The road to Emmaus [ኤማሁስ]

The Road to Emmaus - የኤማሁስ መንገደኞች - Third Sunday after Resurrection [Tensae]

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church celebrates third Sunday after Tensae to commemorate the history of Saint Luke and Cleopas on the road to Emmaus.

The two Apostles who went to Emmaus, were Luke, who wrote the Gospel, and Cleopas, who was the brother of St. Joseph the Betrothed. Saint Luke being humble, didn't mentioned his own name when he wrote about the road to Emmaus, but he put the name of Cleopas. When they started the road to Emmaus they were very discouraged and heavyhearted from what happened to the Lord in Jerusalem but still had faith and love to their Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos.

Luke 24:13-23

“13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.

21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, today is the third day since these things were done.

22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulcher;

23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.”

The day was far spent, the sun was setting, and they were tired, but they made haste to go back as soon as they found out it was our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos who was talking with them. The two Apostles didn't want to spend one single night without witnessing the good news.

It is the Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos that ultimately makes the Gospel “Good News”. The Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos is the very foundation and hope of Christianity and affirms our belief in the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.

1 Corinthians 15:14-21

“14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:

17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept.

21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.”

Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos alone rose from the dead, but He has destroyed death and its finality.

Before the resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos, all the dead would go to Sheol (place of darkness and death) whether they were righteous or not. After Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos was laid in the tomb, He descended into Sheol and broke the bonds of Satan and death and let out all the children of Adam therein.

God sent His Son to save the whole person-both body and soul. Therefore, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church teaches that all mankind shall rise from the dead at the Final Judgment. Even though we all will meet death and will be laid in the grave, the day is coming when the trump of God shall sound and the dead shall rise and be presented before Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos as a full person, with a body and soul.

John 5:28-29

“28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”

Apostle Saint Luke:

• After the Resurrection, Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos appeared to Saint Luke and Cleopas on the road to Emmaus.

• St. Luke was a companion of the holy Apostle Paul. (2 Timothy 4:11)

• St Luke painted the first icons of the Mother of God, this Icon is now located at Gishon Maryam in Ethiopia

• St Luke’s Gospel was written in the years 62-63 A. D at Rome.

• St Luke also wrote the Acts of the Holy Apostles at Rome around 62-63 A.D

Christ is Risen from the dead! Amen

Feast of the Nativity of Our Holy Mother Virgin Mariam /ልደታ ለማርያም/

According to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo church canon, the birth of Our Holy Mother Virgin Mariam is celebrated on Ginbot 1 (May 9).

The parents of Our Holy Mother Virgin Mariam, Joachim and Hannah has no child even at the later stage of their lives for Hannah was barren. The people of Israel rebuked them saying that God did not give them a child because of their sin. When Hannah the mother of Our Holy Mother prayed to have a child, she promised to God saying, "If You gives me a fruit, I will devote the child to Your Holy Temple.

One day Joachim the father of Our Holy Mother said unto Hannah his wife, I had a dream, " I saw the heavens opened, and a white bird went forth therefrom and hovered over my head". And likewise, Hanna said unto him, " I also had a dream this day, and I saw a dove sitting upon my head, and it entered into my belly." And seven days after they had told each other these things, that is, on the seventh day of the month Nahasse Hannah conceived despite her old age. And six months after it had become known that the blessed Hannah had conceived, the family of Joachim her husband and those of herself heard thereof, and they came unto her to check what they are hearing. Now there was a certain woman among them who was blind, and she touched the belly of Hannah, saying, " Is it true, what I have heard? Straightway her eyes were opened, and she saw the light. Then they all said, " O a child who is not yet born can heal the blind when he is born how many people he shall heal”. This matter became a hard one unto all the elders of Israel. From that day the elders of Israel did not see Hannah and Joachim in good sight and decided to kill them before the birth of the child. But the angel of God, appeared unto Joachim in his dream and told him to take his wife Hannah and fled to the mount of Lebanon.

Song of Solomon 4:8

“Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards.”

Our Holy mother was born while her mother Hannah was on a journey in exile on the Mount Lebanon.When Our Holy Mother was born, her father Joachim, and her mother Hannah, were overjoyed. The place where she was born was on a mountainside hiding from the elders of Israel, and all their families and relatives came to the Mount Lebanon to see Hannah and the miracle baby. They all feast together and eat under the tree of Mount Lebanon and thank God for the blessed child. To commemorate this story in this month all Ethiopian Orthodox church believers celebrate the birth of Our Holy Mother by getting together and have a feast under the tree.

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.

The 3rd Sunday after Easter [Tinsae] - The week of Fasika (ሰሙነ ፋሲካ):

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido church celebrates 3rd Sunday after Tinsae to commemorate Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos's appearances to his disciples following his Resurrection for the third time.

After Resurrection Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos always greets his disciples with the words, “Peace be with you”. The disciples have witnessed the death of there Lord and fear for their own lives as well. Peace is what they needed more than anything else.

On this Sunday the disciples were startled and terrified when they saw their crucified and buried Lord standing before them, and their minds retreated and mistake Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos for a ghost. Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos invites them to touch his resurrected body with their hand. As further proof of his identity and of his resurrected body, Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos also eats with his disciples. Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos wanted to establish the fact that it is no ghost but He himself rose bodily from the grave and defeated death. He changed their fears to joy and believe so that they will be the witness of his resurrection to the rest of the world.

Luke 24:36-44

“36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

38 And he said unto them, why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of a honeycomb.

43 And he took it, and did eat before them.

44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.”

It is also on this day the one who said to Mary Magdalene don't touch me he himself offered and invited his disciples to touch him. This shows us that women are not allowed to be a priest and touch the body and blood of Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos. From the one hundred twenty family of Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos some of them were women and they were allowed to be the witness of his resurrection but not allowed to touch him. Our church following this tradition don't allow women to be a priest.

John 20: 17

“17 Jesus saith unto her, touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.”

Glory be to GOD forever, amen

The Week of Easter/Fasika (ሰሙነ ፋሲካ)

Tensae – ትንሳኤ – Easter Sunday [Fasika]

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church celebrates the full week from the day of the Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos (Tensae or Fasika) to Dagima Tensae, the second Sunday after Fasika. Fasika originated from the Greek word “Pascha” meaning Passover. Each day from Fasika to Dagima Tensae has it’s own name.

Easter Monday - Maidote - ማዕዶት

Maidote / ማዕዶት is a Ge’ez word meaning “Crossing”. On this day we remember that through the Resurrection of Our Lord Eyesus Kristos we crossed from the grave to glory, from death to life. From hell to paradise, from the deepest darkness into the wonderful light!

Easter Tuesday - Apostle Thomas - ቶማስ

On this day, we remember that the Apostle Thomas believed and testified saying, “My Lord and my God” after he’d seen and touched the evidence of the nails where it pierced the hands of Our Savior Eyesus Kristos.

John 20:27-29

Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. and Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Easter Wednesday - Lazarus/Alazari – አልአዛር

On this day we remember how Our Lord Eyesus Kristos, who is the Resurrection and the Life to all, raised Lazarus from the dead.

John 11:25

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.

Easter Thursday - Adam Thursday [Hamus] – አዳም ሐሙስ

On this day we remember that the promise and covenant given to Adam and his children was fulfilled.

2 Corinthians 1:20

For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

Easter Friday - Holy Church [Kidist Bete-Kristyian] – ቅድስት ቤተ ክርስቲያን

On this day it was announced that the church is founded on Our Lord Eyesus Kristos' death and Resurrection.

Acts 20:28

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Easter Saturday - Holy Women [Kidusat Anist] – ቅዱሳት አንስት

On this day we remember the Holy women who went to the tomb of Our Savior Eyesus Kristos through the darkness to anoint his body.

There were thirty-six Holy women who followed Our Lord and Saviour Eyesus Kristos and were counted among the one hundred and twenty families of Christ.

Mark 16:1

And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

Second Sunday after Resurrection [Dagima Tensai] – ዳግም ትንሳኤ

On this day we remember that eight days from the day of His Resurrection Our Lord Eyesus Kristos appeared to his disciples including the Apostle Thomas.

John 20:26

“And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.”

The fifty days from Tensai to the Feast of the Paraclete (Pentecost) is a truly blessed and joyful season. During this time, people are allowed to eat non-fasting diets, on Wednesdays and Fridays too. Believers are not allowed to fast or prostrate.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has its Order of Celebration of Saturdays and Sundays.

The celebration of Saturdays is the Order of the Old Testament:

Exodus 20:8

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

In the era of the New Testament, the Church teaches that the observance of Saturdays should not be as strict as that of the Jews.

Fetha Nagast 19

"Christians should not be idle on the Sabbath like the Jews."

But they should work as Christians.

Colossians 2:16-17

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holiday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Sunday is the day on which Our Savior Eyesus Kristos rose from the dead. Hence it is "The Day of The Lord" in the New Testament.

Revelations 1: 10

I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.

1 Corinthians 16:2

Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

Saint Yared in his Degua Ze Fasika hymnbook said:

"He celebrated it [Sunday], adored it, made it the day of light and of all days he glorified it."

Liturgy of Athanasius:

"And our rest is not to sleep like a suffering one in his disease, but to watch day and night that we may show our love for this day."

On this basis, the Church teaches the people to celebrate or observe Sunday by going to church to pray, give alms to the poor, visit the sick and settle quarrels.

Christ Rose from the dead!