St. Helena.

The Holy Cross and Helena

On the 17th of Meskerem (27th of September) of every year, we celebrate the Feast of the Cross. This is when we remember the appearance of the glorious Cross of Jesus Christ, our Lord. After Jesus was crucified, many miracles were done near Jesus’ grave.

Apostles’ Fast

By Hiwot Salelew

Apostles’ fast, traditionally known as the fast of June by laities, due to its seasonality at the month of June, is amongst the seven^th fasting. Apostles fasted after accepting the Holy Spirit and before setting out to preach gospel.

It is a fast transpiring after the holiday of Pentecost. On the fortieth day our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ rising from the dead, he went to the house where the diligence of holy apostles arise by praying with disciples. He led them upfront to the longest mountain covered with tall trees, Debrezeit. Alerting them about it, he ascended up higher and higher. A bright white cloud hailed GOD. He rose up far disappearing from their sight not with distancing with but profundity. Out of the very profound love for their LORD Jesus Christ and grieving about his ascending, apostles gazed at the sky for a long time.

Suddenly, they saw two Holy Angels with white clothes standing beside them. The angels told the apostles, “People of Galilee, why are you standing staring at the sky? Jesus shall return back just as you saw Him ascend to the sky.”(Apostles 1÷ 8-11). After apostles heard the angel’s calming words, they went to the temple in Jerusalem to pray and fast with unity, with Holy Mother Saint Virgin Mary beside them, where they remained till the prophecy that LORD Jesus Christ spoke about is fulfilled.

Apostles’ Fast takes places on the first Monday, after the holiday of Pentecost. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in his era on earth acquainted with the disciples to fast. On those days, Jonathon’s disciples come near him and asked, “The Pharisees and along with us will massively fast. Why don’t the disciples fast? (Matthew 9÷14). And LORD Christ replied saying, “Made of Honors won’t grief while the bride is with them; However, there shall come seasons when the bride is taken from them. Then they will fast.” (Matthew 9÷15).

His words meant, while He is here without His death, ascending and embracing Holy Spirit; devoid of renewal of their corporal with the Holy Spirit, they can’t fast and trounce. Just as the apostles fasted and prayed creating heavenly world, we fast the Apostles’ Fast to plead GOD gives us power to defeat our enemy. Though each laities ought to fast, these days most of them refer it as “fast of Priests” and recoil. This is not based on the church’s liturgy and must be altered. Epitomizing Apostles, we merit to fast and be blessed.

May GOD’s mercy,

The intersession of Holy Mother Saint Virgin Mary,

Blessing of Holy Apostles,

The intercession and prayer of the Righteous and Martyrs be with us.

Amen

Source: Amharic text by Teklehawariyat at/ www.mahberekidusan.com/amharic website/