Summer
July 13, 2022
Seasons are repetitive flow of rain, cloud, sun and thunders within days, months and years. In Our country Ethiopia there are four seasons known as:-
- Matsaw (Autumn): the windy season from 26 September to 25 December2
- Hagay ( Winter): the dry season from 26 December to 25 March
- Balg (Spring):the sowing season (that of the light rains) from 26 March to 25 June; and
- Kiremt (Summer):the rainy season from 26 June to 25 September
We are now in Ethiopia’s Kiremt (summer), so we will articulate on this season. Summer in Ethiopia is the season of rain, crop and weeding. It has three periods.
1. Entry of Summer (Beate Kiremet)
This season is the entry of summer and it has two periods.
- The Beginning of Summer (From 25 June-19 July)
The beginning of summer is a season of Seed and Cloud. It is as season where cloud cover sky, high rain pours down and earth breeds seeds. In our Holy Church, regarding the entry of summer, about rain, the breeding of seed and about cloud are sung and readings are read. (Psalm 146:8, 134-6-7, 64:9, Matthew 13:47, 14:26-27, Luke 10:17-20)
- The Brimming of Sea (Melate Bahir) From 19 July-10 August
Lightning, high humidity and rainfall occurs in this period. In this season rain enriches earth, the seed grows and all the tress spouts by the sizzling sun. Thunder strikes and seas, oceans and rivers are full.
Songs of Prophet David such as, “The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad. The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightning lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook” are sung. (Psalms 77: 17-18)
2.The Medium of Summer (Maikele Kiremt) From 10 August -29 August
The middle of summer is the season of rain season when the level of rainfall decreases and the ground gets less moist. During this period birds hiding in the balminess of their nests arise to recur as the rain seize. Wise is his song said, “The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.” (Song 2:12)
Prophet David also sung, “Who gives food to all flesh: for His mercy endures forever. O gives thanks unto the God of heaven: for His mercy endures forever.” (Psalms 136:25-26) “The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou gives them their meat in due season. Thou open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.” (Psalms 145:15-16)
3.The Ending of the Summer (Tseate Kirmet)
This season has four periods.
- Goh Tseibah (From 29 August -5 Pagumen 5 /or 6 in a leap year/)
The Geeze word ‘Goh’ means morning and ‘Tsebah’ means Light. Holy Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church named the days from 29 August -5 Pagumen 5 as ‘Goh Tsebah.’ It is the period of dew and fertility, seed and threshing. Moreover, Dark clouds begin to recede and the sun resurfaces and shines in the sky.
Prophet David sung about this period, “Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him.” (Psalm 50:2-5)
- Year of John (From September 1-8)
The beginning of the New Year for the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is named as “Year of John. Saint John was the last prophet of the Old Testament and is considered a bridge between the Old and the New Testaments. He transferred the Gospel from the Old Testament to the New Testament and preached about the new life and salvation the world to receive through Jesus Christ.
In this period Matthew’s gospel is read, “Repent you: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand… Prepare you the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.” (Mathew 3:1-3) Prophet David also sung about it. “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.” (Psalm 85:10-11) Saint Peter in his passage said, “For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, reveling, banqueting, and abominable idolatries.” (1 Peter 4:3)
- Year of Fruit (From September 9-16)
The period in which the seed that was sown during the rainy season begins to bear fruit is known as ‘Year fruit.’ Lord Jesus Christ preaching about spiritual fruit is commemorated and comprehended. He said, “Therefore by their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:20)
Prophet David sung as. “Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.” (Psalm 67:6); and Matthew’s gospel is read as, “But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day.”(Mathew 24:20)
- Year of Cross (From September 17-25)
The period which marks the end of the summer is called Year of Cross. Prophet David sung saying, “You have given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. That you beloved may be delivered.” (Psalms 60: 4-5) as it is also said, “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” (Colossians 2:14-15)
During this period Holy Church teaches about the truth about Holy cross is being our peace, redemption and salvation.