Epiphany Brings Thousands Together in Joyous Commemoration
Ethiopian Orthodox followers in Addis Ababa and across the country came together on Friday and Saturday to celebrate Timket, a significant religious festival also known as Epiphany. This annual event holds cultural importance, recognized by UNESCO as an integral part of Ethiopia’s intangible heritage, celebrating the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River.
Key Highlights of Timket Celebration:
1. March to Jan Meda: Followers, clad in traditional white fabrics, marched from churches to Jan Meda, an open field in the capital. This symbolic journey marked a collective pilgrimage, echoing the biblical significance of Jesus’ baptism.
2. Sacred Tents (Tabots): Priests carried sacred tents known as tabots, representing replicas of the Ark of the Covenant. These tabots hold immense sacred value in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, one of the oldest Christian denominations globally.
3. Hymns, Incense, and Holy Water: Amid the jubilant procession, students sang hymns, youth covered streets with red carpets as a gesture of respect, and priests spread incense while sprinkling holy water. The atmosphere was filled with chants, songs, and reverence for the tabots.
4. Patriarch’s Call for Peace: During the gathering, Abune Mathias, patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, emphasized the significance of the day, urging for peace, unity, and forgiveness. He called on the nation’s leaders to actively advocate for peace, addressing pressing issues such as hunger.
5. Challenges in Amhara Region: While Timket was celebrated nationwide, some areas, notably Gondar in the Amhara region, faced disruptions due to ongoing conflicts. Clashes between government forces and the local militia, Fano, impacted the festival’s observance in the region.
6. Humanitarian Concerns: Abune Mathias expressed concern about the humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia, particularly in the Tigray region, emphasizing the Christian duty to address issues such as hunger and suffering.
As Ethiopians joined in the Timket festivities, the message of unity, peace, and social responsibility echoed throughout the celebrations.
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Credit: Elias Biryabarema
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