The Festival of the Appearance of St. Mary
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church venerates St. Mary as the Mother of God, whom the Divine Grace chose to bear the Word of God in her womb by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35). Since she is the interceding mother on behalf of her spiritual children, she is exalted above heavenly and earthly creatures. Therefore, the Ethiopian church celebrates 33 feasts of St Mary throughout the year.
Ginbot 21 (May 29) is one of the annual feasts of St Mary celebrated colorfully following her appearance in the church of Debre Mitmak named after her. According to the Ethiopic Synaxarium, our Lady started to transfigure in luminous spiritual forms over and around of the domes of the church dedicated to her in Debre Mitmak. Her public appearance continued for five days in front of multitudes of people from every race and religion, she was looking to them in a compassionate way raising her hand to bless them in all directions.
According to Ethiopian Orthodox church’s tradition, the site is one of the locations where the Holy family stayed during their flight into Egypt, and God prophesied concerning of the church and said “Behold, later on the church will be built here in the name of my Mother, St Mary”.
Hosts of angles appear standing behind her spreading their wings to glorify her from heaven. The prophets, the righteous, and all of the martyrs including Saint George and Saint Mercorios came and did homage to her. During her apparition, she made many miracles among the crowd, for instance, those whose relative was died made a prayer in her name, and then she brought alive before his relatives as he had before on earth. The congregation threw their garments to her, she took and threw it back to them, and they divided it among them for blessing.
Source: Ethiopic Synaxarium, on Ginbot 21 (May 29).
May the mercy of God be upon us all. May the Lord keep His people and church in peace, with the intercession of Our Lady, the pure Virgin St. Mary. Amen.