Celebration of Epiphany and Cana of Galilee
January 17, 2022
Dear Children of God, Greetings to you and gratitude to Almighty God!
Children, Happy Holiday, as we are going to celebrate the holiday of Epiphany and Cana of Galilee!
Therefore, today we are going to teach you about the celebration of the Holiday of Epiphany (baptism) and Cana of Galilee. Be with us!
Dear Children, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was baptized in the river of Jordan, so that we would do the same and be healed. Baptism is to be cleansed from our sin with blessed water. This liturgy is performed by Saint Patriarchs and Archbishops on January 19 where they pray and bless the water for us to be baptized.
The celebration takes place for two days. Ketera which is the eve and the next day a holiday of Baptisim (Timket) In this two days, many spiritual rituals take place that signify the holiday and deeds of our lord Jesus Christ. All arc of covenants (Tabots) In each Churches go to a nearby stream pool where there is water, accompanied by Christians starting from babies, parents, youths, elders, Sunday schools students, church scholars and all others except who are left out due to a situation above their control.
This baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ is an important event and basis for Christians entirely and to rite of baptism. Then the people spend the whole night in their specific areas praising and chanting about our Lord Jesus Christ and his great act of baptism before returning to their homes the next day.
The act of all arcs going to the river or a nearby water pool exemplifies how our Lord Jesus Christ went from Jerusalem to the river of Jordan, the fact that spending one night exemplifies how our Lord in humility waited for His turn to be baptized among the crowds that were being baptized by John. As a Lord, He did not demand for priority but rather humbly demonstrated to us the act of humility by waiting for His turn.
Dear Children, Arc of the covenant is a tablet law of the Old Testament in which the biblical Ten Commandments are Inscribed. The prior and original Arc of covenant that Mosses received in the mount of Sina Is known to reside in the Church of Axum Tsion, in the northern part of Ethiopia. Ethiopians kept the faith of the fathers, transferred It to generations to come through reservation of the original Arc given by God and Its Alikes found in every single Churches named after different Saints.
After spending the night In praise, early in the morning begins the Divine liturgy (Kidase ) before the waters are blessed by the Pope, Archbishops and Priests. Those who went home for a little sleep return early to be part of the Divine Liturgy.
Later on the water are blessed in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit before dispersing them on to the crowd of Christians surrounding the event. Christians at that very moment wait passionately living in the memory of the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ going back thousands of years ago. As the water is sprinkled, the crowd begins to yearn for the drop of a holy water that flies on the air before falling on to them.
Later on the Holy Ark is escorted back by the crowd to its Church in colorful march and festivities. The priests, bearing robes and umbrellas of many types, perform Yaredic songs and physical movements become the beautify of this spiritual event.
The young children’s, youths bravely rise up and down tirelessly repeating spirited rhythmic songs. When the Holy Ark has been safely restored to its dwelling-place, the crowds go to their homes in spiritual joy and delight.
Dear children, Epiphany day is the most joyful and memorable day, so we shall all celebrate it with our family and loved ones.
The following day as well is holiday as our Lord Jesus Christ, commemorating the miracle he performed at the wedding. Holy Mother Saint Virgin Mary and Lord Jesus were invited to a wedding at Cana in Galilee in north east of Nazareth.
But then, wine had run out so Saint Mary told Jesus her Beloved Son. Lord Jesus then, told the servants to fill 6 large jugs with water. When the servants used the jugs to fill up the master of the banquet’s cup, the water miraculously turned into wine. The master of the banquet was astonished at the taste of this wine and even called the bridegroom to tell him how he saved the best wine for last. This was to bring glory to God’s name and strengthen the disciples’ faith.
Dear Children, these two holidays are commemorated amongst all Christians and so you shall do as same with your parents, siblings, relatives and friends and neighbors.
Farewell Children, we wish you a happy holiday! Till we meet on our next lesson, have a good time!