The Ethiopian Epiphany of Timket (Ge'ez: ጥምቀት T'imk'et) is a colourful festival celebrated all over Ethiopia to remember Jesus Christ's baptism by John the Baptist in the River Jordan.
The commemoration begins the day before the main festival, on January 18. The day before the main festival is known as Ketera, which means blocking the flow of water for the blessing of the celebrants.
The cathedral of Lalibela is Ethiopia's ‘cathedral’ for ordination, as well as the country's most popular tourism and Timkat site. This 13th-century spiritual center contains 11 churches carved into the rock by King Lalibela who had a vision of the Holy City of Jerusalem.
During the ceremonies of Timket, people celebrate the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. The festival starts on the eve of the main festival, held on 18 January. On the eve of Ketera, people escort their parish church tabot (replicas of the Ark of the Covenant) from the parish church to Timkete-Bahir.
The priest leads the procession, which is accompanied by a big ceremony. People spend the night there attending night-long prayers and hymn services, which include the Eucharistic Liturgy. The actual festival takes place on the 19th of January. The celebration begins early morning with rituals before the sun rises.
Following this, the blessed water is sprinkled on the congregation, as well as various other rituals. Around 10 a.m. the procession back to the church begins, which involves an even more colorful ceremony with a variety of traditional and religious songs. In Gondar, the bathing palace is still devoted to this colorful ceremony.
Besides the baptism of Jesus Christ, the festival of Timket also commemorates thousands of people who have converted from Catholicism to Orthodoxy by being re-baptized. The Timket festival, also known as the Harvest Festival, is also a time for joy and celebration, and people dress in the best clothes.
An Amharic saying says that a dress not used during Timket deserves to be torn to tatters. In the wedding season, Timket is known for its fasting, feasting, and jubilant processions. It is also known as a time for romance and betrothal. In the countryside, a young man throws a lemon at the girl he chooses to be his fiancée and she accepts him.
Until today this element continues to function by relying on its continued practice, and Orthodox clerics play a key role: they sing praises that honor the rituals and hymns, carry the Ark, and preach relevant texts.
Timket (Ge'ez: ጥምቀት T'imk'et) is an Epiphany celebration observed by Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church. A Ge'ez word that means immersion in water, the same as Jesus Christ's baptism. The word also signifies epiphany, which comes from the Greek word Epiphaneia, meaning appearance.
The cathedral of Lalibela is Ethiopia's ‘cathedral’ for ordination, as well as the country's most popular tourism and Timkat site. This 13th-century spiritual center contains 11 churches carved into the rock by King Lalibela who had a vision of the Holy City of Jerusalem.
During the Ethiopian Epiphany festival, people celebrate the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. The festival starts on the eve of the main festival, held on 18 January. The eve is called Ketera, and it means blocking the flow of water to bless those who attend. On the eve of Ketera, people escort their parish church tabot (replicas of the Ark of the Covenant) from the parish church to Timkete-Bahir. The priest leads the procession, which is accompanied by a big ceremony. People spend the night there attending night-long prayers and hymn services, which include the Eucharistic Liturgy. The actual festival takes place on the 19th of January. The celebration begins early morning with rituals before the sun rises. Following this, the blessed water is sprinkled on the congregation, as well as various other rituals. Around 10 a.m. the procession back to the church begins, which involves an even more colorful ceremony with a variety of traditional and religious songs. In Gondar, the bathing palace is still devoted to this colorful ceremony. Besides the baptism of Jesus Christ, the festival of Timket also commemorates thousands of people who have converted from Catholicism to Orthodoxy by being re-baptized. The Timket festival, also known as the Harvest Festival, is also a time for joy and celebration, and people dress in the best clothes. An Amharic saying says that a dress not used during Timket deserves to be torn to tatters. In the wedding season, Timket is known for its fasting, feasting, and jubilant processions. It is also known as a time for romance and betrothal. In the countryside, a young man throws a lemon at the girl he chooses to be his fiancee and she accepts him.
Until today this element continues to function by relying on its continued practice, and Orthodox clerics play a key role: they sing praises that honor the rituals and hymns, carry the Ark, and preach relevant texts.
References
(https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/ethiopian-epiphany-01491) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timkat) (https://blogs.loc.gov/international-collections/2022/01/epiphany-and-timkat-in-ethiopia-the-city-of-gondar-hosts-annual-epiphany-celebrations/) (https://www.worqambatour.com/TimketEthiopianEpiphany.html) (https://www.ethiopiatourisms.com/ethiopian-epiphany/) (https://www.responsibletravel.com/holidays/festivals/travel-guide/timkat-festival-ethiopia) |Subject=Belief, Ritual |Country=Ethiopia |SDG=(11) Sustainable Cities and Communities, (16) Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions }}