THE ORDER OF FASTS IN ETHIOPIAN ORTHODOX
ሥርዓተ ጾም ዘኦርቶዶክስ ተዋህዶ)
TEWAHIDO CHURCH (ሥርዓተ ተዋህዶ
7 March 2013 at 23:09
ሥርዓተ ጾም ዘኦርቶዶክስ
THE ORDER OF FASTS IN ETHIOPIAN ORTHODOX TEWAHIDO CHURCH (ሥርዓተ
ተዋህዶ)
ተዋህዶ
Fasting is abstinence from all things a body needs, and one has to fast from animal products and
from any kind of food for a limited time until the period of fasting is over. (Fetha Negest 15, Mt.
6:16). In general, one has to abstain from any thing which the body desires.
The aim of fasting is to make the desire of the body to obey the will of the soul, to seek
forgiveness of guilt and to increase the reward of the soul.
Fasting has perpetual relation with religion. Even though the way it is practiced differs from
religion to religion, anyone who has religion practices fast. Especially in the Old Testament,
fasting had a prominent place in the lives of the Jewish people. Whenever the Old Testament
prophets sought to communicate with God, they neither ate food nor drank water. (Ex. 34:28).
The wrath of God that comes about as a result of sin can be averted through solemn prayer and
rigorous fasting. (Jon. 3:7-10; Joel 2:15).
In the New Testament also, fasting is not a law made by man. It is our Savior Jesus Christ himself
who made it the beginning of His messianic ministry in his earthly life. (Mt. 4:2; Lk. 4:2). Our
Savior Jesus Christ has taught that fasting has the power of driving away evil spirits. (Mt. 17:21;
Mk. 9:2).
The Apostles who were commanded to serve the church received guidance from the Holy Spirit
while they were praying and fasting. (Acts 13:2). Priests and deacons who served as preachers of
the gospel were inspired and ordained while fasting and praying. (Acts 13:3; 14:23).
It was through fasting and beseeching God that righteous people received what they needed and
whished. (Ezra. 8:21; Ne. 9:1-3; Est. 4:16-17; Acts 10:30; 13:2-3).
As the theological interpretation of fast is beseeching God and asking him for the forgiveness of
sin, it is therefore, mandatory to abstain from animal products and alcoholic drinks which incite
lust. (Dan. 10:2-3). Fasting has been taught and practiced in the teachings of the apostles and
Church Fathers. (The Law of Kings Art. 15; Didas. 29).
As it is said, “Blessed is he who fasts to feed the poor”, if any fasting man gives what he has
allocated for his lunch and supper to the organization of the disabled founded by the Church or to
the poor, his fast will be more complete. (Isa. 58:6-11).
Fasting is not only abstinence from food. It will be a true fast if the eye is kept from seeing, the
mouth from speaking and the ear from hearing evil things. (Mt. 5:21-30; St. Yared-Digua).
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has its own laws and orders of fasting. Accordingly,
there are seven fasting periods.
1. The Great Fast (Lent)..... ዐቢይ ጾም
2. Wednesday and Fridays.... የረቡዕ እና ዓርብ ጾም
3. Nineveh..... ጾመ ነነዌ
4. Gehad (the eves of Christmas and Epiphany).... ጾመ ገኀድ
5. The fast of the prophets or advent...... ጾመ ነቢያት
6. The fast of the Apostles ...... ጾመ ሐዋርያት
7. ጾመ ፍልሰታ ለማርያም
The fast of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin Mary. ....ጾመ
ዐቢይ ጾም)
A. Lent or the Great Fast(ዐቢይ ጾም
May the Lord be praised; this is the fast that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ fasted for forty
days and nights after his baptism. (Mt. 4:1). The church observes this fast following the example
of our Lord.
The Great Fast has 8 weeks which consist of 55 days. The first week is known as the fast of
Eraclius, the Byzantine Emperor who lived in 614 A.D. This fast is dedicated to Eraclius for the
following reasons.
During his reign the Persians invaded Jerusalem and took the Cross of the Lord. Eraclius made
an expedition to Persia and having defeated the Persians he took the Cross back to Jerusalem.
The Christians in Jerusalem who were very happy because of Eraclius’s victory and the return of
the Cross, dedicated the first week before Lent to be the fast of Eraclius and included it in their
canons. Thus our Church has accepted and included it in her canon to be a part of Lent. (Fitha
Negest Art. 15).
The last week of Lent is called Passion Week (ሰሙነ ህማማት) during which the Apostles fasted in
commemoration of Christ’s Passion. This is also regarded as part of the Great Fast.
Thus Lent is called great because firstly, it is the Lord’s fast. Secondly, through this fast Satan’s
temptation (love of money, greediness and arrogance) are overcome.
All Christians, young and old have to observe the fast of the Lord. St. Yared, the Ethiopian
hymnologist who wrote the hymn of our church has composed in his hymn book known as
“Tsome Digua” (Hymn of Fast) songs for each Sunday of the Great Fast. So each Sunday during
the Great Fast is named after the song of that Sunday.
The first Sunday of the Great Fast is known as the “Zewerede=ዘወረደ” (“Zewerede” means the
one who descended from above). In the beginning of his hymn book, Tsome Digua, St. Yared
mentions the descent, incarnation and crucifixion of the Lord. (Jn. 3:13).
The second Sunday is called “Kidist=ቅድስት”. Kidist means holy. It tells the holiness of Sunday.
We call the third Sunday “Mikurab=ምኩራብ”. The word Mikurab stands for the synagogue. It
reminds us that our Lord during his ministry taught in the synagogue.
The forth Sunday is known as “Mesague=መፃጉዕ” Mesague means one who is infirm. (Jn. 5:1-9).
A hymn for the healing of the sick and giving sight to the blind by the Lord is sung on this day.
The fifth Sunday is called “Debre Zeit=ደብረ ዘይት”. Debre Zeit is the Geez word for Mount of
Olives. A hymn of our Lord’s second coming which he taught on Mount Olives is sung on this day.
We call the sixth Sunday "Gebr Her=ገብርኄር" “Good Servant”. The story of the good servant who
received five talents and made a profit of five more talents is told and sung on this day. (Mt.
25:14-30).
The seventh Sunday is called “Nicodimus=ኒቆዲሞስ”. A hymn commemorating the coming of
Nicodimus to our Lord during the night is sung.
The eighth Sunday is "Hosaena=ሆሳዕና" Palm Sunday. It is a commemorative day on which our
Lord entered into the temple in triumph and during which the people sung “Hosanna in the
highest”. The week from the eve of Palm Sunday to Easter is known as Semune Himamat=ሰሙነ
ህማማት - Passion Week. On these days, varieties of food are not eaten. Adoration is given to God.
A book known as “Gibrehimamat” composed of different passages taken from the Scriptures and
other religious books dealing with the passion and death of our Lord is read.
The altar is covered with a black cloth in rememberance of the dark centuries during which Adam
was alienated from his Crator. The priests wear black vestments. As this week is a time of
commemorating of the suffering and damnation of 5500 years, prayer for the dead and that of
intercession are not said. Such prayers are said only on Palm Sunday.
Misete hamus ምሴተ ሐሙስ -Maundy Thursday
It is a day on which the Lord Jesus in absolute humility washed His Disciples’s feet, ate the Last
Supper with them and revealed the mystery of the Holy Eucharist. On this day the Liturgy is
celebrated. Before the Liturgy, the priest brings water in a basin and saying the prayer of
thanksgiving, washes the feet of the faithful. When the Liturgy is over, the faithful leave for home
after benediction.
On the morrow of Thursday, i.e. Good Friday, in remembrance of Chris’s crucifixion an Epitaphion
(crucifix) is made and passages from the Scriptures and other religious books are read. The
faithful prostrate every now and then. Good Friday is sometimes called a day of prostration.
Towards the evening (at about 4:30 p.m.), the faithful approach a priest to be patted with small
branches of olive trees. Patting the faithful in this way symbolizes the whipping of our Lord. Then
the faithful say “God have mercy upon us” 400 times.
After hymns are sung and readings assigned for the day are read, the song, “Let us praise the
Lord” is sung. With the exception of kissing of the cross, sinners confess their sins and after that
absolution is said. Next prayer of intercession is conducted and the people are dismissed at 6
p.m. (Fetha Negest Art. 15 No. 601).
The Apostles did not eat and drink until they knew of the resurrection of the Lord. In accordance
with this practice, Ethiopian Orthodox Christians who have the strength to abstain from every kind
of food for two days can fast on both Friday and Saturday. But those who have not the strength
fast on Saturday only. (Lk. 5:5-35; Fetha Negest Art. 15 No. 578).
On Saturday morning, the laity and the clergy gather in the church. After the appropriate morning
prayer is over, the clergy singing the song “Christ made reconciliation by his crucifixion” give
sedge to the people assembled, as a symbol of good tidings. The faithful tie the sedge round their
heads.
The clergy wearing their vestments, holding a cross and ringing a bell go to the houses of the
people who did not come to the Church and give them the sedge as a symbol of good news.
As the former Sabbath was the day on which God rested from His work after creating all
creatures, this Sabbath is the day which Christ passed lying in the grave after completing his
messianic ministry in three years and three months.
This day is called “Kidame Se’ur ቀዳሚት ስዑር” (unobserved) Saturday. It is called so because
once a year it becomes a fast day. It is also called Green Saturday for on this day the sedge is
given out.
The fact that the sedge is the symbol of good news is related to Biblical history. As the Bible tells
us, when the earth was covered with the water of destruction and Noah’s Ark was floating on the
flood; to see if the flood had subsided Noah opened the window of the ark and sent forth a dove.
The dove returned with an olive leaf and knowing that the water had abated Noah became happy
and began to rest his ark.
As the leaf of the olive tree served as the sign of congratulation at the time of Noah, by the death
of Christ, the water of destruction, sin and the punishment of soul is removed from mankind.
(1Pet. 3:19-21). The Church, therefore, heralds the good news to the faithful by presenting sedge.
የረቡዕ እና ዓርብ ጾም)
B. Next to the Great Fast is the Fast of Wednesdays and Fridays (የረቡዕ ጾም
Every week Wednesdays and Fridays are observed as fast days except during the fifty days
(between Easter and Pentecost), and on the days of Christmas and Epiphany, when these
festivals fall on these days.
The reason why Wednesdays and Fridays are fast days is as follows.
Wednesday
It is a day on which the Jewish Council made a consultation to crucify the Lord on Friday. (Jn.
11:46-53). Instruction is given that Christians should fast on this day always remembering the
sentence of death made against Christ, the Savior of the World, who died for the sake of mankind.
Friday
As is well known, Friday is a blessed day on which the Lord is crucified in his flesh and the hope
of redemption which was expected for a long time was fulfilled. (Jn. 19:17-30; Lk, 23:26-49). Thus
it is canonized that except during the fifty days after Easter and during the feasts of Christmas
and Epiphany when these festivals fall on these days, Wednesdays and Fridays should be
observed every week in fasting and prayer. (The Law of Kings article 15; Didas. 29).
ጾመ ነነዌ)
C. The Fast of Nineveh (ጾመ ነነዌ
This is a three days fast, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. It falls at one time in January and at
another in February. Thus it is one of the rotating fasts.
The reason behind the decision of our Church Fathers, that this fast be observed is that as the
people of Nineveh were saved from the wrath of God through prayer and fasting, so also the
faithful will receive mercy and blessings through this fast. (Jon. 3:5-9; Mt. 12:39).
ጾመ ገሀድ)
D. Gehad (ጾመ ገሀድ
This fast is observed on the eves of Christmas and Epiphany. On Christmas and Epiphany, the
Holy Liturgy is celebrated starting at midnight until 3:00 a.m. In the morning people eat meat, milk
products and so on even if the days are Wednesdays or Fridays. So if Christmas and Epiphany
fall on Wednesday and Friday, Tuesday and Thursday will be fast days. These fst days are
known as Gehad.
ጾመ ነቢያት)
E. Fast of the Prophets (Advent) (ጾመ ነቢያት
It starts on November (Hidar ህዳር) 15 and extends to December (Tahisas ታህሳስ) 28. We observe
this fast following the examples of the prophets who were fasting and praying in their times
longing for the Advent of Christ. In the Law of Kings Article 15, instruction is given that we should
observe this fast before we celebrate Christmas.
ጾመ ሐዋርያት)
F. The Fast of the Apostles (ጾመ ሐዋርያት
The Apostles observed this fast after they received the Holy Spirit and before they set out to
proclaim the Gospel. The Church has laid down a rule for the faithful to observe this fast starting
from the day immediately after White Sunday. Because of the fact that the fast of the Apostles
comes after fifty days from Easter, it sometimes goes beyond forty days and sometimes falls
short of thirty days.
ጾመ ፍልሰታ ለማርያም)
G. The Fast of Assumption of the Virgin Mary (ጾመ ለማርያም
The fast lasts from Nehassie ነሀሴ (August) 1 to 15. Our Lady departed on 21 of Ter ጥር (January)
in 50 A.D. While the Apostles were taking her body for burial at Gethsemani, the Jewish priests
dispersed them. At this time the Angels took our Lady’s body to paradise and put it under the
Tree of Life (The Miracle of St. Mary, Sinaxarium Nehassie (August) 16 E.C.). According to these
sources, St. John the Apostle, used to be taken to paradise to burn incense over her body. When
he told this fact to the Apostles, they went for retreat and fasted for two weeks, praying to God to
reveal this mystery to them. On the fourteenth day of their fast the angels brought our Lady’s
body and gave them to bury it.
On the third day, on the 16th of August E.C. her Assumption took place. From that time
onwards, the Apostolic Church observes the fast of our Lady’s Assumption.
In Ethiopia, this fast is being observed by all Orthodox Christians including children. During
these 15 days, members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church even children fast and partake of the
Holy Communion.
In these 15 days many elderly people go for retreat leaving their homes, abstaining from
nutritious food and subsisting only on cereals and water. They spend all the fifteen days fasting
and praying.
During the fast of the Assumption, the religious devotion manifested by the old and the young
testifies that Ethiopia is a land dedicated to our Lady.
In the tradition of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, the canon demands that all its followers above
the age of seven should observe all the fasts mentioned above. Except on Saturdays and
Sundays in the fasting periods, liturgy is celebrated in the afternoons.
Source: THE ETHIOPIAN ORTHODOX TEWAHEDO CHURCH FAITH, ORDER OF WORSHIP
AND ECUMENICAL RELATIONS
