Zemene Nolawi (ኖላዊ) - The Shepherd

‘Nolawi’ ኖላዊ is a Ge’ez word meaning “The Shepherd”, which refers to God who gave his life for the sake of his sheep (mankind). The week of 'Nolawi' covers the week from Tahisas 22-28 (December 29 - January 4). It is the last Sunday before God The Son came down from heaven to declare peace and to find Adam who was lost. This was also to bring all of Adam's children closer to The Father by uniting his divinity with our flesh. During the time of the Old Testament, the Prophets cried out for their shepherd saying…

Psalm 80:1

“Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the Cherubim, shine forth.”

Our Lord Eyesus Kristos being the Good Sheppard answered this question…

John 10:1-16

“Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.”

Every year, the Ethiopian Church recognizes the clear prophetic statements that foretold the coming of Eyesus Kristos for the salvation of mankind. The Church celebrates one of the feasts of Our Lord Eyesus Kristos in Four consecutive weeks known as:

• Sibket (Prophetic Announcement)

• Berhan (Light)

• Nolawi (Shepherd)

• Lidet (Birth)

Our Lord Eyesus Kristos used the comparison of sheep and their nature to describe believers. Sheep have a natural tendency to stray off as Isaiah said:

Isaiah 53:6

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way”

When sheep go astray, they are in danger of being attacked, even killed. Sheep cannot survive without a shepherd, likewise, we believers are totally dependent upon Our Lord Eyesus Kristos, the Good Shepherd, to protect us from all evil.

As we celebrate the birth of Our Lord Eyesus Kristos, our Orthodox Tewahedo Church remind us of the importance of this holy day. Let us come together and rejoice for the Gift of Salvation we have been given.

Below are some of the prophetic evidences and symbols recorded in the Holy Scriptures:

Hebrews 13:20

“Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, Eyesus our Lord,”

Matthew 20:28

“Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Psalm 23:1-2

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.”

Psalm 100:3

“Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”

King David in the Old Testament put his own life at risk by battling with wolves and lions who threatened the flock.

1 Samuel 17:34-35

“But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it."

The Feast to the Archangel Gabriel (ቁልቢ ገብርኤል)

Gabriel means servant of God. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church celebrates the Feast of Kiddus Gabriel on 19th day of each month of which two are great annual feasts.

Tahisas 19 (December 28) dedicated to commemorate the deliverance of the three youths Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego (Sidraq, Misaq and Abdenago) from the burning fire of Nebuchadnezzar through the help of Saint (Kiddus) Gabriel. (Dan. 3:19-25). Saint (Kiddus) Gabriel also clarifies visions when ordered by God. This appears in the vision of the prophet Daniel. When Daniel was perplexed with the vision, God-Egziabher sent Saint Gabriel to clarify the meaning of the vision to Daniel. (Dan. 8:16) In the subsequent chapter, the angel said, “O Daniel, I now come forth to give you skill and understanding.” (Dan. 9: 22)

Hamle 19 (July 26) dedicated to commemorate the deliverance of three-year old Kirkos and his mother Eyeluta from the boiling water through the help of Kiddus Gabriel.

May the intercession and prayer of the Holy Archangel Gabriel be with us, Amen.

Berhan – ብርሀን (Light)

‘Berhan- ብርሀን’: The week of Berhan (Light) covers the time between Tahisas 12 and 21 (December 21-27). During this week, we fast and prepare with Great Expectation for the coming of The Light of The World in the Spirit of Penitence and Hopefulness. The Liturgy of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church during this time also focuses on Biblical Readings and Hymns (Mezmurs) that recounts the coming of The TRUE LIGHT the Eternally-Begotten Son of God, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos.

The Fast of the Prophets is also known as:

1. The Fast of the Prophets

2. The Fast of Adam

3. The Fast of the Apostle Philip

Berhan is a time to preach about the true light, Eyesus Kristos, as Saint John the Evangelist testified.

John 1: 1-11

"That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world."

Every year, the Ethiopian Church recognizes the clear prophetic statements that foretold the coming of Eyesus Kristos for the salvation of mankind. The Church celebrates one of the feasts of Our Lord in four consecutive weeks known as:

• Sibket (Prophetic Announcement)

• Berhan (Light)

• Nolawi (Shepherd)

• Lidet (Birth)

The coming of Eyesus Kristos the Son of God, was indeed foretold by the Prophets of the Old Testament hundreds of years before his Incarnation of the Holy Virgin Mariam. He is the Light of Salvation and eternal life to those who believe.

Isaiah 42:6

“I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;”

Isaiah 49:6

“And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.”

Isaiah 60:1

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.”

John 8:12

“Then spake Eyesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

HYMN OF PRAISE FOR HOLY VIRGIN MARIAM (MONDAY)

“Thou Light, Who in truth illuminates all men who dwell in the world, because of Thy love for man Thou hast come into the world.”

Believers of Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos, be the light and tell to others the Good News of Salvation. This season shows to us the amazing mystery of God's infinite love. Remember to never allow decorative and colored lights to replace the true eternal light we receive by the coming of Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos, Amen.

Let it be His will to allow us to reach the blessed day of His Birth!!

Sebket-ስብከት(Proclamation of prophet)

'Sebket’ is a Ge’ez word meaning preaching and proclamation of prophet. The week of 'Sebket' covers the period from Tahisas 7 – 13 (December 16-22). During the period, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido church recounts the words of prophets about the incarnation of God. The prophets were fasting, praying and crying in their times longing for the Coming of Eyesus Kerestos the promised Messiah and Savior.

Psalm 144:7

Reach down your hand from on high deliver me and rescue me from the mighty waters, from the hands of foreigners

The prophets foretold the incarnation of the Word (Son of GOD), one of the persons of Holy Trinity, symbolizing Him and His Mother through different imagery which are revealed to them by God.

Micah 5:2

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

Every year, the Ethiopian church recognizes the clear prophetic statements that foretold the Coming of Eyesus Kerestos for the salvation of mankind. It celebrates as one of the feasts of Our Lord Eyesus Kerestos in Four consecutive weeks known as

• Sibket (prophetic announcement)

• Berhan (light)

• Nolawi (shepherd)

• Ledit (birth)

The church celebrates the feasts by drawing scriptural readings relevant to the specific declaration of the prophets, how it was to be accomplished, and what it means for mankind.

John 1:45

45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote - Eyesus of Nazareth”

Acts 3:22

‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you”

1 Timothy 6:13-15

13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Eyesus Kerestos, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

1 Timothy 1:15-17

15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Scriptures proved from prophecies of the Old Testament that Eyesus Kerestos is indeed the promised Messiah and Savior, prophetically validating Him as the coming King of kings and Lord of lords! In the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo church services this prophetic evidence and symbols recorded in scriptures read during this period.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit one God Amen