The home of the light of life, the sign of peace and the world’s mark of salvation ‘Holy Cross’ Gishen, is the hope for Ethiopian Christians who also travel to the holy place found in northwest of Dessie, Wollo in seeking of mercy and blessing on September 21. The portion of the Holy Cross was placed in the Church of ‘Egiziabehr Ab’ by Emperor Zar’a Ya’ eqob.
Amid the thirty-three feasts of Holy Mother Saint Virgin Mary, the veneration of the miracle Saint apostle Luke paintings is celebrated in our Holy orthodox church especially in our country Ethiopia, in a church found at Addis Ababa city around Buraeau. On September 10 in the country called ‘Tsedenya’, Saint Mary’s painting which looked like it is clothed with flesh, dripped oil from it.
Saint John the Baptist, son of Zacharias the priest, the forerunner and great prophet was martyred on the second day of September (E.C) by the order of King Herod.
“Behold, every work is made new in Christ. Behold old works have passed away, behold new works are known and every work is from God.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
This glorious angel Raphael, the archangel, has performed many other miracles. Amongst is in the story of Tobit and his son Tobias in scripted in the “Book of Tobit.” Holy Church commemorates him, the third of the vigilant, holy and heavenly archangels; the dedication of his church, which was built to him on an island outside the city of Alexandria in the days of Saint Theophilus the Archbishop; and the miracle which was made manifest therein and thus took place.
We have received as an inheritance from the early fathers and doctors of the Church, who were strong in the grace of the Holy Spirit, an order to celebrate the festival of our holy fathers, the patriarchs, our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Our righteous father Saint Abune Tekle Haimanot is the most famous saint in Ethiopia. He is one of the very few, if not the only human on earth given wings! It is good to note here that Saint Tekle Haimanot is one of the very few saints that Christians celebrate their birthday. He is probably the only Ethiopian saint celebrated officially in foreign churches such as Egypt and Rome. He has a monthly feast on the 24th day of every month in the Ethiopian calendar.
The name Gethsemane stems from the Hebrew Gat-Semen which means olive press factory. The kidron at the far end of Gethsemane is called “Brook Kidron” and according to the Christian tradition it is the place of God’s last judgment.
The day the translation of the body of Saint Abba Macarius the Great to the desert of Scete is blesse and holiday. After his death certain man came from the city of Selawir, stole the body of the saint and built a church over it in their city. It remained there until the Muslims ruled over the city, and then the men of Selawir removed it to another city. They built a church over him in their country and he remain therein until the days of Abba Michael the Archbishop…
On the blessed day of the departure of Holy Saint Mary, the apostles tended her body and carried it to Gethsemane for burial. but the Jews blocked their way and even attempted to take and burn it to ashes for she wouldn’t rise and ascend like her Beloved Son our Lord Jesus Christ.
Saint Gabriel was sent by GOD to take away the body of holy Mother in glory to the Heaven. Then Saint Mary’s body to was taken to Heaven, escorted by Saint John where it was rested under the Tree of Life. This being the reason for their prayers and fasting till they saw her body. Soon after, they buried her on Sunday and on Tuesday, three days later, the Virgin Mary rose from the dead, just as Christ had resurrected.