"Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God."Psalm 68:31                    "Are ye not as children of the Ethiopians unto me, O children of Israel?" Amos 9:7

 

 

Feast of the Season/Great Lent Fast (Abiy Tsom/Huda'de/Ye-Geta Tsom)
     
From Yekatit 01, 2002(Feburary 08, 2010) - Megabit 25, 2002(April 03, 2010).


To the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Lent (Hudadi or Abbiy Tsom) means a period of fasting when the faithful undergo a rigorous schedule of prayers and penitence. This fast is observed with greater rigor than any other fast and it is a test of one's Christianity. One who fails to keep it is not considered a good Christian. Properly observed it nullifies the sins committed during the rest of the year. The faithful should abstain from all food except bread, water and salt. It consists of 56 days, all meat is forbidden, and also, what are called "lactina," milk, butter, cheese, eggs, etc. On all the fasting days only one meal is allowed and this is to be taken in the afternoon, at 3 P.M.. or in the evening. On Saturdays and Sundays people are allowed to eat in the morning.
Daily Services are conducted in all the Churches. Each day services are held from morning to 2:45 P.M.. Priests regularly attend night services starting at midnight up to seven A.M.

Each week of the Great Lent has its own name associated with what Christ did or taught. The names and the corresponding part of the bible are shown below with each Sunday heralding the beginning of each week.

European Calendar Ethiopian Calendar Name of the weeks Bible Reading
February 07, 2010 Tirr 30, 2002 Ze' worede or Hirkal John 3:10-25
February 14, 2010 Yekatit 07, 2002 Qidist Mt 4:1-11
February 21, 2010 Yekatit 14, 2001 Mikurab John 2:12-25
February 28, 2010 Yekatit 21, 2002 Metsagu’e John 5:1-25
March 07, 2010 Yekatit 28, 2002 Debrezeit Mt 24:1-36
March 14, 2009 Megabit 05, 2002 Gebir’HEr Mt 25:14-31
March 21, 2010 Megabit 12, 2002 Niqodimos John 3:1-15
March 28, 2009 Megabit 19,2002 Hosa’ena John 12:1-50
April 02, 2010 Megabit 24,2002 Sekelet/Good Friday John 12:1-50
April 04,2010 Megabit 26, 2002 Tinsa’e John 20:1-50


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