Bahire Hasab - ባሕረ ሃሳብ - The Ethiopian Calendar

Ethiopia has its own ancient calendar based on the system called Bahire Hasab - ባሕረ ሃሳብ which means the Sea of Ideas. Bahire Hasab also known as Abushakir is a chronological system used for calculating the times of festivals and the beginning and ending of the fasting days throughout the year.

The Ethiopian Calendar has much in common with the Coptic-Egyptian Calendar but not identical. The two calendars differ with regards to the time and observation of Saints' days. Pope Demetrios of the Church of Alexandria(seat of St. Mark) utilized Mitonic cycles. The calculations of Claudius Ptolemy and the Egyptian calendar were to establish the rules for calculating Easter on the day of a particular New Year.

According to the beliefs of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, God created the world 5500 years before the birth of Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos and it is 2015 years since Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos was born. Based on this timeline, we are in the year 7515 (5500 + 2015) of the eighth millennium. These are referred to as Amete Alem or “The Years from the Beginning of Creation”.

The Ethiopic years have four year cycles. The years are named after the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Each year has four seasons, autumn(fall), winter, spring and summer. An Ethiopian week has seven days. Each day has a numeric value for use in its calendrical calculations. Apart from hours, minutes and seconds the Ethiopic calendar also has a time frame known as Kekros(ኬክሮስ). A Kekros is 1/60th of a day. An Ethiopian solar year has 365 days and 15 Kekroses while a lunar year has 364 days and 22 Kekroses.

Enoch wrote his Ethiopic Bible as the first and oldest author in any human language. The Book of Enoch has been part of the Ethiopian Canon.

Enoch 72:33

"the year is exactly as to its days three hundred and sixty-four."

1. Calculating Amete Alem - አመተ አለም (the years since Creation)

Amete Alem is the sum of the number of years before birth of Eyesus Kristos and after the birth of Our Lord and Saviour Eyesus Kristos.

Amete Alem = years Before Birth of Christ + years After birth of Christ

Example: In 2015 E.C.(Ethiopian Calendar)

Amete Alem = 5500 + 2015 = 7515

Amete Alem = 7515

2. Calculating the Evangelist of the year(Wengelawi ) - ወንጌላዊ

Wengelawi means the writers of the Gospel. The years are named after the four Evangelist namely Mathewos(Matthew), Markos(Mark), Lukas(Luke) and Yohannes (John).

The name of the Evangelist of the year is the remainder of Amete Alem divided by 4 and if the remainder is:

• 1, then it is the year of Mathewos(Matthew)

• 2, then it is the year of Markos(Mark)

• 3, then it is the year of Lukas(Luke)

• 0, then it is the year of Yohannes(John)

We divided it by 4 because we have 4 Evangelists.

Example: In 2014 E.C.(Ethiopian Calendar)

Recall from step 1 above: Amete Alem = 7515

(7515/4) = 1878 remaining 3

The remaining 2 implies the name of the Evangelist which is Mark(Markos)

Evangelist = Luke

The quotient without the remainder is called Metene Rabiet

Metene Rabiet (quotient) = 1878

3. Calculating the day of the week of the Ethiopian New Year

To know the day when the Ethiopian New Year starts add Amete Alem and Metene Rabiet then divide by 7. The remainder is given the name Tinte Qemer, which is the first day that the New Year begins.

If Tinte Qemer is:

• 0, then the new year starts on Monday

• 1, then the new year starts on Tuesday

• 2, then the new year starts on Wednesday

• 3, then the new year starts on Thursday

• 4, then the new year starts on Friday

• 5, then the new year starts on Saturday

• 6, then the new year starts on Sunday

Tinte Qemer = Amete Alem + Metene Rabiet divided by 7

Example: In 2015 E.C

Recall from step 1 above: Amete Alem = 7515

Recall from step 2 above: Metene Rabiet (quotient) = 1878

Tinte Qemer (7515+1878)/7 = 1341 remaining 6 which is Tinte Qemer.

Note: We divided it by 7, because a week has 7 days

Therefore, the year of 2015 starts on Sunday (Meskerem 1).

4. Calculating Medeb (መደብ) and Wenber (ወንበር)

Medeb is the remainder of Amete Alem divided by 19(Nuskemer)

Example: In 2015:

Recall from step 1 above: Amete Alem = 7515

(7515 / 19) = 395 remaining 10. Therefore, Medeb of the year is 10

Medeb = 10

Wenber is obtained by subtracting 1 from Medeb and is used for finding Metqi and Abektie which are used in calculating Fasting Dates and Holidays.

Wenber = Medeb – 1

Wenber = 10– 1 = 9

Wenber = 9

Note: If remainder is 0, Medeb of the year is 0 and Wenber is 18.

5. Calculating Abektie(አበቅቴ) and Metqi(መጥቅ)

Abektie is obtained by Multiplying Wenber by 11 and if the product is greater than 30, it is then divided by 30. The remainder in the division is called Abektie. Note that if the product is less than 30 the product itself will be the Abektie of the year.

Abektie is the reminder of (Wenber x 11) / 30

Example: In 2015:

Recall from step 4 above: Wenber = 9

Abektie = (9 x 11) / 30 = 3 with reminder 9.

Abektie = 9

Similarly, Metqi is obtained by Multiplying Wenber by 19 and if the product is greater than 30, it is then divided by 30. The remainder in the division is called Metqi. If the product is less than 30 the product itself will be the Metqi of the year.

Metqi is the reminder of (Wenber x 19) / 30

Example: In 2015:

Recall from step 4 above: Wenber = 9

Metqi is the reminder of (9 x 19) / 30 = 5 with reminder 21.

Metqi = 21

Note: Abektie + Metqi = 30 always

Example: In 2015: 9 + 21 = 30

Note: Metqi cannot be 1, 3, 6, 9, 11, 14,17, 20, 22, 25 and 28. Therefore it can be any of the other 19 numbers.

6. Calculating BealeMetqi and Mebaja Hamer

6.1 Beale Metqi is the date assigned by Metqi.

Example: In 2015:

Recall from step 5 above: Metqi = 21

If Metqi is greater than 14, then Beale-Metqi is in Meskerem (from Meskerem 15-30).

If Metqi is less than 14, then BealeMetqi is in Month of Tikimt.

Example:-In 2015 E.C:

We saw above that Metqi is 21. This implies that Beale Metqi is the 21st. of Meskerem.

Since the 1st. of Meskerem is Sunday, then the 21st of Meskerem is on Saturday which is Beale Metqi.

6.2 Tewsak is the number of days from end of the Nineveh Fast to the starting date of the Lent Fast. If the number of days is greater than 30, it's divided by 30 and the remainder will be Tewsak.

Example:

• If Beale Metqi is on Saturday, the number of days between the next day of Beale Metqi and Nineveh is 128. So 128 divided by 30 gives a remainder of 8. This remainder of 8 is called Tewsak which always fall on Tuesday.

Day NO of days up to the Nineveh Tewsak Tewsak of the day

Sunday 127 7

Monday 126 6

Tuesday 125 5

Wednesday 124 4

Thursday 123 3

Friday 122 2

Saturday 128 8

6.3 Mebaja Hamer is obtained by adding Beale Metqi and Tewsak of the day of Beale Metqi. If the result is greater than 30 as usual the remainder is taken.

Mebaja Hamer = Beale Metqi + Tewsak of the day of Beale Metqi

Example: In 2015 E.C

Recall Beale Metqi is Meskerem 21 Saturday

Mebaja Hamer = 21 + Tewsak of Saturday

Recall on the above list Tewsak of Saturday = 8

Mebaja Hamer = 21 + Tewsak of Saturday= 21 + 8 =29

Mebaja Hamer = 29

But if Beale Metqi is in Meskerem and it is added with Tewsak of the day to be greater than 30, then Nineveh is in Yekatit by taking the extra days above 30.

7. Calculating Holy days and Fasting days

To obtain Fasting days, first it is necessary to get the date for Nineveh. The fasting date of Nineveh is the same as the Mebaja Hamer number. The Nineveh fasting month is obtained by the following rules:

· If Metqi is above 14, Beale Metqi is in Meskerem, then Nineveh is in Tirr.

· If Metqi is below 14, Beale Metqi is in Tikimt, then Nineveh is in Yekatit.

Nineveh fasting = the Mebaja Hamer number

Nineveh fasting =Tirr 29

Tewsak is the number of days from the start of Nineveh to the starting day of the fast or holy day. This means if the number of days are greater than 30, it's divided by 30 and the remainder will be Tewsak.

Example:

For Debre Zeit, the number of days after Nineveh is 41, so 41 divided by 30 = 1 with 11 remanding. Therefore, the Tewsak of Debre Zeit is 11.

Fasting dates and Holy days Tewsak

Abiy Tsome 14

Debre Zeit 11

Hosanna 2

Good Friday 7

Tinsaye 9

Rkbe Kahnat 3

Ascension 18

Paraclete 28

Fast of the Holy Apostles 29

Wednesday and Friday Weekly fast 1

Note: Nineveh doesn't have Tewsak, because it is the starting point of the calculations of the Fasting days and Holy days. However, to obtain Nineveh directly, take the Mebaja Hamer number as explained above.

1. To obtain Abiy Tsome, Count 14 days (Tewsak of Abiy Tsome = 14) after Nineveh.

• Abiy Tsome = Tirr 29 + 14 days = Yekatit 13

2. To obtain Debre Zeit, Count 41 days after Nineveh.

• Tewsak of Debre Zeit(11) + 30 = 11 + 30 = 41

• Debre Zeit = Tirr 29+ 41 days = Megabit 10

3. To obtain Hosanna, Count 62 days after Nineveh.

• Tewsak of Hosanna(2) + (2 x 30) = 2 + 60 = 62

• Hosanna = Tirr 29 + 62 days = Miazia 1

4. To obtain Siklet(Good Friday), Count 67 days after Nineveh.

• Tewsak of Good Friday(7) + (2 x 30) = 7 + 60 = 67

• Siklet = Tirr 29 + 67 days = Miazia 6

5. To obtain Tinsaye(Resurrection), Count 69 days after Nineveh.

• Tewsak of Tinsaye(9) + (2 x 30) = 9 + 60 = 69

• Tinsaye = Tirr 29 + 69 days = Miazia 8

6. To obtain Rikbe Khahnat, Count 93 days after Nineveh.

• Tewsak of Rikbe Khahnat(3) + (3 x 30) = 3 + 90 = 93

• Rikbe Khahnat = Tirr 29 + 93 days = Ginbot 2

7. To obtain Ascension, Count 108 days after Nineveh.

• Tewsak of Ascension(18) + (3 x 30) = 18 + 90 = 108

• Ascension = Tirr 29 + 108 days = Ginbot 17

8. To obtain Paraclete, Count 118 days after Nineveh.

• Tewsak of Paraclete(28) + (3 x 30) = 28 + 90 = 118

• Paraclete = Tirr 29 + 118 days = Ginbot 27

9. To obtain Fasting of Holy Apostles, Count 119 days after Nineveh.

• Tewsak of Fasting of Holy Apostles(29) + (3 x 30) = 29 + 90 = 119

• Holy Apostles = Tirr 29 + 119 days = Ginbot 28

10. To obtain Weekly fast (Wednesday and Friday), Count 121 days after Nineveh

• Tewsak of Weekly fast - Wednesday and Friday(1) + (4 x 30) = 1 + 120 = 121

• Weekly Fast = Tirr 29 + 119 days = Ginbot 30

Note: The Weekly Wednesday and Friday fasts also called Tsome dihenet meaning Fast of Salvation.

Happy Ethiopian New Year!!

Enqutatash! እንቁጣጣሽ!

Enkutatash is the name for the Ethiopian New Year in Amharic, it is also called Ri'se Awde Amet which means the Head of the Holy days. Ethiopia ushers her new year on September 11, which is the first day of the Ethiopian month of Meskerem. Except for the year preceding a leap year, it occurs on September 12th.

Deuteronomy 32:7

“Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will show thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.”

The word Enkutatash means the Gift of Diamonds. Legend has it that King Solomon of Jerusalem gave the Queen of Sheba jewels during her famous visit to Jerusalem as mentioned in the Bible in 1 Kings 10 and in 2 Chronicles 9. She had gifted Solomon with 120 talents of gold(4.5 tons) as well as a large amount of unique spices and jewels. When the Queen returned to Ethiopia her chiefs welcomed her with gifts of ‘Enku’ or diamond. Her return to Ethiopia coincided with the New Year celebration in September, and hence the name Enkutatash came to be.

Each year in the Ethiopian Calendar is named after one of the four Evangelists: St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke and St. John. This is done to remember and honor the role of the Evangelists in preaching the Gospel of Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos through their writings and sermons. The naming of the years repeats itself in a four-year cycle as the Evangelists are four.

Each year is divided into 12 months of 30 days. The extra 5 days are placed at the end of the year and known as Pagumen. In the leap year an extra day is added to these five days making the month of Pagumen 6 days. The year of Luke is the Ethiopian Leap year and is the year which precedes the Western leap year.

Names of the months are as follows:

(1) Meskerem - September

(2) Teqemt - October

(3) Hedar - November

(4) Tahsas - December

(5) Ter - January

(6) Yekatit - February

(7) Megabit - March

(8) Miyazia - April

(9) Ginbot - May

(10) Sene - June

(11) Hamle - July

(12) Nehase - August

(13) Pagumen

There are certain moments commemorated on Ethiopian New Year.

1. The receding of the waters of the great flood during the time of Noah

2. The beheading of Saint John the Baptist hence Ethiopians call the new year Kidus Yohannes. John was the last of the prophets and is a bridge between the Old and the New Testaments. He transferred the Gospel from the Old Testament to the New Testament which ushered in salvation and new life in Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos. This is the very reason why Saint John the baptist is regarded as a symbol of transition from one year to another in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

3. The Ethiopian New Year also marks the transition from the heavy rainy season to the sunny days. It is symbolic of the passage from dark to light. The Ethiopian New Year festival has been celebrated since these early times and as the rains come to their abrupt end, dancing and singing can be heard in every town and village in the green countryside. In the evening every house lights a bonfire as part of the celebration.

The New Year is also an occasion of exchanging gifts and pray for God's blessings among people. A typical New Year greeting goes: "I am glad that He(God) brings you safely from the year of Saint John to the year of Saint Matthew!" - remember the name of the year is named after one of the four Evangelists. The entire month of Meskerem is a time of celebration and joy.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church always hold a special service on the New Year. When the holy mass comes to an end, the chief priest in each Church reads the calendar of the year. The Church uses its own mathematical system for calculating the times of festivals and the beginning and end of fasting days. This ancient and unique system is called Bahire Hasab. After the reading is finished, the chief priest proclaims the replacement of the old year by the new one. For instance, if the old year was named after St. Mark, the priest proclaims “Mark teshare Luke negese” which is to mean “The year of Saint Mark has passed, and the year of Saint Luke has begun."

Enkutatash is not exclusively a religious holiday because it is not only celebrated by Christians but by all Ethiopians. Today, the term 'Enkutatash' is used for the exchanging of formal New Year's greetings. Ethiopian children, clad in brand-new clothes, dance through the towns and villages giving bouquets of flowers and painted Enqutatash pictures to each household.

Happy Ethiopian New Year!! - መልካም አዲስ ዓመት!

The Feast of the Archangel Raphael - ሊቀ መላእክት ቅዱስ ሩፋኤል

This day Pagume 3 is called Finote Semay, roughly translated ‘road to heavens’. Therefore, the rain that falls on this day is considered Holy, blessing of the Christians and protects them from illness and bad fortune. On this day in Ethiopia we can see children rinsing in the rain. Women add drops of the sacred rainwater to their dough as they believe that the injera and dabo(bread) will be blessed.

The Archangel Raphael performed several miracles on this day that the day is celebrated with special vivacity in the churches dedicated to the Angel.

Abba Theophilus the Archbishop of Alexandria; built many churches, and among them was the church, which was on the island outside the city of Alexandria, and was dedicated in the name of the Archangel Raphael. Abba Theophilus the Archbishop finished the building thereof and consecrated it as it were this day. On this day Pagume 3rd whilst the believers were praying in the church, the church started trembling and moving. And they found that the church had been built upon the back of a whale of the sea, on which a very large mass of sand had heaped itself.

Now it was Satan who moved the whale so that he might throw down the church. And the believers and the archbishop cried out together, and made supplication to Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kirstos, and they asked for the intercession of the Archangel Raphael. And God, the Most High, sent the Holy Angel Raphael, and he drove his spear into the while, saying unto him, “By the commandment of God stand still, and move not thyself from thy place”; and the whale stood in his place and moved not. And this church continued to exist until the time when the Muslims reigned, and then it was destroyed, and the whale moved, and the sea flowed back again.

Tobit, a religious man, who lives in Nineveh is known for hiddenly burring dead Jews in foreign land. But one of the evening after he buried another Jews man he slept around the grave yard. While Tobit sleeps, he is blinded by a bird which defecates in his eyes. His relative Sarah, living in far-off Ecbatana, also prays for death, for the demon Asmodeus has killed her husbands. She was married seven times one after another, but all of her husbands died on the first night of the marriage.

God hears the prayer of both Tobit and Sahara and sent the Archangel Raphael to help them. Tobias the son of Tobit is sent to Ecbatana to recover money from a relative, and the Archangel Raphael, in human shape, waited Tobit on the way and offers to accompany him. On the way Tobit and Raphael catch a fish to eat. The Archangel said "prepare the fish, keep the heart, liver and the gallbladder, but we will roast and eat the other parts" because the burnt heart and liver of this fish can drive out demons and the gall of this fish can cure blindness. Archangel Raphael arrived in Ecbatana and meet Sarah. As Archangel Raphael has predicted the demon is driven out from Sarah when Tobias burnt the heart and liver of the fish, they brought with them.

Tobias and Sarah get married and returned to Nineveh. As Raphael told to Tobias, Tobit's blindness is cured with the gall of the fish. The Arch Angel Raphael departs from them after admonishing Tobit and Tobias to bless God and declare his miracles to the people.

May Archangel Raphael’s Intercession be with us, Amen!