Archive for category: Fasts

Happy Easter!

Translated by Minwagaw Temesegen

As written in Exodus, 12:21-28, this day is called Pascha, the meaning of which is crossing over. The day is commemorated for the Israelites who were freed from slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land in Canaan. In the New Testament the day is called Easter, a holiday celebrated in the memory of our LORD Jesus Christ who conquered and defeated death by His own death and freed the human race, transforming them from death to life and sleaze to glory. That is why we call it the Resurrection of Jesus. In this text, we will read about Easter from St. Luke’s word of GOD at 24:5.

 “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” (Luke. 24:5). This question was posed by the Angel of God to the Holy Women, who went to his grave early in the morning. The Holy Mothers, who spent days and nights with Jesus Christ, listening to the words of His mouth and looking at the miracles of His hands, went early in the morning to the sepulcher, avoiding the fear of the guards and of the darkness. While, the Angel of God asked them this question and then the Holy Women remembered what Jesus said three days ago about His resurrection. Then after, they went to the Holy Apostles and told them what they saw and heard. They spread the good news about Jesus’ resurrection. The Holy Apostles, then, clearly understood that He is the God of the living, not of the dead. Afterwards, they taught to the whole world about Jesus’ being the Son of God, about His passion and resurrection, and about His sitting in the divine throne equal to the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Easter is one of the main feasts celebrated in the name of Jesus. It is known as the head of all feats by the church fathers, for it was on this occasion that the hope of the holy fathers and the prophecy of the holy prophets were fulfilled. The passion and death of Jesus Christ; the Savior is not a simple piteous occurrence; it is a living truth. The teaching of the Holy Apostles on the resurrection of Christ is the foundation for our church. Thus, in our Liturgy, we clearly declare that as we die with Christ and also rise with Him. We always preach His passion, His death, His resurrection, His ascension and His second coming. At the Easter is changed the cry of pity with the melody of happiness. On this day, the church wears in white and chants hymn of delight.

It is known that Prophet Elijah and his disciple Elisha made the dead arose. The daughter of the head of a temple, whose story is written in Matthew 8:14, the son of the poor woman in Nain, whose story is recorded in Luke 7:12, and Lazarus, whose story is read in John 11, all were arisen from grave. Furthermore, on the Good Friday, when Jesus separated His holy soul from His holy flesh by his power and authority, many (between five hundred and six hundred) were arisen from the dead. However, all of them died again. Jesus’ resurrection is very special from all these. His resurrection did not need any agent; He did the resurrection by His power and authority. He resurrected from the dead with never-dying, never-changing flesh that he would not have any second death and second resurrection. As St. Paul, the light of the world, said it in the 1 Cor. 15:23, Jesus is known to be  the beginner of our resurrection because, He arose from the dead, conquering death and corruption (with undying and unchanging flesh), defeating death with His own, winning the spears of death and looting all the possessions of Hell. Moreover, St. Paul in Colossians 1:18 called Jesus the beginning, the first born from the dead.

The Word of God Jesus Christ, our benevolent of salvation, with His passion and death has given us the power to defeat death and Satan. In order to perish the power of the Devil and to save the world He created, the Son of God Jesus Christ came to this world in the will of His Father, of His Own, and of the Holy Spirit. The owner of glory Jesus Christ crucified Himself on the Cross and died in flesh but living in divinity. The Son of the Living God died in flesh to destroy the power of the Devil; He died to destroy death and to save the dead from the ever-lasting death. The One who sits on the back of the angel spent three days and three nights in grave. Going to Hell Himself in spirit, He freed the souls of Adam and his children who were under the yoke of the Original Sin. Just like He told the holy disciples and the holy apostles, He arose from the dead in His power and authority. With this, He conquered, dismiss death and corruption in the sepulcher; He also became the beginner of our resurrection like He resurrected from the dead (Col. 1:18). He revealed our resurrection with His resurrection. He turned us from death to life. The Sun of Righteousness Jesus Christ gave us resurrection to our flesh and life to our soul. Alike as He taught us in John 11:25, He is the resurrection and the life; He is the source of our life.

When celebrating Easter, then, we should bear in mind that Jesus is the God of the living, not of the dead. The angel told the women near the sepulcher, Jesus Christ has been present among the living; He is not present among the dead. Adam, our father, because he wished Godhood and ate the forbidden tree, which he did not deserve, died for a reason, flesh and spirit. In addition, he was sentenced to go to grave in his body and to hell in his soul. Death of the reason is living in sin. As St. Paul, the chosen instrument, said in Ephesus 2:1, “And you have he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins,” to live in sin is to die; moreover, as the apostle taught us the wage of sin is death. The death of the flesh is the departure of flesh from soul. The death of spirit instead is the departure of soul from God. In the contrary, resurrection can be seen in three aspects: resurrection of the reason, of the flesh, and of the spirit. As resurrection of the flesh is returning to God through repentance, resurrection of the flesh is like the daughter of Jaures and like Lazarus who arose from the dead, died again and will rise in the general resurrection. Resurrection of the spirit, on the other hand, is standing on the right side of Jesus in His second coming.

It is impossible to meet Jesus and live with Him without repentance and without participating in the Eucharist. The conqueror of death and the owner of life Jesus Christ will be with us, and we be with Him, only when we take the Holy Communion that was given in the Calvary Square. We should celebrate Easter participating in the Holy Communion, not with the meat and blood of animals. What should worry us, therefore, is not the absence of the earthly food we buy with money, but what should worry us more is our not taking of the Eucharist from the Lamb of God. Easter is the feast on which we receive Jesus and invite Him to be with us by the resurrection of our reason. Therefore, we should participate in the Holy Communion while celebrating Easter.

Christians who believe in the resurrection should get closer to God, to the One with stretched hands for love, and approach Him in confession. Let’s take the Holy Communion being God-fearing and loving, as a result of which we get the resurrection of the reason. Then we stand in glory on His right hand during the general resurrection. We inherit the Kingdom of God that was not seen by eyes of the flesh, not heard by ears of the flesh and thought by heart of the flesh. The Son of the Living God, whose Kingdom is eternal, with His life-giving death, changed our death to life and revealed His resurrection and showed us the light of the resurrection. St. Epiphanius of Cyprus in the book he called Anchor said, “In His resurrection, we narrate the mystery of our own resurrection.” As the holy fathers who met in Nicaea wrote, “We believe in the resurrection of the dead and in the life to come.” The Living God Jesus Christ took us closer to His heavenly Father so that we live in Him. He ruined the Wall of Quarrel made between Him and us. He opened the door of repentance with His Holy resurrection. Our Savior Jesus Christ, with His redeeming death, opened the gate of Heaven, and He gave us Hs fruit, i.e. the Holy Communion. Therefore, in order for us to be living, let’s take this Holy Communion. In order to forbid death from governing our life and so as to get the resurrection of reason of the soul, let’s celebrate Easter performing good deeds to the needy.

As we celebrate Easter, we should avoid absolute fall of the spirit and shame through not eating and drinking too much, not dancing and committing a variety of sins. Let’s be aware, therefore, not to be caught with the snares of sin. Not to lose the hope of resurrection as a result of sin, let’s wash our body with confession. Let’s be faster to get the resurrection of reason. Let’s help the poor, share from what we have, and ask the sick so that we could be given back two fold in the general resurrection.

May the mercy and kindness of our Savior Jesus Christ be with us. May the absolute faith of our fathers and their winning good deeds grant us to inherit the Kingdom of GOD, Amen!

Source: Amharic text by Priest Solomon Wondimu at www.mahiberekidusan.com/amharicwebsite/

 

 

 

Translated By Hiwot Salelew

His fasting in the Corinthians monastery for 40 days and night was:-

a) To Fulfill the law

Our creator God; Who is above all of the law, passed on His ‘fasting’ for the first mankind Adam, by the Pentateuch for him to inherit Eternal Life, fortifying his stability and safety by Holy Spirit as his cure.  It is the formation of the Pentateuch as well.

Our father Mosses, in Deu. 9:9 says, “While I went to the mountain for me to take the promised arc that GOD vowed with you on the two stone Holy plate, I didn’t eat bread nor have I drank water for 40 days and 40 nights.”

With this, mosses received the Pentateuch law; and thus, it is vital to fast. Our savior Jesus Christ made ‘fasting’ as the commencement of the Gospel to fulfill the law. At the Mathew’s Gospel 4:1-11, he says “I didn’t come to condemn the law but to fulfill it.”

b) To pay our debt (for our remuneration)

As GOD order our Father Adam, “Do not eat this fig (the forbidden fruit); if so, you shall die,” Gen.2፡16-17, but he disobeyed his law eating the fig and committing a delinquency. Then after he was baptized and resided in Corinthians monastery for 40 days and 40 nights without any consumption and drinking for the revocation of Adam’s eating the poison that consort death upon him; so GOD spilled his blood.

c) To be an ideal

The initiation of spiritual life and good conduct is fasting. GOD started his salvation on Friday and made it the origination of the Gospel as well. Our savior LORD Jesus Christ was baptized in this world in Jordan, where afterwards his endeavor started with fasting; as the apostles’ have also understood, they commenced abstaining.

Our Fathers made fasting the beginning of the Gospel; via which we can live with GOD’s Kingdom forever and the door to the Eternal Life was unlocked making them exemplary. However, we haven’t order them to fast while they don’t; we ought to fast and pray while living on earth with him as our savior, saving us from the predicament and ceaseless smoldering.

d) To preach us

 We should devote our life to LORD Jesus Christ to feat what is permitted, abscond what is forbidden, abiding the law, for salvation by the Gospel and to heal our sore soul. A soul with courage to fast and consequently experiencing spirituality and being diffident , denying the desire of eating and drinking needed for our corporeal can be permitted as the soul’s will.

If this soul attains what Christ sermons, we can bare every difficulty including imprisonment and whipping. Our abstaining to repentant our sin, not only to return back to GOD, but also to live Eternal Life and express our love by the Gospel of our savior LORD Jesus Christ.

e) To defeat Satan

 LORD Jesus Christ in Matthew’s Gospel 4:1-11 stated, during His fast, satan tormented him by greed, haughty and materialism. He defeated greed by tolerance, haughty with courteous and materialism through generosity.

Nowadays, we can identify these ordeals to defeat our enemy just as LORD Christ defeated satan and throw him to Hell! In Gospel of John 16-33, Christ said, “Therefore, conquer; for I have surmount the world,” because fasting heals Leprosy of soul’s. It wipes out the desire for physical craving; satisfy soul’s starvation and enslavement from satan uniting us with LORD Christ.

Why do we fast?

Alike our LORD Jesus Christ fast for our salvation; we need to follow his foot step and defeat our enemy satan for becoming heir to what our Fathers have inherited.  In the spiritual life of maturity and the physical longing, fast is a sacrifice to GOD. Fast is the foundation of every good deed of the Gospel, His first order to Adam and charismatic gifts, the beginning and the end; Alpha and Omega; GOD.

In Genesis 2:17, what He orders Adam was, “However, do not eat from the tree that distinguishes good and bad; the day you eat from that, you die.”

When we say fasting:-

1. It is way for our trepidation of GOD and to ask for His mercy

In Ezra 8:23, it is stated, “We fast pleading GOD; and He hears our prayer,” for us to understand that fasting is our way to commune with GOD and for prayer; we recognize that those people have comprehended it.

2. We appeal to GOD with our poignant and problems

The prophet Joel, during Israel was in their sorrow and starvation in Joel 1:14, informed us that we should “Bless fasting, announce the synod, gather elderly people and all living on earth to GOD pleading Him.”

The prophet Joel 2:12 told us, “GOD said, return back to Me with your entire heart with sorrow, fast and yelping; blow the trumpet in Zion; bless fasting, and announce the synod.” Thus, we shouldn’t ask GOD about our physical desire, what we eat, drink, for our peace and harmony. Foremost, Jesus Christ thought us through the prophets to fast and pray; for our enslavement of our problems and sorrow.

3. It is a gear that heals our grievance and strain good generation

The prophet Isaiah in 58፡12 informs, “The houses torn down at ancient time, will be reconstructed, its formation will pass on to the next generation and you will be known as the emissary of what is broken and renewing the path of life”. Furthermore, in verse 5 “I didn’t choose this fast, at the day like this, we shouldn’t grief and while fast makes diffident, with that GOD is faithful; there will be blessing upon earth as well; GOD will nourish him with Jacob’s bequest as He Himself stated”.

4. Way of worshiping

It is affirmed in the apostles 13:1-2 that Barnabas and Saul were called for spiritual life by fasting and praying. On those days after their fast, prayer and their blessing with their holy hand, they escorted them out.  When a person commences the path of worship, he ought to fast and pray; Like Lord Jesus Christ taught us, fast is the way of worship. To find the generation, the apostles fasted before taking apostolic pilgrimage.

5. It is our weapon to exorcise satan and evil spirit; Mark 9:29

Subsequent to our LORD exorcising demons whom the disciples were unable too; they asked “Why couldn’t we exorcise,” and so he elucidated their lack of faith. “This generation can get salvation by praying and fasting; but none other.” Other than that, it is important to understand the improbability to exorcise. Opposing and resenting fasting, without its functionality and thinking we could expel demons; it could lead us into being despair and fools of satan.

Weeks of the Great fasting

Whilst our LORD and savior Jesus Christ abstained Himself for 40 days and night, Christians tribute the eight weeks termed in their holy scriptures.  These are:-

1. The first Sunday of the Great fast is known as ‘Zewerede’ meaning the one who descended from above.
2. The second Sunday known as ‘Kidist’, the name signifying GOD’s holiness.
3. The third Sunday is ‘Mikurab’; the word standing for the synagogue, reminding us that our LORD during His ministry taught in the synagogue.
4. The fourth Sunday is ‘Metsague’; meaning the one who infirm. A hymn for the healing of the sick and giving sight to the blind by the LORD is sung on this day.
5. The fifth Sunday is ‘Debrezeit’ a geez word standing for mount olives. A hymn of our lord’s second coming -dooms day which he taught on Mount of Olives is sung on this day.
6. The sixth Sunday ‘Gebreher’/Good servant/, the story of the good servant who received two talents are told and sung on this day.
7. The seventh is ‘Nikodimus’– a hymn commerating the coming to ‘Nikodimus’ to our LORD during the night is sung.
8. The eight Sunday is ‘Hosanna’/Palm Sunday/. It is a commemorative day on which our LORD entered into the temple in triumph and during which the people sung Hosanna in the highest.

Source: Amharic text by Deacon Yosef Bekele at/www.mahiberekidusan.com/amharicwebsite/

Likewise, one who implores by invoking their names, commemorates them and believes in their role of intercession shall be rewarded as has been confirmed by God.Our Lord says in the Gospel of Mathew 10:41-42 “that if any one receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple; verily I say unto you, he shall in nowise lose his reward.”

Saints intercede not only in the realms of the flesh as the scriptures testify for they are alive in soul. (Ex.32:2-15; Enoch 12:33-40, Luke 20:37-40). The word of God is living, and it works on the living. His covenant never changes and He Himself has said that saints are also living.

The church believes in the covenant and honor bestowed on holy Apostles, martyrs and the righteous. Covenant has been given to them that those who forsook all and followed him by carrying his cross and received hardship for the name and glory of Christ shall sit upon the twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel when the son of man sits on his glorious throne. (Matt. 19:28)

If the Lord said this about the apostles, then how much more effective would be the prayers of the Mother of God for the salvation of her children? We have seen St. Mary receiving the motherhood of the Incarnate Son of God. This motherhood is not merely an honorable title but a responsibility of unceasing work. Being a superior member of the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, she responds to the need of the other members seeking the salvation of everyone.

The story of the wedding of Cana of Galilee shows how great the intercession of Virgin Mary is. When St. Mary saw that the wine at the wedding had run out, she informed her Son, “they have no wine” (Jn 2:3). Of course the Lord was aware of that and surely he does not need to be reminded with the need of his children. But He who is full of love is pleased to see the mutual feeling of love in His mother and His children.

Her request was only made once, which shows clearly her confidence in Her Son’s reply, for she did not repeat her request but with every assurance she said to the people, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”  (Jn 2:5)  Through her conversation with the people of the wedding, we can visualize her role in intercession. For she presents our needs to her Son and then directs our hearts to diligently carry out His comandments and to do whatever He tells us.
Accordingly, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church commemorates  the covenant of St. Mary by the name Kidane Mehret.

Kidane Mihret (ኪዳነ ምሕረት) is a Ge’ez phrase which literally means ‘covenant of mercy’. The phrase is used to refer to God’s promise to St. Mary that he would forgive the sins of those who seek her intercession – a fact that underscores the enormous grace of Our Lady before the Almighty.  Kidane Mihret also refers to Yekatit 16 (February 23), the day on which St. Mary received the promise.It is also observed on the 16th day of each month though not as colorfully as on February 23. The day marks one of the 33 feasts of St.Mary.

According to the Ethiopic Synaxarium (pp.365), God has promised St. Mary that he will bless those who celebrate her commemoration, call upon her name, or give alms to the poor even if it were only a cup of cold water. He also promised to bless those who build churches in her name, give cloth to the poor; those who visit the sick, feed the hungry, comfort the grieving, or write the history of her strife.
 
May her prayer and intercession be with us!!!
 Source: 
• The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church Faith, Order of Worship and Ecumenical Relations (1996: 60-62).    
• The book of the saints of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church (Synaxarium).

The dates of this fast vary every year according to the date of Easter. It rotates within 35 days of variance between Tir 17 (January 25) of lower limit and Yekatit 21 (February 29) of upper limit). The Fast of Nineveh is ritualistically similar to the Fast of the Great Lent. As with all other fasts of the Holy church, the fast of Nineveh is observed by refraining from the intake of all dairy and meat products.

During this fast, we remember the three days Prophet Jonah spent in the belly of a large fish as penance for his disobedience to God and the atonement of the sinful city of Nineveh. This fast teaches us how a sinner can inherit the kingdom of God through repentance and realized God’s love and concern not just for His own people.

During these three days, we should look at our lives and show remorse for our disobedient natures and follow in the footsteps of Prophet Jonah and the people of Nineveh. This fast is about getting rid of our bad habits, just like the mariners threw most of their cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load and to make the ship sail safe. This fast is about to cast off our worldly desires and cultivating virtues. Just as the captain awakened Jonah from his sleep, let us also awaken ourselves from spiritual sleep and call upon God during this three-day Fast. 

Note: As the fast of Nineveh is the herald of the Great Lent, the Great Lent (55 days of fast) will begin on Monday, February 21.