Fasts – Page 9 – Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church Sunday School Department

The Festival of Timket

January 18, 2017

By Kassa Nigus

Baptismal pool in Jan – Meda, Addis Ababa

‘Timket’ is a Ge’ez word meaning “immersion in water” similar to the Baptism of Jesus Christ. The word also denotes epiphany which is driven from the Greek word epiphaneia meaning “appearance”. The annual Timket celebration is held across Ethiopia on Tir 11 E.C (January 19 G.C)

with processions of priests carrying replicas of the Ark of Covenant, locally known as ‘Tabot’, escorted by thousands of believers. The day is observed in commemoration of Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River. Timket is not only one of the major feasts of the Ethiopian church but it is also a public holiday when offices and schools across the country are closed.

The festive lasts two days, the 18th (the eve of Timket) and the 19th 0f January, even extending to a third day where there is Tabots dedicated to Archangel Michael whereby celebrated the feast of the miracle of Jesus at the wedding of Cana.

Though Timket is celebrated on January 19, the season, according to the church’s tradition, covers the period from the eve of the festival to the start of the three-day fast observed in commemoration of the fast the people of Nineveh observed to avert God’s wrath.

During the Timket season, the church praises the Lord reciting chants and readings pertaining to the Birth, Circumcision, and Baptism of Christ as well His miracle at a Wedding in Cana of Galilee. (Luke 2:21; John 2:1-11)

The Origin of Timket Festival in Ethiopia

As land of God, Ethiopia has been following the teachings of the apostles and started celebrating epiphany at the national level in 530 AD during the reign of Emperor Gebre Meskel. In 1140 AD, king and priest Lalibela made an amendment to the existing tradition of the Epiphany celebration by which he made a decree that urged all Arks of covenant (Tabots) to be carried to a river or pool together to bless the waters. (Megabe Mstir Welde Rufael Fetahi and Kesis Samuel Eshetu, 2014)

In 1426 AD, following a proposal from scholars, Emperor Zer’a Ya’ekob declared that the Tabots be taken to nearby pools on the eve (January 18) and stay the night there blessing the nation. In 1486 AD, Emperor Naod also made an order that the Tabots be escorted by the faithful in colorful processions. (Ibid.)

The Eve of Timket

Baptismal pool of Fasiledes in Gondar

1._fasiledes_timkat.jpg

The eve of Timket is known by the two major events: Ketera and Gehad. Following those traditions, the Tabots are taken to rivers and pools early afternoon on the eve of Timket, which is known as “Ketera” meaning ‘making a reservoir for the celebration’. Each Tabot is carried overhead by a high priest to the nearby body of water accompanied by thousands of church members chanting hymns. The celebration is also augmented by spiritual dancing (known as Shibsheba), drum beating, horn blowing, prayer stick waving and sistra rattling.

Alula Pankhurst (2010) state that the eve of Timket is known as Ketera, a reference to damming a stream to make a baptismal pool, known as Timkete Bahir. He recounted quoting from early literature that James Bruce, the 18th century Scottish traveler, describes how the streams are in Adwa was dammed for several days to reach a depth of four feet. In some cities pools were purpose – built, the most famous being Fasiledes’s pool at Gondar and the queen of Sheba’s at Aksum. The 16th century Portuguese writer Francisco Alvares describes how water was diverted at Emperor Lebne Dengil’s court through an intricate system of channels and pipes and filtered through cloth.

The celebrations begin with a procession leaving each church in the early afternoon after a service and a prayer which is known as Wazema have been performed as it has been done during other major church holidays.

Around 3 Pm, the chiming of church bells signals the appearance of the Tabot and excitement mounts among the awaiting crowds. The head priest emerges bearing the Tabot on his head secluded from public view by a velvet cloth embroidered with gold and silver. Other priests hold ceremonial umbrellas above the Tabot for adoration as well as to protect it from sun and rain. Women ululate, youths cheer, and crowds applaud to the rhythm of drum beat. The procession circles the church and sets off, preceded by Sunday school choirs. Priests carry swaying censors, deacons beat drums, and groups of youths sing and dance, while musicians blow trumpets and play string instruments. (Ibid.)

The festive procession is said to symbolize the journey of Jesus from Galilee to the River Jordan described in Mathew chapter three and has also been linked to Biblical scenes of David dancing around the Ark described in Samuel chapter six. On the journey more and more people join and onlookers fall to their knees in reverence, some kissing the ground, some rubbing their bodies with soil and grass from under the feet of priests carrying Tabots to ensure blessings. (Ibid)

The procession turns into a massive human river in which participants are swept along with the joyous tide. Once the Tabots are safely installed in their tents the service begins with the patriarch’s (head priest’s) benediction. Choirs form two parallel lines and perform their rhythmic swaying dances, moving towards each other and parting again raising and lowering their sistra in one hand and their prayer sticks in the other, to the beat of the drummer in the middle who gradually increases the tempo, finally reaching a frenzied climax. (Ibid)

The eve of Timket is also locally known as Gehad, meaning ‘manifestation’ in relation to the appearance of Jesus Christ. It is a one day fast assuming that if the feast of the two great holidays – Christmas and Epiphany falls on Wednesday and Friday, the laity shall fast the days before epiphany in replacement of the fast of Wednesday and Friday to celebrate these great feasts in joy and happiness. If the eve of Epiphany falls on Saturday and Sunday, one can consume early in the morning but only prohibited from dairy products. Priests and devout Orthodox Christians do not taste any food or water until the Tabots installed in their temporary tents around sunset.

Throughout the night sermons in relation to the Baptismal of Jesus, singing, dancing and praying to continue. The Kiddase (Divine Liturgy) is administered near the pools early in the morning. Passages from the story of the Baptism of Jesus Christ recited from the four Gospels at the cardinal points of the pool.

The Patriarch (head priest) dips his cross to bless the water. Three candles are floated on a water of wood in the baptismal pool, symbolizing the Holy Trinity. The water is then blessed and sprinkled towards the assembled congregation, some of whom immerse themselves in the water, symbolically renewing their baptismal vows.

The blessing of the water is the signal for jubilation and great excitement as anticipation spreads through the crowds. Priests spray water on expectant onlookers. Sprinklers reach those further from the perimeter fence. Joy radiates on the face of those with drops of water glowing on their faces. Some jump into the pool and help shower others. Others fill receptacles with holy water for those too old or infirm to take part. (Alula Panhurst, 2010)

Afterwards, a festive and relaxed mood sets in. men and women form dancing groups. Horsemen play Gugs, a contest with wands thrown in lieu of spears and warded off with shields. Youths play Genna, the Ethiopian hockey or stick fighting. Youths sell peanuts, roasted grain, sweets, and poles painted with the national colors. Families enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and the celebrations are characterized by a delightful air of informality. (Ibid.)

Return from Timkete Bahir

However, the festival does not end at a baptismal pool on the afternoon of January 19; the crowd escorts the return journey of Tabots, which circle their respective church before entering the Mekdes, the Holy of Holies. Only the Tabots of St Michael remains a further night there, since its feast is on the following day, associated with the first miracle of Jesus, the Wedding of Cana.

The central role of the Tabot throughout the ceremony, from the triumphant procession to waterside to the jubilant journey back to the church is unique. The Tabot is essentially an Ethiopian phenomenon not shared by any other Christian church. It is the only consecrated object anointed with Holy Oil, conferring its sacred nature on the church. Tabots are kept in the Holy of Holies and cannot be touched and seen by the laity. (Ibid.)

Whatever its historical and religious connotations Timket is also the most important festival of rejoicing, coming at a time of plenty after the harvest. People dress in their best new clothes; according to a popular saying in Amharic, the national language of Ethiopia, ‘ለጥምቀት ያልሆነ ቀሚስ ይበጣጠስ’ – a dress not used for Timket deserves to be torn to tatters.’ (Ibid.)

In addition to the fasting and feasting , the jubilant processions and the baptismal ceremony, coming as it does in the wedding season, Timket is also known as an occasion for romance and betrothal. It is said that in the countryside a young man would throw a lemon to girl he choose to be his fiancee at Timket and by accepting his gift she would signal his interest in him. (Ibid.)

Though Timket is a religious festival, many ethnic groups in Ethiopia celebrate it in line with their cultures. This adds to the appeal of the festival for foreign visitors and makes it one of the national celebrations which attract many tourists to Ethiopia. Currently, there has been a campaign to record this culturally deep-rooted Ethiopian holiday in UNESCO’s intangible world heritage list next to Meskel (True Cross) celebrations.

Source:

• Megabe Mstir Welde Rufael Fetahi and Kesis Samuel Eshetu, 2014 (tra. Dr. Merkeb Mekuria), Betimketu Dagmenga Weleden, pp.132, (Special publication by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church, Addis Ababa: Tinsae Zegubae).

• Alula Pankhurst, (January – March 2010). The Festival of Timket in ‘Selamta Journal’ – the In – flight Magazine of Ethiopian Airlines, Volume 27, Number 1, Pp. 34-36.

Circumcision of Jesus Christ (Gezret)

January 14, 2017

By Kassa Nigus

The Feast of the Circumcision of Jesus is observed on the 6th of January in the liturgical calendar of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church.

Jesus was circumcised eight days after His birth in keeping with the Old Testament law which holds that males should be circumcised eight days after birth on which they are also given their names. (Luke 2:21)

In the Old Testament, circumcision was a sign of the covenant made between God and Abraham’s offspring of promise. It represented a symbol which set apart those who believed in God from those who didn’t. (Leviticus 12:3) Isaac, the only son of Abraham chosen by God to be the heir of the covenant, was circumcised on the eighth day according to God’s order. From that time circumcision became a most important rite during the Old Testament.

In the New Testament, circumcision has been replaced by baptism which came to symbolize entry into the new covenant and becoming an heir to God’s eternal promises. Our Lord Jesus Christ was taken to the temple eight days after His birth because He came to accomplish the law of prophets and Torahs. (Mathew 5:17, Luke 2:21) He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He had been conceived.

According to a tradition in the Ethiopian church, when the man who carried out circumcisions approached Jesus, his knife almost melted down and so he was afraid. Then Jesus opened His mouth and said, “My blood shall not be shed on earth except on [Good] Friday”. Later Jesus was found circumcised Divinely.
Source:
• Ethiopic Synaxarium,on January 14.
• Hiruy Ermias 2006E.C, Mezgebe Tarik part 2, pp.141.

The Feast of Archangel Gabriel

December 26, 2016

By Kassa Nigus

According to his homily, St Gabriel is one of the archangels who strongly contended for the honor and wisdom of God when the fraud angle wished to be the highest in heaven, even above God. During that time of mystification, St. Gabriel heartened his fellow angles saying, "we shall persist till we realize our Creator”.

All heaven fell in commotion as Satan attempted to conquer the Son of God and those who were submissive to his will. But the good angels prevailed, and Satan, with his followers, was driven from heaven. (Isaiah 14:12-20; Ezekiel 28:1-19; Revelation 12:7-9)

St Gabriel is also the angel who announced to Zacharias the priest that his sterile wife will give birth to a son who will be called John (Luke 1:13). He mentioned some prophecies about that son, which shows that angels are capable of knowing what will happen in the future as revealed to them by God. Gabriel is also the one who was sent to the Holy Virgin and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35).

Gabriel also clarifies visions when ordered by God. This appears in the vision of the prophet Daniel. When Daniel was perplexed with the vision, the Lord sent Gabriel to clarify the meaning of the vision to Daniel. (Dan. 8:16) In the subsequent chapter, the angel said, “O Daniel, I now come forth to give you skill and understanding.” (Dan.9: 22)

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church celebrates colorfully the Feast of St. Gabriel on 19th day of each month.
Tahisas 19 (December 27) is dedicated to commemorate the deliverance of the three youths (Sidraq, Misaq and Abdenago) from the burning fire of Nebuchadnezzar through the help of St Gabriel (Daniel 3).

May the intecesion of St Gebriel be with us !

Sebket : the Season of Prophetic Announcement

December 17, 2016

By Kassa Nigus

‘Sebket’ is a Ge’ez word meaning ‘preaching, proclamation, (but in this context it is better to be defined as prophetic announcement)’. The week covers the period from Tahisas 7 – 13 (December16-22). During the period, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido church recounts the words of prophets about the incarnation of God.

The prophets foretold the incarnation of the Word (Son of GOD), one of the persons of Holy Trinity, symbolizing Him and His Mother through different imagery which are revealed to them by God.

Every year, the Ethiopian church recognizes the clear prophetic statements that foretold the Coming of Jesus Christ for the salvation of mankind. It celebrates as one of the minor feasts of Our Lord Jesus Christ in three consecutive weeks known as “Sibket (prophetic announcement), Berhan (light) and Nolawi (shepherd)” prior to Christmas. The church celebrates the feasts by drawing scriptural readings relevant to the specific declaration of the prophets, how it was to be accomplished, and what it means for mankind.

Scriptures proved from prophecies of the Old Testament that Jesus Christ is indeed the promised Messiah and Savior, prophetically validating Him as the coming King of kings and Lord of lords! Some of the prophetic evidences and symbols recorded in scriptures read during this period are listed below: (Heb. 1: 1-14; 2 Pet. 3:1-9; Acts 3:17-26; Ps. 144:7-8; Jn. 1:44-51).

Glory be to God forever, amen!

Beata: The Entrance of Saint Mary into the Temple

December 10, 2016

By Kassa Nigus

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church celebrates the Entrance of Saint Mary into the Temple at Jerusalem on Tahisas 3 (December 12) as one of the thirty three feasts of St. Mary in the year. The Feast recognized in the Ethiopian Church as “Be’ata” in Ge’ez language to mean “her entry” to the Temple.

The entrance of our holy Lady the Virgin, Saint Mary into the Temple took place when she was three years old, for she was dedicated to God. Her mother, Hannah, was childless. The women who were in the Temple kept themselves away from her, and she was exceedingly sorry about this and Joachim her husband was an old man.

Hannah prayed to God fervently and with a repentant heart saying, "If You gives me a fruit, I will devote the child to Your Holy Temple." God answered her prayers and she brought forth this pure saint and called her Mary. She reared her for three years, after which she took her in to the Temple and given to the chief priest of the time, Zacharias to live with the virgins in the Temple.

At this time, the chief priest Zacharias received her and thought critically what to do in respect of her sustenance so that he gathered the priests to talk about her sustenance. At a moment the archangel Phanuel appeared to them descending on the space holding of heavenly bread. Then, Zacharias and other priests being prepared one after another to partake the food from the angle supposed as it was to them but the angle ascended back and has not approached to one of them. Later on, when the Child had left alone, the angle descended and fed her covering of his wings.

Then, she received her sustenance from the hands of the angels, until the time when our Lord Christ came into the world, and was incarnated through her, the elect of all women. Saint Mary dwelt in the sanctuary for 12 years learning the doctrines, commandments and sacred rites. When she had completed 12 years in the sanctuary, the priests took counsel together concerning her, because at this age, they believed that she reached puberty, so that she had to depart from the temple. So that they might entrust her to someone who would protect her, for she was consecrated to God and they were not allowed to keep her in the temple after this age.

Then, Zachariah prayed to God concerning Mary. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him and said, “Zachariah, go forth and gather together all the men and old men, and take their staffs, and write the name of each man upon his staff. Then gather together all the staffs into the Sanctuary, and pray to God; and after this go forth and give unto each man his staff. And the man on whose staff the Lord God shall make a sign to appear is he who is worthy that Mary shall be given unto him to protect.”

In view of that, he gathered 12 righteous men from the house of David of the Tribe of Juda so he might place her with one of them. He took their staffs inside the Sanctuary, and a dove flew up and stood on the staff belonging to Joseph the carpenter who was a righteous man. They knew that this was God’s will.

Accordingly, the priests decided that she was assigned to Joseph as guardian and could take care of her and who would look after her. Joseph took the holy Virgin St. Mary, and she dwelt with him until St Gabriel, the Angel of the Lord, came and announced to her that the Son of God was to be incarnated from her, for the salvation of Adam and his posterity.

May Her intercession be with us and glory be to God!

Source:

• The Ethiopic Synaxarium on December 12.

• Hiruy Ermiyas 2006 E.C. Mezgebe Tarik part1, pp.85-86.

The Commemoration of the Festival of the Twenty four Priests of heaven

December 03, 2016

The twenty-four Priests of heaven are a class of priestly angels positioned in the fifth rank of angelic hierarchy and perform priestly duties without rest. (Rev. 4:4, 10, 11) They have been cleansing, praying and seek mercy for mankind as they had cleansed Isaiah with live coal from the altar. (Isa. 6:1-7).

They are also called Seraphim from the Hebrew word ‘seraph’ or ‘seraphim’ (plural) – meaning ‘burners’. They fly around the Throne of God crying "Holy, Holy, Holy” and are six-winged angles; with two wings they cover their faces, with another two they cover their feet, and the last two they use to fly. (Isa. 6:2-3)
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewaido church has been built churches dedicated to them and celebrates their feast each year on Hidar 24 (December 3).

The Ethiopic Synaxarium records the description of the Twenty four Priests of Heaven as follows:

In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit One God, Amen.

On this day is commemorated the festival of the Twenty Four Priests of heaven, who are round about the throne of God, who are priests indeed, and who are beings of the spirit and have no bodies. They are exalted above all the saints and the spiritual hosts.

They are saints with God and they make intercession on behalf of the race of men, and they bring unto Him the prayers of the saints like incense in the censers in their hands. Alms and oblations cannot ascend to God except through them even as Saint John the evangelist says in the Vision of the Apocalypse, “I saw the place of Twenty Four elders round about Him, and they were sitting on twenty four thrones; and on their heads were twenty four crowns, and in their hands were twenty four censers containing sweet-smelling incense, which is the prayers of the saints who dwell upon earth, and which they make to rise up before God, the Sustainer of the Universe.”

And he also says, “And I heard Four Beasts praising and saying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord [God] of Hosts, the heavens and the earth are filled full of the holiness of Thy glory”. And straightway the twenty four priests of heaven fell down with their faces to the ground, and they took off their crowns, and they said unto Him, Glory, and honor, and thanks are fitting for Thee. And when a command went forth from God they fell down again with their faces to the ground, saying, Glory, and power, and judgment, and righteousness belong to our God” (Rev. 4:4).

And because the father of the Church have found statements about these Twenty Four Priests of heaven in the Holy Scriptures, and have seen stories told of them by the Apostles and in their Canon, saying that they are nigh unto God, they have ordered and ruled, saying, “The name of him that celebrates their commemoration shall be revealed upon earth. And they shall entreat God on his behalf to forgive him all his sins.” Therefore, Church fathers tell the people to honor the festival of the commemoration of the Twenty Four Priests of heaven.

Salutation to you, O priests of the Law. Their intercession be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen

Source: Ethiopic Synaxarium – (Translation of Sir E. A. Wallis Budge on December 3).

The Feast of the Ark of the Covenant

November 29, 2016

Kassa Nigus

st.tsion.jpg

This is a feast colorfully celebrated every year on Hidar 21 (November 30) at every church dedicated to St. Mary. The day is observed with special fervor particularly in Axum Tsion where the Arc of the Covenant is housed safely. The occasion is attended by massive Christian pilgrimages from all over Ethiopia and also foreign visitors making it one of the most joyous annual pilgrimages in Axum, the sacred city of Ethiopians.

The Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion claims to contain the original Ark of the Covenant.The Feast of the Ark of the Covenant (locally known as Tabote Tsion) is held in commemoration of different historical events including the coming of the Ark of the Covenant to Ethiopia and the construction of the first church dedicated to St. Mary in Axum.

The day also marks the destruction of Dagon by the power of the ark of God, as recorded in the Bible, and the return of the Arc to Israel after seven months of exile at the Dagon’s house in Philistine. (1 Samuel 4; 6)

The Origin of the Ark of the Covenant

The Ark of the Covenant described as the original container for the Ten Commandments and the central symbol of God’s presence with the people of Israel. Its names convey the holy sense of God’s presence. The Hebrew word for ark means simply “box, chest, coffin,” as is indicated by its use for the coffin of Joseph (Genesis 50:26) and for the Temple collection box of King Joash (2 Kings 12:9-10).

The word “covenant” in the name defines the ark from its original purpose as a container for the stone tablets upon which the Ten Commandments (sometimes called the “testimony”) were inscribed. Sometimes it is identified with many names but most ornately known by “the Ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts Who is enthroned on the cherubim” (1 Samuel 4:4).

The origin of the Ark goes back to Moses at Sinai. It was planned during Moses’ first sojourn on Sinai and built after all the tabernacle specifications had been communicated and completed. (Holman Bible Dictionary 1991),

After the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, God gave them the tablet of the Ten Commandments (Tabote Tsion) through Mosses in the mount of Sanai so they use it as a sacred instrument to worship God. The Ark was carried by the Israelites during their 40 years of journey to the land of hope. Whenever they camped, the Ark was placed in a special and sacred tent called the Tabernacle.

The Captivity of the Ark of God and the Death of Eli

In the course of time, during the reign of Elli, unusual events took place among Palestinians and Israelites. The story recounted in the 1st Book of Samuel goes as follows. The old priest Eli had two children (Hophni and Phinehas) who were behaving wickedly, taking for themselves all the prime cuts of meat from sacrifices and committing adultery with women who served at the sanctuary`s entrance.

Eli was aware of their behavior but he rebuked them too lightly and was unable to make them give up their bad deeds. He used to tell them, “my children what I heard of you is wrong; if a man does wrong to a man to God is prayed for, but how could you do wrong to God?” but he refrained from punishing them because they were his sons.

Eli’s sons kept on doing sinful acts, and so, Samuel the Prophets was sent to Eli to tell him that he and his family will be punished for their wrongdoing: “God has sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering forever …In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house. When I begin, I will also make an end. For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.” (1 Samuel 3:12-14)

As a result, the Philistines attacked Israel. “And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israelites; and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines, and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men eventually capturing the Ark of the Covenant from the Israelites and killing Eli’s sons, who accompanied the Ark to the battle as priests. (1 Samuel 4:2)

Israelites were always victorious in their battles whenever they had Tabote Tsion amidst them. But because God’s wrath was on them due to the sins of Eli’s sons, they lost the battle and many thousands died in the war filled. Tabote Tsion was captured in the battle and both of Eli’s sons were killed.

Eli, who was nearly blind, was unaware of the event until he asked about all the commotion. Sitting in a chair, he was told what had happened by a soldier who had fled the battle. The soldier said to Eli "I am one who has barely escaped from the war to tell you that the ark has been captured by our enemies and both of your sons died on the war"

Upon hearing the shocking news, Eli fell backwards out of his chair and died from a broken neck. He was a Judge of Israel for a total of 40 years, and died at the age of 98. His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near the time of delivery. When she heard the news that the Ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and husband were dead. She went into labor and gave birth, but was overcome by labor pains. As she was dying, the women attending to her said "Don’t despair; you have given birth to a son." But she did not respond or pay any attention. She named the boy Ichabod, to mean The Glory has departed from Israel – because of the capture of the Ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband.

After their victory at Ebenezer, the Philistines took Tabote Tsion to their country but misfortune fell on them. When in Ashdom, it was placed in the temple of Dagon under the idol. The next morning Dagon was found prostrate, bowing down before Tabote Tsion. They again restored the idol to its original place but yet again on the following morning Dagon was found broken into pieces.

The Philistines were also plagued by diseases and an outbreak of mice. They then sent Tabote Tsion to the land of Ashdon. But the same tragedy occurred among the people of Gath and Ekron to whom Tabote Tsion was moved. After the Ark had been among them for seven months, the Philistines, on the advice of their diviners, returned it to the Israelites, accompanying its return with an offering consisting of golden images of the tumors and mice with which they had been afflicted. The Ark was then set in the field of Joshua (1 Sam. 6:1-15).

Based on these miraculous events, the Ethiopian Church celebrates the feast of the Ark of the Covenant locally known as Tabote Tsion.

May the intercession and blessings of Saint Mary be up on us all!

Source:

• Holman Bible Dictionary, published by Broadman & Holman, 1991.

• "Sacred Sites of Ethiopia and the Arc of the Covenant". Sacredsites.com. Retrieved 2016-11-27.

The Fast of the Prophets (Tsome Nebiyat)

November 24, 2016

By Kassa Nigus

Based on Fetha Negest (Article 15, Number 565), the Fast of the Prophets (Tsome Nebiyat) is one of the seven official fasting seasons ordained in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church that starts on 15th Hedar (November 24) and ends on Christmas eve 28th of Tahsas (January 06). The Orthodox Church observes the Feast of the Nativity of Jesus Christ with 44 days of fast, which culminates in the feast.

It is called the Fast of the Prophets because the prophecy about the coming of Christ was fulfilled. Sometimes it is called Yelidet Tsome or Christmas Fast to commemorate the Birth of Christ.

Thanks to the grace bestowed upon them by the Lord, the Prophets foretold the coming of Christ, Salvation of mankind with His coming, the birth of Christ from the Virgin and yearned for the birth of Our Lord and they used different creatures to symbolize Christ. Nowadays, we fast it not by expecting the birth of Jesus Christ but to celebrate the gift we acquired consequent upon His Birth and to take part in the blessings of our forefathers, prophets and apostles.

The Church recognizes the necessity for her children to “chastise the body and bring it under subjection”, as St. Paul advises. The body is ever striving for mastery over the spirit. Besides the external sources of temptation, the world, we have always another source within us, which is a part of our nature. This is why mortification is necessary. Self-denial in lawful things enables us to turn with great earnestness to spiritual things.

It is on these grounds that the Ethiopian Church has strictly adhered to the injunctions of the Didascalia and practices faithfully the longest and most strict fasts in the world. More than 70 % of days of the year in the Ethiopian Church are strict fasting days for all members of the church above the age of 7.

Fasting is not only prayer and abstinence from eating meat, fat, eggs and dairy products. Nor is it just abstaining from eating for certain duration of time. When we fast we should also refrain from all wrongdoings, and evil deeds such as vanity, violence, jealousy, hatred, and all works of Satan. Rather, it is a time of deeper repentance and it should be done with the object of seeking to know God in a deeper prayer and experiencing spiritual contemplation.

We have to overcome our earthly desire and stay away from those who advise quoting, “… let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die.” (1Cor 15:32) Because those who advise this push us away from the right path and separate us from God; they push us to sin and darkness, not to the light and righteousness. This is because from the very beginning man was created to live through the law, not through lawlessness.

Something that draws man to His Creator Jesus Christ is not food but fasting. We should rebuke our body by fasting and the like, show vigilance for prayer, perseverance in good deeds. More than ever, today we have to be obedient to God, to overcome the current tribulations in the world in general. We also need to pray for our private, public and Church problems to find solutions; for no earthly wisdom can solve these problems; except through fasting and prayer. We have to be persistent in our request and knock His door for Him to satisfy the good desires of our heart.

As the Word of God tells us, “But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.” (Matt 13: 16-17), our forefathers and the prophets did not witness the coming of Jesus Christ, but we, the generation of the New Testament have seen our Lord through the eyes of the Apostles.

Therefore, we have to understand and then appreciate this great grace we received but the prophets had not the opportunity to do so. When we fast their fast, we give our witness that Jesus Christ is our foundation and we follow in the footsteps of the prophets and apostles. It is not enough to know and speak about fasting; we have to live it and benefit from the fruits it brings forth.

Show of charity is also a Christian duty. Alms giving to the poor and the needy, and bringing to the church what is required of us is necessary. Without these Christian duties, fasting could not be complete.

May God who has received the fast and prayer of the Prophets and Apostles, receive our prayers and devotion.

Let it will be His will to start this fast and reach the graceful day of His Birth!!

Source:

• Holy Bible: The King James Version (1769).

Edition: Mesfin Zegeye

Annual Feast of Archangel Saint Michael

November 21, 2015

By Kassa Nigus

Saint Michael is one of the seven primary Arch angels, who is always standing besides God’s throne and is honored for defeating Devil at God’s command (Rev.12:7-9). His powerful and fastest aid has always been invoked by the Church in time of emergency and unusual danger. He is the guardian of the souls and fighter against evil. He is often painted in the walls of every Ethiopian Church with a flaming sword and spear, which pierces the devil.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church celebrates the Feast of St. Michael on 12th day of each month of which two of them are great annual feasts of the saint – on Hidar 12 (November 21) and Senie 12 (June 19).

As such, this day (Hidar 12) in the Ethiopian Church is dedicated to “the Exodus of Israel from Egypt " through the help of the Arch angle Michael as stated in (Ex. 14:19)

“And the angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them”.

The Exodus is that the Israelites were delivered from bondage of slavery by the Lord God miraculously guiding by the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night during their exodus from Egyptian bondage. This allowed them to travel by day and by night as God gave them the pillar of cloud by day to lead them in the way He wanted them to go and the pillar of fire by night to give light(Exodus 13:21–22).

Then, Israelites were delivered from bondage of slavery by the Lord God and therefore belong to him through the covenant as stated in (Deuteronomy 26:5-9) “the one who brought you up from the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage”. It tells of the slavery of the Israelites in Egypt following the death of Joseph, their departure under the leadership of Moses, the revelations at Sinai, and their wanderings in the wilderness up to the borders of the Promised Land, Canaan.

The history of Exodus trace back to Joseph. Joseph was sold by his jealous brothers to a caravan of Ishmaelite (Gen37:3). Then Joseph was taken to Egypt where he became a trusted slave in the house of Potiphar, an official of the Pharaoh, the second in his command.

In the course of time, a great famine occurred, so that persons from other countries came to Egypt to buy food, including Joseph’s brothers. Thus, under Joseph’s patronage Jacob moved into Egypt (Gen.46:1-47). Since then, the Israelites dwelt there and had grown to be a large people; the Egyptian Pharaoh of the time (who didn’t know Joseph ) feared their power. To control them he launched an official policy of oppression against them (Ex.1:22).

Thus, the Israelites lived in Egypt for 430 years under the ruthless oppression of Pharaohs’ reign (Exodus 12:40-41) as it was foretold to Abraham in a dream that his descendants would serve as slaves in a foreign land for 400 years (or 4 generations of priests (Genesis 15:12-16). It was recorded that the Israelites were forced to make mud bricks that were reinforced with straw.

Latter on God heard the lamentation of Israel and allow them to liberate. It surely was an awesome spectacle as thousands of Hebrews made their way from the land of Egypt toward the Red Sea, with Pharaoh’s army in hot pursuit. When the Israelites reached at Red sea, Moses, at God’s command, stretched out his rod over the sea as stated in (Ex 14:16) “But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.”

By an amazing miracle, the waters parted and the multitude crossed on dry ground. When the Egyptians attempted to follow the Israelites, they were drowned as the walls of waters rushed back into their bed. In commenting upon this event, Moses wrote: “Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.” (Ex. 14:30).

According to (Exodus 12:37 – 38), during their departure, the Israelites numbered about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children, plus many non-Israelites and livestock. Moses was 80 years old when he led the Israelites out of Egypt around 1446 B.C. (Holman Bible Dictionary, 1991, pp.451-7)

The exodus from Egypt was truly a landmark event in Old Testament history. It taught us much about God and his interest in humanity. As the Exodus in Old Testament was to Israel, the death and resurrection of Christ was to Christians of the New Testament. The significance of this event becomes more vivid when one compares it with a New Testament commentary regarding the incident.

St. Paul observes that the Hebrews “Brethren … all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea” (1 Cor. 10:1-4); Rom. 6:3-4, 17; Gal. 3:27). Moreover, we have been learnt from Israel’s passage through the sea that “typifies our deliverance from the bondage of sin and of death through Christ by means of Christian baptism”.

Source:

• Holy Bible: The King James Version (1769).

• Holman Bible Dictionary, (1991, pp.451-7).

The Annual Feast of the Four Living Creatures (Cherubim)

November 16, 2017
Every year on Hidar 8 (November 17), the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewaido church celebrates the feast of the four beasts locally known as ‘Arba’ettu Ensisa’. Churches named after these heavenly creatures has been rarely built across the nation. They are four in number and take the form of a lion, an ox, a man and an eagle. They have six wings; are covered with eyes and continually praise God.

Acording to Ethiopian church tradition of iconography, the surroundings and inner door of sanctuaries ornamented by the icons of Cherubim along with the Images of Holy Trinity.

The Ethiopic Synaxarium records the description of the Four Living Creatures as follows:

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen.

On this day is celebrated the festival of the Four Beasts, who have no bodies, and which are the Wheels of God that bear His Divine Throne. According to the testimony concerning them by John the evangelist in his vision says, “I saw a throne in heaven, and He Who sat thereon was brighter than the sun, and more brilliant then the lightning. And I saw in the midst four beasts, full of eyes; the first had the likeness of the face of a lion, the second had the likeness of the face of a bull, the third had the likeness of the face of a man, and the fourth had the likeness of the face of an eagle; and each of them had six wings. And they cried out by day and by night, saying, “Holy, Holy, Holy, God of Hosts. All the heavens and the earth are filled with the holiness of Thy glory” (Rev. iv, 6).

And Isaiah the prophet also said, “I saw the Lord of Hosts sitting upon a high throne, and the whole place was filled with His glory. Seraphim and Cherubim surrounded Him, and His awe and majesty were exceedingly great. Each of these had six wings; with two of their wings they covered their faces, with two of their wings they covered their feet, and with two of their wings they did fly in the greatest glory by day and by night, saying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts. All the heavens and the earth are filled with the holiness of Thy glory” (Isaiah vi, 2).

And David the prophet said, “He rode upon the Cherubim and did fly” (Psalm xviii, 10), and he also said, “He Who sitteth upon the Cherubim maketh the earth to quake,” And Ezekiel said concerning these wheels, “I saw a wind blow from heaven, and in it there was a cloud surrounded by fire, and brightness, and lightning, and four beasts supported Him. Each face (or person) had six wings, and they went before them. And the first beast had the likeness of the face of a man, and they ceased not to praise God by day and by night, and they said, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts, all the heavens and the earth are filled with the holiness of Thy glory” (Ezekiel I).

And John the evangelist said, “I heard a voice saying, Hallelujah! Salvation and power and blessing to our God. And the four beasts and the four and twenty elders of heaven worshipped God, saying, Hallelujah! God the Sustainer of the universe is King (Rev. xix, 4). After this I heard a voice saying, Praise our God with harp and psalms, Hallelujah! And I heard the voice of a multitude of peoples like unto the thunder, saying, God, the Sustainer of the universe, is King.” And many of the Books of the Old and the New Testaments testify concerning the honor of these Four Beasts which God hath set near Him to make supplication on behalf of all creation.

He with the man’s form maketh supplication on behalf of the children of men, he with the lion’s form maketh supplication on behalf of the beasts, he with the bull’s form maketh supplication on behalf of the cattle, and he with the eagle’s form maketh supplication on behalf of the birds. Now these beasts are very much nearer God than all the other powers of heaven.

For this reason the fathers of the Church have instituted the commemoration of the heavenly creatures, and have built churches in their name in every place because they make supplication for the race of man.

Salutation to the Four Beasts and to the horses of the Cherubim!

May the prayer of these heavenly creatures be with all us!!

Source: Ethiopic Synaxarium on Hidar 8 (November 17)