Sermon – Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church Sunday School Department

The Assembly of the Ecumenical Council at Nicea

At the year 325 A.D., 318 fathers assembled in the city of Nicea, in the days of Emperor Constantine, the righteous Emperor. Among them were the heads of the four Sees and they were: Anba Alexandros, the 19th Pope of Alexandria, who was accompanied by Athanasius, his Archdeacon and private secretary; Estasius, archbishop of Antioch; Macarius, Archbishop of Jerusalem. Sylvestros, archbishop of Rome, because of his old age did not attend and sent two priests in his place.The reason for their assembly was to judge Arius who was a priest in Alexandria. He blasphemed against the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ by saying that he was not equal in essence to God, His Father, and there was a time when the Son did not exist.

Gishen Mariam

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 Finding of the Cross

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.

Demera

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.

The Feast of Flower

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.

The Miraculous Painting

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.

A Good Advisor

The foremost reason for the downfall of humans is the result of bad advice. Our father Adam though kept God’s law for seven years and live in heaven, he was deceived by the evil advice of Satan, then loose almighty Lord like God and holy place like heaven. This is due to evil advice; Now on this earth, alike previously, being aware or unaware, there are some bad advisers in deceiving and leading to unlawfulness.

On the other hand, there are good advisers initiating for goodness, direct the real path in enriching God, like Apostle Philip who is good advisor and dear friends. (John 1:46-51)

The Truth about Pagumen

The only extra month stated in the Ethiopian Calendar is pagumen. Ethiopia has her own equation in enriching new years. Thus she lives by her chronology, religion, liturgy, tradition devoid of tarnishing of identity.

Holy Church commemorates the second coming of Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on this month. Patristic father teaches us about Pagumen which is the transgression month of summer to winter. These two seasons are the resemblance of light and everlasting life in the kingdom of God. They remind us about judgment day. Also on this month, we celebrate the feast of Archangel Saint Raphael and the opening of heavens.

The Departure of Micah, the Prophet

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 Twelfth Month

The word “Nehassie”, is derived from “Nassie” which means “the last of, the twelfth of “Messkerem.”(Aleka Kidane Wolde Dictionary page 637)