The history of Gishen Mariam’s parishes establishment has its own reasons. The fragment of the Holy Cross came to Ethiopia from Alexandria in Mesekrem 10. Yet it was kept at Gishen in a church, in Meskrem 21 where Emperor Zera Yacob, announced it to the whole Ethiopia in reading texts.
The absolute love proven, the announcement of peace, our affirmation of liberation, and avow of salvation, the finding of the holy cross is a great feast and thus celebrated every year. The first man Adam betrayal put him to trail and so The Holy Son came down from the heavens to suffer and be sacrificed upon the cross. This being a big reason, we make a great feast on Meskerem 17.
Later on the queen made a church be built and honorable placed the cross. The feast of the lighting of torch is related with the Saint Helena’s burning of Demera.
At the time where earth is ornamented by flowers, there is a feast we celebrate specifically on Mesekerem 10, known to be “Teketsel Tsige (The Feast of Flowers).” Teketsel meaning “crown”, and Tsige to mean “flower,” is a feast that Holy Church celebrate in this ending of winter season. There are reasons for this also. One of them is related with the previous King’s stories.
When he had arrived in Jerusalem he knelt and prayed in the holy places, and he set out on his return journey without having bought the picture. Immediately he heard a voice, which said unto him, “Why has you forgotten to buy the picture?” being troubled by the voice he turned back into the marketplace, and found a picture of our Lady Mary, which had sweet features and a beautiful form. Having bought it he wrapped it up in cotton and in fine linen. as he was traveling along a terrible road in the desert thieves rose up against him, and when he was wishing to take to flight, a voice came forth from that picture which said, “Fear not: complete thy journey”; and he went on his way and none challenged him. Another time a savage lion rose up against him and wanted to rend him, and straightway an awful voice came forth from that picture and drove away the lion.
He who is called the plant of The Father, the plant of The Son and the plant of Holy Spirit, Abune Tekele Haimanot departed on Nehassie 24, 1296, at the age of 99 years, 10 months, and 10 days. Monks buried him in his cave.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church commemorates the feast of the saint on 24th day of each month of which some are great annual feasts – on Tahisas 24, his birth, Megabit 24 his conception, Ginbot 12 the departure of his relics and Nehasie 24, the departure of the saint.
The great righteous prophet Micah, departed on Nehassie 22. He prophesied about Samaria and Jerusalem during the time of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezkiah, kings of Judeah. Also about the incarnation of the Lord, to Whom is the Glory, saying, “For behold, the Lord is coming out of His high place. He will come down and tread on the high places of the earth.” (Micah 1:3).
The high reverence for the Virgin Saint Mary, by Orthodox Tewahedo Church is best expressed and celebrated feasts for her.
Archangel Saint Gabriel performed miracle for Saint Cyriacus (Qirkos) and Julitta (Iyalota) his mother on Hamele 19. When this saint was a child, and his days were three years, his mother took him and fled from the country of Rome to another country. And she found there the brother of the governor from whom she had fled, and certain men laid information against her before him, and he had her brought and questioned her about the worship of idols.