Holy Scriptures – Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church Sunday School Department

Behold, He is born in Bethlehem!

The holy birthday, the greatest of all festivals, the honorable, and great, and holy Birth day of our Lord Christ, from the holy Virgin Mary is celebrated on Tahesas 29. Through the Divine plan of God and His foreknowledge, Caesar Augustus issued a decree for a general census in all the Roman Empire. For that reason, Joseph rose, and the virgin with him, and went from the city of Nazareth to “Bethlehem” to be counted in the census there because he was from the tribe of Judah, from the house of David. Bethlehem was the city of David. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the Virgin gave birth to her first born child and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes and put him in a manger, for they did not have a place for them in the inn.

The Entrance of our Holy Lady, the Virgin, Saint Mary, into the Temple

The righteous and holy, God fearing people Joachim and Hannah’s daughter our Holy Lady, Saint Virgin Mary’s entering into the temple is a holiday. This was done by the good advice and will of God. At the time, her parents talked amongst themselves and decided. “….., we shall give her before she inhabits consumption as well as her relatives.”

The Holy Birthday of Elisha the Prophet

Prophet Elisha was born in one of the villages of Israel called Alamut. He was of the tribe of Levi. His father’s name was Iyasenyu and that of his mother Tona. His father’s name was Shaphat. Elisha was a servant to the holy prophet Elias.

“His Honor is above all angels” Saint Yared

Over all the Ranks, the Lord appointed the Holy Archangel Michael (his name in Hebrew means “who is like to God”), the faithful servitor of God, as Chief Commander. He cast down from Heaven the arrogantly proud Satan and the other fallen spirits when they rebelled against God. Saint Michael is one of the seven Archangels, who is always standing besides God’s throne and is honored for leading the army of Holy Angels and defeated Satan and the rebellious angels into Hell. Revelation 12:7 On this day God crowned him with his glory and mercy and become the Arch of the Archangel’s.

Feasts of the Four Incorporeal Beasts

What words could ever express the honor of the Almighty Who created the world and all the things in it. Which throne would fit for His abode? How marvelous is carrying the throne of Holy Trinity? Yet, these four incorporeal beasts are willed for this honor!

Feast of Mount Quskuam

Our Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ and His holy mother returnee from flight of Egypt and Ethiopia to Mount Quskuam, is a great feast celebrated by Holy Orthodox Incarnation Church.

The Commemoration of the Lord’s Crucifixion

The blessed day, where the eternal Lord’s Crucifixion is commemorated, Jesus Christ Incarnate, to Him, is the Glory, for the salvation of the world. Holy Bible states it as, “From the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land.” (Matthew 27:45) That day, at the ninth hour, the sun had hidden its light, the moon bled, the starts had fallen and dead people had risen from the grave, when they saw their creator incarnated, hanging with His own free will on the wood of the Cross, inclined His head, and yielded up His spirit.

Patristic fathers teach us, “His Divinity parted not from His Humanity for a single moment, nor a twinkle of an eye, and He descended to the hades from the cross to save those in bondage therein.”The Apostle Saint Peter has also said, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison.” (1 Peter 3:18-19)

Abune Abib

Abba Bula, who was surnamed ‘Abib departed on Tikmet 25. His name meaning Bula “servant of God” and Abib to mean “Father of Many.”

The influence of unemployment and resolutions

Unemployment, also known as joblessness is seen as a “disruption to an individual’s God-given calling or vocation.” The Book of Genesis states primarily “And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life.” (Genesis 3:17) Holy Orthodox Incarnation has the moral obligation in creating environment for the vocation to be fulfilled.

Archdeacon and Protomartyr Saint Stephen

The Archdeacon and Protomartyr Stephen was the eldest of the seven deacons, appointed by the Apostles themselves, on Tikmet 17, to oversee charity in the early Jerusalem church, according to the “Book of Acts.” Therefore, he is called “archdeacon.”