Sermon – Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church Sunday School Department

Feast of Paraclete

The Feast of Paraclete is a great feast of the Church, celebrated on the tenth day after our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ ascended, and also on the fiftieth day from His resurrection. “Paraclete” is an ancient Greek word meaning “Comforter, Counselor, Advocate”; and this refers to the Holy Spirit. This feast is the day on which we commemorate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, the proclamation of the birth of the Church, and the fulfillment of the Lord’s promise.

The Tenth Month

The month of “Sene” is the tenth one amongst the thirteen months of Ethiopian Liturgical Year. The meaning of the word is defined in the spiritual dictionary written by scholars Teacher Kfle Giorgis and Aleka Kidan Woldae and published by Desta Tekel Wolde. They have defined the word derived from “Senye,” to mean “it is beautified, to make two, folding, to put layer, change in appearance and character, to become another, to imitate.” (Aleka Kidan Wolde Kiflea, page 875)

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Dear Children of God! How are you? How is your spiritual life with your families and beloved ones? Hope it is pleasant, peaceful and joyful! How was the feast of “Ascension of the Lord,” and “Feast of Debre Mitmaq?” This was dual feast and celebrated colorfully in church! Did you go to the church with your families and beloved ones in spending it joyfully? Hope you did!

Little ones! We have now reached to the “Feast of Pentecost,” which is the “Feast of Holy Spirit.” Then after follows the “Fast of Apostle.” This is a fast that the apostles fasted after Holy Spirit descended upon them. They were given 72 languages to preach (teach the word of God) around the world and make people Christians by baptism.

The apostles fasted and so shall we Christians, by the name of Christ. This year’s fast begins at “Sene 2” and ends “Hamele 5,” at the feast of apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul. So, in this season of fast, we do not eat food specifically, egg, milk and other milk products but only fasting foods such as vegetables, fruits and cereals.

Feast of the Ascension

The Feast of the Ascension is a feast in which we commemorate and celebrate the great mystery of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ ascending to the highest heavens on the fortieth day after He rose from the dead, uniting His body with His soul, by the will of His Father, by His own authority, and in the unity of the Holy Spirit. This feast, in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, is one of the nine major feasts of our Lord and is celebrated with special spiritual rites and great joy.

“The hope of the righteous will be gladness” (Proverb 10:28)

The happiness in this world fluctuates. Falling, rising, sorrow and happiness are occurrences. One who gets money gets happy; when he losses get sad. Situations in our living vary; It becomes morning and gets darkened at night. There is no permanent thing on earth. Yet, happiness from God subsists for eternity!

The Feast of Saint Yared

The great composer disappeared at the age of seventy-five in the monastery of Debre Hawi in the northern mountain. He and his works are commemorated every year by the Holy Church. The teachers of hymns are still teaching on behalf of the congregation of Saint Yared.

The Heavenly House

The heavenly house is a marvel and glorious above all, by His marvelous work. The inexpressible work of God, the heavenly Jerusalem revealed in it, is built like a temple. It has twelve gates and is surrounded by light; its pillars are of light, its covering of light, its threshold of light.

The Birth of Holy Mother Saint Mary

Our Most Holy Lady and Ever Virgin Saint Mary was born at a time when people had reached such a degree of moral decay that it seemed altogether impossible to restore them. People often said that God must come into the world to restore faith and not permit the ruin of mankind.

The Ninth Month

The doctrine of Ethiopian Orthodox Church states the ninth month of the Ethiopian calendar has “Ginbot.” Aleka Kidane Wolde explains the meaning of the word in his Geeze and Amharic dictionary as, “the name of month, the ninth one from “Meskerem, the entry of summer, neighbor;” and he says it is means “the work of month,” because even the tower of the babel was established in this month “Ginbot.” (3 Kings 6:1, Ezra 3:8, Kidane Wolde Kiflae, page 322)

“Everything has its own time” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Dear children of God! how are you? How is life with your family and beloved ones at home and school? Hope you are having a pleasant time on these fifty days’ feasts of resurrection and Pentecost (Feast of Holy Spirit.). It is the occasion of celebrating our salvation and everlasting life in the heavens (Kingdom of God).

As the wise King Solomon said, “everything has its own time,”, the earthy life we lead is the preparation for the soul salvation and everlasting life we recently celebrating. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) This occasion is the resemblance of the life we are given to live forever, with Our Creator God in His Kingdom. The Lord bestowed (gave) us life after body death with His resurrection (rising from the dead).