The third week of the Great Lent is called Synagogue, to mean “the house appropriated to the religious worship of the Jews.” It is a Holy place for the “congregation or assembly of Jews, met for the purpose of worship or the performance of religious rites” (King James new version Dictionary)
The Second Sabbath of the Great Lent is named “Holy” in representing the Holiness of God and Sabbath. God is Holy; His Holiness is His uniqueness; meaning God is Holy in nature as the word Holy means blessed, pure and unique. Holy Angels, Holy Righteous, Holy Apostles, Holy Martyrs, Holy Fathers, Holy Scholars, Holy Bishops and Holy Monks embraced holiness from God.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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.
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.
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 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.