Sermon – Page 20 – Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church Sunday School Department

Ethiopian Orthodox Church Benefiting from Mahibere Kidusan Free Professional Services

December 30, 2016

By Kassa Nigus

Church of Abe Bezuhan Abraham designed by Mahibere Kidusan

The Department of Professional Services and Capacity Building under Mahibere Kidusan continues to offer free professional services to Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido churches and monasteries in different dioceses. In an interview with Sem’atsidq newspaper,

the Coordinator for the Department Ato Desta Belay explained that the Department has been offering such services since 2007 in the area of engineering including church building design; legal consultancy related to church land ownership and control; health service for church and monastery communities including archbishops; training and capacity building focusing mainly on church canon and dogma; as well as Information Technology services to modernize church data storage system.

According to Ato Desta Belay, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo churches in different diocese have so far benefited from these services offered by voluntary Christian youth professionals. Accordingly, so far by head office of Mahibere Kidusan, designs have been made for 257 church buildings free of charge, saving an estimated cost of 6.7 million birr.

The Department screens requests for such services based on the need for a design relevant to the Church’s architectural tradition and lack of financial capacity which warrants the free engineering services. Ato Desta pointed out that there is a huge gap between the demand for the services and the limited service the Department can offer due to lack of professionals. He said only 40% of the total requests are entertained due to this problem.

Photo of some of church building designs

Photo of health service delivery for traditional church students

Every member of the church with a profession is welcome to join the department and deliver the much needed free services. Our diversity of backgrounds, talents, gifts and interests strengthen our congregation, as we seek to realize our mission.

Glory be to God forever, amen!

Source : Sem’atsidq newspaper, December 25- January 8, pp. 1 – 2.

Edition : Tsegaye Girma

STATEMENT BY BISHOP YOUSSEF ON THE BOMBING AT SAINT PETER COPTIC ORTHODOX CHURCH

December 12, 2016

Statement on the bombing at Saint Peter Coptic Orthodox Church (known as “Botrosiya”), Abassiya, Egypt, December 11, 2016, Coinciding with the Blessed Month of Koiahk 2, 1733 [a.m.].

Today, heaven’s gates opened wide to many victims of terrorism, angels placed the crowns of martyrdom upon their heads, and our Lord Jesus Christ welcomed them into the paradise of joy. Shortly after receiving the Holy Eucharist, a bomb exploded on the side of this ancient church, where women, infants, and young children await their turn to partake of the Holy Eucharist.

There is no God in any religion that can accept this savagery, for it is incomprehensible that heaven can be comprised of murderers. Where is the bravery in these atrocities? Where is the heroism in such violent acts? Bravery and heroism are marked by the courage of all Christians, regardless of their dire circumstances, whether poor, ill, or disadvantaged, but greet each day with faith and fill every church in this great land that has been blessed by the blood of the martyrs for more than 2000 years.

We are not praying for our martyrs, for they have won the kingdom of God. We are praying and fasting for those who commit these cowardice acts and hide behind the cloak of religion to destroy a nation trying to recover from years of the poison of extremism. We are praying and fasting, not for our martyrs, for they have obtained forgiveness through the body and blood of Christ, but for those who do not know the meaning of love and will not be forgiven until they learn the power of love.

We are praying and fasting, not for our martyrs; for they held their children in their arms so that they would grow in their footsteps and follow the rules of love and forgiveness, but for those who are steered by hate and teach their children to kill.We are praying and fasting for the healing of all Egyptians, Christians and Muslims, that we may live together in peace, safety, and civility for the good of all citizens.

We are praying and fasting, not for our martyrs, for they followed God’s commandments, but for those who do not denounce these horrific crimes, that will worsen matters by not taking a stand.We are praying and fasting that the Lord will be swift in hearing the call of the martyrs’ blood and bring these murderers to justice here on earth and in eternity. May the Lord comfort the families and loved ones of our beloved martyrs and may He root out all aggression from His beloved Egypt, and may He heal the pain of all Egyptians suffering from the consequences of terrorism.

"And when you hear that we look for a kingdom, you suppose, without making any inquiry that we speak of a human kingdom. Instead, we speak of that which is with God, as can be shown from the confession of their faith made by those who are charged with being Christians, even though they know that death is the punishment awarded to those who so confess.

For if we looked for a human kingdom, we would deny our Christ, so that we might not be killed. We would try to escape detection, so that we might obtain what we hope for. But since our thoughts are not fixed on the present, we are not concerned when men cut us off; since death is a debt which must at all events be paid" (Justin Martyr, c. AD 150, First Apology 11).

We ask the Lord to protect His church and the Christians all over the world, to grant His peace upon us, to support our beloved father and patriarch, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, and to guide all the leaders and governors entrusted with the lives of all the people in the whole world.

Glory be to God, forever. Amen.

Bishop Youssef

Bishop, Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States

Source: Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States (https://suscopts.org/).

Statement by Bishop Angaelos after explosion kills at least 25 at St Peter Coptic Orthodox Church

December 12, 2016

It is with great sadness that we receive the news today of at least 25 people brutally murdered by an explosion during regular Sunday worship at St Peter’s Coptic Orthodox Church in Cairo, adjacent to the Grand Cathedral of Saint Mark.

Our prayers are with those whose lives have been so senselessly ended, those who have been injured, and every family and community affected. We also pray for every Coptic parish and community across Egypt as they fill their churches this morning, as well as for the broader Egyptian society that fall victim to similar inhumane attacks.

Coptic Church Blast Kills Twenty Five People: Several Injured

Many within our Coptic community in Britain will have family and friends in Egypt, and we also pray for them at this time of uncertainty.

We share in this tragedy but are encouraged by the strength and resilience of our brethren in Egypt that we have grown accustomed to and learn from. We pray God’s peace and protection upon the Christians of Egypt, the broader Egyptian society, Christians around the world worshipping this morning and all faith communities that fall prey to similar attacks.

Source: Orthodoxy Cognate Page

Hidden Ark Discovered Through Revelation

November 29, 2016

By Kassa Nigus

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In an interview with Seme’atsidk Newspaper, Megabe Selam Kesis Selomon Tolcha, Head of Heritage Protection, Library and Museum Department under the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Patriarchate announced that more than half a century old Ark, dedicated to St. Michael, has been found in Addis Ababa University Museum.

The Ark has been handed over to Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church on November 19, 2016, and is now under the custody of Menbere Leul Saint Mark Church which was built by the Emperor adjacent to the main campus of Addis Ababa University (AAU) at Sidist Kilo.

According to Kesis Selomon, the Ark is discovered through a divine revelation to an 80 year old hermit called Zeneb Belete. Since 2011, the hermit has repeatedly said that an Ark existed in the Museum, but no one paid enough attention.

The hermit explained his vision saying "Saint Michael who holds the balance and sword has been taking me through the first gate of the campus and showed me where the Ark was kept.” The hermit also informed the Patriarch about his vision on the existence of the Ark in the university.

The church, then, formed a team to search for the Ark. During the search, the Ark was found cloaked in a small room built separately in the 3rd basement of the museum and was given to the church on November 19, 2016. Even the head of the museum did not know the existence of the Ark. The process to return the Ark to the church took much negotiation between the university and the concerned bodies of the church.

There are evidences which show that the Ark was made by the order of Emperor Haile Selassie over 68 years ago and bears the label ‘Altar stone, Number 1761’. The Ark was initially taken into the university’s museum on June 12, 1961 by a man named Stephen Write.

According to the guests and historians who took part in discovering the ark, Ethiopian Emperors had a culture of keeping an Ark in the Icon house of their palace for prayer service. Perhaps Emperor Haile Selassie used the Ark for the same purpose.

Previously, the main campus of Addis Ababa University, the oldest and largest higher learning and research institution in Ethiopia, was both the palace and residence of the imperial families of Emperor Haile Selassie. The compound was known as ‘Genete Leul Bete Mengist’ (Palace of Paradise of the Prince). Later, the Emperor donated it to be used as an educational institution following the shift of the Palace to Arat Kilo Bete Mengist (formerly known as Jubilee Palace).
Edition: Tsegaye Girma

Ethiopian Patriarch on a week-long visit to India

November 23, 2016

(Taken fron The New Indian Express) – Patriarch Abune Mathias, head of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, arrived in Kerala on Saturday on a one-week visit. The Patriarch was accorded a warm welcome at the Nedumbassery airport.

During the visit, the prelate will be taking part in a host of programmes organised by the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. This is his first visit to Kerala after being anointed as head of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

His itinerary includes celebrating Holy Mass at Arthat St Mary’s Cathedral on Sunday, along with Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church head Baselios Marthoma Paulose-II.

Later, the Patriarch will attend the valedictory function of the bicentennial commemoration programme of Pulikottil Joseph Mar Dionysius at Adupputty Mar Dionysius Nagar, at 4.30 pm.

On Tuesday, the Patriarch will lead the blessing ceremony of the centenary celebrations of Kuzhimattom St George Orthodox Church Sunday School.

Later, he will inaugurate Snehasparsham, a scheme launched to support cancer patients, as the part of the 70th birthday celebrations of the Malankara Catholicos at Kottayam Mammen Mappila Hall at 5 pm.

On Wednesday, the Patriarch will inaugurate the St Gregorios International Cancer Care Centre at Parumala.

Source: The New Indian Express

DECLARATION OF THE COUNCIL OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY LEADERS IN ISRAEL

November 7, 2016

We, the leaders of the major religions in Israel and members of the Council of Religious Community Leaders, believe in the Creator, who rules the world with benevolence and mercy, and requires of us to live with all persons in peace and mutual respect.

Our religious heritages teach that peace and the pursuit of justice are the will of God, and we as religious leaders bear particular responsibility to be attentive to the cries of the poor and the weak among us and to act to advance a more just society.

As the leaders of the official religious communities in Israel, we have decided to embark together on an historic visit to Poland, and to the site of Auschwitz–Birkenau. This visit is meant to honor the memory of millions of Jews and other victims of the Holocaust, and to express the determination of the leaders of the religious communities in Israel to do everything in their power to prevent the recurrence of such atrocities.

We call on all world leaders to act, in their countries and through the United Nations, to act with unwavering resoluteness against anti-Semitism, hatred of the other, which once again plague contemporary society,

We declare our commitment to cooperate and to do everything in our power to carry out this important call in the Holy Land as well, to strengthen the harmony and understanding that exist in Israel among the various religious communities.

In order to establish peace and mutual respect among members of religions throughout the world and in our country, we must educate our communities and children accordingly, and prevent affront to the feelings and beliefs of others.

Here, in Auschwitz–Birkenau, the site of the most horrific crimes against humanity in history and the symbol of ultimate evil, where the murder of millions Jews and others – men, women and children – was perpetrated by Nazi Germany, we declare our commitment to the sanctity of human life. We repudiate racism, fanaticism and extremism, particularly when these are committed, allegedly in the name of religion and in so doing desecrate religion.

The Council of Religious Community Leaders in Israel calls for an end to war and a prayer for peace in keeping with the vision of the prophets: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not take up sword against nation, nor shall they learn war anymore”, Isaiah 2:4.

The Council of Religious Leaders in Israel includes the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, the Muslims religious establishment, the Christian churches in the Holy Land, the Druze Religious Authority, the Ahmadiyya Muslim, Bahai and Samaritan communities.

Source: ORTHODOXY COGNATE PAGE

Burial Slab of Jesus Uncovered For First Time in Centuries

October 29, 2016

Jesus Christ’s ‘burial slab’ uncovered during restoration

Exclusive: Christ’s Burial Place Exposed for First Time in Centuries

Restorers working in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Israel uncover stone slab venerated as the resting place of Jesus Christ.

JERUSALEM, ISRAELF or the first time in centuries, scientists have exposed the original surface of what is traditionally considered the tomb of Jesus Christ. Located in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem, the tomb has been covered by marble cladding since at least 1555 A.D., and most likely centuries earlier.

“The marble covering of the tomb has been pulled back, and we were surprised by the amount of fill material beneath it,” said Fredrik Hiebert, archaeologist-in-residence at the National Geographic Society, a partner in the restoration project. “It will be a long scientific analysis, but we will finally be able to see the original rock surface on which, according to tradition, the body of Christ was laid.”

According to Christian tradition, the body of Jesus Christ was laid on a shelf or “burial bed” hewn from the side of a limestone cave following his crucifixion by the Romans in A.D. 30 or possibly 33. Christian belief says Christ was resurrected after death, and women who came to anoint his body three days after the burial reported that no remains were present.

This burial shelf is now enclosed by a small structure known as the Edicule (from the Latin aedicule, or “little house”), which was last reconstructed in 1808-1810 after being destroyed in a fire. The Edicule and the interior tomb are currently undergoing restoration by a team of scientists from the National Technical University of Athens, under the direction of Chief Scientific Supervisor Professor Antonia Moropoulou.

The exposure of the burial bed is giving researchers an unprecedented opportunity to study the original surface of what is considered the most sacred site in Christianity. An analysis of the original rock may enable them to better understand not only the original form of the tomb chamber, but also how it evolved as the focal point of veneration since it was first identified by Helena, mother of the Roman emperor Constantine, in A.D. 326.

Source: Orthodoxy Cognate Page: retrieved at “http://theorthodoxchurch.info/blog/news/jesus-burial-slab-uncovered-for-first-time-in-centuries/”on October 28, 2016.

Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Holy Synod declared Abune Michael of Gore Martyr

October 28, 2016

By Kassa Nigus

In the course of the first regular meeting of this year, the Holy Synod of the Ethiopia Orthodox Tewahido Church bestowed sainthood upon Abune Michael of Gore. His Grace Abune Michael was one of the first five Ethiopian Bishops, and was executed by fascist Italian invaders in 1937.

The statement stated that His Grace Abune Michael made extraordinary efforts in resistance to maintain the sovereignty of the nation, and the protection of the Church and his religion during the Italian invasion. Consequently, His Grace Abune Michael was martyred in the hands of the Italians on December 4, 1937 at the age of 55 for his patriotic deed and rousing Ethiopian patriots to fight against Italian Invaders.

Taking all this into account, on Wednesday, October 26, 2016, the Holy Synod decided that His Grace Abune Michael should be recognized as a martyr in official statements.

It is recalled that the statue of His Grace Abune Michael was erected in the diocese of His Grace last year, Ilu Abba Bora city and inaugurated by His Holiness, the Patriarch. The foundation stone of the Museum was also laid thereof.

Eddited by Mesfin Zegey.

Mahibere Kidusan Graduates Spiritual Instruments and Geez Language Trainees

“The Sacred Harp song revives and resumes to its original status”

October 27, 2016

By Kassa Nigus

Abune Gorgoryos Education and Training Centre under Mahibere Kidusan (MK) Development Institutions Administration graduated 550 trainees in spiritual instruments and Ge’ez language at a ceremony held on October 23, 2016 at MK’s headquarters. Graduates of the 12th round of training include 358 trainees of Harp (Begena); 35 in single string instrument (Mesenqo); 89 in drum; 6 in flute and 62 in Ge’ez language.

Deacon Getnet Frew, Vice Chairman of the Board of Mahibere Kidusan Development Institutions Administration made welcoming remarks at the occasion. In his congratulatory message at the graduation ceremony, H.G. Abune Mathias, Archbishop of Canada Diocese, said “You all guests of honor are gathered here to serve God, and to do this we need peace in the country. So we need to pray vigilantly that God gives love, peace and kindness to our country.”

Seife Alemayehu, Head of Domestic Centers and Deputy Secretary General of MK, on his part said the primary objective of the association is to transfer the tradition of the church across successive generations without distortion. He added, “You graduates should pass what you learned to others and fulfill this mission.”

It was also disclosed at the ceremony that Abune Gorgoryos Education and Training Centre has plans to expand the training program. Ato Haily Fesha, Managing Director of Development Institutions Administration, handed certificates to candidates and donor organizations. The ceremony was finally closed with prayer.

The institution cordially invites you to participate in one of these programs.

Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Holy Synod undertakes its first annual session

October 24, 2016

By Mesfin Zegeye

The regular session of the Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church started on October 22, 2016 per the declaration stated in Feteha Negest which stipulates that the Synod convenes its regular sessions twice a year (in October and May).

During His opening speech, His Holiness patriarch Abune Mathias dwelt on the importance of love, unity and development quoting from the Gospel of John chapter 17 verse 11. The following are points drawn from the statement the patriarch emphasized on:

Overcome and reverse the evil thoughts of those who have been using healthy and natural differences of people for stigmatization so as to break up peaceful co-existence of people God has made one by His grace.

Our Lord Jesus Christ came into this world to make the unity among His creatures strong, as His teachings and deeds amply showed. Nowadays, the world is becoming one village socially and economically; this is made possible by the Will and Wisdom of God, and not by the making of the world.

We, bishops are ordained as the apostles of peace by the Lord God; God’s Peace has been sent to the people through us. However, we have not been discharging our responsibility as required to make the people live in harmony, unity, peace, and love. So we have to fulfill our duty as per our promise to that end.

The current state of violence inflicts enormous damages of conscience and peace in the people. Thus, we have to make utmost efforts until peace is established on solid foundation.

We, bishops, theologians, priests, and preachers have to be models by teaching and being exemplary in deed.

The Church shall communicate its message of peace centrally and in neutrality to all.

The Church should show her motherly role to the youth through development endeavors and creating job opportunities for them.