Happy Ethiopian Epiphany(ጥምቀት)

The Fast of Assumption/The Fast of St. Mary (Tsoma Filsata)
I will make Your name to be remembered in all generations; Therefore the people shall praise You forever and ever Psalm 45:17
The Fast of St. Mary from Nehassie 01, 2003(August 07, 2011) - Nehassie 15, 2003 (August 22, 2011).

To the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, The Fast of Assumption(Tsoma Filsata) of the Virgin Saint Mary is one of the most beloved fasts, which lasts for the first two weeks of Nehassie (August 7-22)). It is canonized as a remembrance of the fast the apostles held in zeal of witnessing her resurrection and ascension.

The word Assumption refers to shifting from one scene or place to another. Our Holy Mother, St. Mary, having lived in this world for sixty four years, had to depart to the heaven as was the case for her only and beloved Son, the Lord Christ.

On the 13th August of 5485 after creation (or 15 B.C) she was conceived of her Mother, Hanna, and father, Eiakem. She was born on 9th May of the same Year. The Virgin Mary stayed with her parents from her birth until her presentation to God in the temple when she was three year old. There she remained until the age of fifteen when she moved to the house of Joseph the carpenter. She stayed with him for 34 years until the Ascension of the Lord, and the last 14 years of her life with St. John the Evangelist, according to the Lord commandment which he told him at the cross, "Behold, this is your son," and to St. John, "Behold, this is your mother".

When it was the time to depart, the Virgin Mary stretched her hand and blessed them all, and she gave up her pure spirit in the hand of her Son and God, and He took her spirit to the heavenly mansions. The apostles prepared the body in a fitting manner and carried it to Gethsemane for burial. Some of the Jews blocked their way to prevent them from burying the body, and decided to snatch her body and burn it to ash for fear it may break news of Ascension. One of the Jews, Tewfania, seized the coffin with his hands, which were separated instantly from his body and they remained attached to the coffin. He regretted his evil deed and wept bitterly. Through the supplications of the saintly apostles, his hands were reattached to his body, and he believed in the Lord Christ.

When they placed the body in the tomb, God sent His angel and took away His mother’s body in glory to the Heaven. This was a concern for all the apostles who didn't know the where about of her body. Later, St. John who was taken to the heaven with the body revealed to them that she was in paradise- This inspired a spiritual zeal among them since they were eager to share the mystery of her glory of Ascension first hand. The apostle's wishes to see the body of their holy mother like St. John, so they fast and pray. On the 14th of Nehassie (08/20), the Angels brought her body and offered it to them. Happily, the apostles rested it. On the third day, she resurrected and ascended.

St. Thomas the Apostle was not present at the time of St. Mary's departure. He was on duty in his diocese- India. As he was back to Jerusalem, the cloud carried him and met St. Mary while ascending, and he said to her, "I wasn't chosen to see your son's ascension in Glory nor was I to witness yours. How sinful I am!" When he says this out of deep- hearted sadness, She told him that he was the first to see Her ascending. She gave him the garment the Megnez or (Seben in geez), with which her rested body was covered as a token of that. This filled him in ecstasy. When St. Thomas arrived where the disciples were, they told him about St. Mary's departure and he said to them, as if he knew nothing, "You know how I conducted myself at the resurrection of the Lord Christ, and I will not believe unless I see her body." They went with him to the tomb, and uncovered the place of the body but they did not find it, and everyone was perplexed and surprised. St. Thomas told them how he saw her ascension, and showed the garment she gave him as a proof. One year later, even if what they got from St. Thomas was a conclusive proof; they still wanted to get it firsthand. As a result they started fasting and Praying starting August 7. After sixteen days of fasting, on the 22nd of August She came with her beloved Son, Jesus. On that day, Jesus Christ did the liturgy by making Apostle Peter as an assistance priest and Deacon Stephen as an arc-deacon, and gave them the Holy Qurban. After the service, God ordered the apostles to teach about the resurrection and ascension of his Mother in the World.

The Ethiopia Orthodox Tewahedo Church fast the two week period as a manifestation of the love we have to St. Mary, Mother of God. We believe St. Mary is the true intercessor we can rely on, and through which we can obtain from God the strength and grace needed for our live as our forefathers-the apostles did. The fast of the Virgin has proved to be the gate of hope for the needy, the weary, and the sick for her intercession is guaranteed to work through the love of Christ to Her and to us. May Her intercession and blessings be with us now and forever. Amen.

Source: The assumption of St. Mary by Mahber Kidusan; The awesome Resurrection published on Meleket; The virgin St. Mary Mother of God by Fr. Mikail E. Mikail

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