Holy Scriptures – Page 4 – Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church Sunday School Department

The Mount of Olive

The Mount of Olive is the highest mountain in the suburbs of Jerusalem, 730 metres over the surface of the Mediterranean, comprising of a mountain range with three peaks; The South peak of the Ascension of Christ, around which all the Christian Shrines of the Mount of Olives are gathered. The North peak (Mount Scopus), on which the Hebrew University of Jerusalem is built. The middle peak with the Augusta Victoria Hospital dedicated to the wife of the German Emperor Wilhelm II. In Hebrew it is called Har-Hazeitim, the Mount of Olives. From the 4th century onwards, the Mount of Olives attracted many Christian pilgrims and monks, resulting to the building of houses of prayer, churches and monasteries on it. A Christian travelling book of the 6th century numbers 24 churches and shrines on the Mount.During the apostasy era, Lord and Savior Jesus Christ taught the disciples about judgment day on the mount of olive.

Fast of Nineveh

The Fast of Nineveh is a three-day fast starting Monday to Wednesday usually abstaining from all dairy foods and meat products. Moreover, it is to more meticulously abstain from food and drink altogether for three consecutive days. This year’s fast starts from Tir 29 (February 6) and ends at Yekatit 1 (February 8).

The Departure of Saint Mary

Our Lady, the all pure, Virgin Saint Mary, the Mother of God, departed on Tir 21 (January 29). As she was always praying in the holy sepulcher, the Holy Spirit informed her that she was about to depart from this temporal world. When the time of her departure arrived, the virgins of the Mount of Olives came to her, with the apostles, who were still alive, and they surrounded her bed. The Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom is the glory, with a host of thousands and thousands of angels came to her and comforted her. He also told her about the eternal joy that was prepared for her, and she rejoiced.

Cana of Galilee

Holy church celebrates the commemoration of the miracle that our Lord Jesus Christ performed at Cana of Galilee on Tir 12 (January 20). It was the first miracle that our Lord Jesus performed after His baptism. He was invited to the wedding with His virgin mother, Saint Mary, and also some of His disciples.

“Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language” (Genesis 11:7)

The day which God scattered the of tower of babel is celebrated in Our Holy Church every year on Tir 7 (January 15).

Feast of Circumcision of Lord Jesus Christ

Holy church celebrates the commemoration of the circumcision of the Lord Christ, to Whom is the glory on Tir 6 (January 14). God had ordained the law of circumcision as a sign that His people would become a particular people over all others. This was that every male of the seed of Abraham be circumcised on the eighth day of his birth. God put every soul that did not obey this law under judgement.

“Let the earth bring for the grass, the herb yielding seed and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself.” (Genesis 1: 11-13)

It was deep wisdom of God that commanded the earth, when it rested after discharging the weigh to f the waters, first to bring forth grass, then wood as we see it doing still at this time. For the voice that was then heard and this command were as a natural and permanent law for it; it gave fertility and the power to produce fruit for all ages to come; “Let the earth bring forth.” The production of vegetables shows first germination. When the germs begin to sprout they form grass; this develops and becomes a plant, which in sensibly receives its different articulations, and reaches its maturity in the seed. Thus all things which sprout and are green are developed. “Let the earth bring forth green grass.” Let the earth bring forth by itself without having any need of help from without.

The Festival of the Four Beasts

Christians celebrate the festival of the Four Quadrupeds on November 17, (Hidar 8) who have no bodies and which are the Wheels of God that bear His Divine Throne according to the testimony concerning them by Saint John the evangelist in his Vision.

Quskuam Mariam

Every year on November 15 (Hidar 6), the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church commemorates the return of Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with His Mother Saint Mary, Joseph and Salome from their exodus to Egypt where to their home land Israel, following the period of three years and six months where they rest in Mount Qusquam. This was according to the order that the angel of God to Joseph informing him about the death of King Herold.

The Evangelist Saint Luke

Saint Luke the evangelist, the physician, became a martyr on November 1 (Tikimet 22). This holy man was one of the number of the seventy-two disciples whom the Holy Gospel mentioned. He ministered to the Apostles Peter and Paul and wrote their histories.