ETHIOPIA: Thousands take part in Epiphany festival in Ethiopia to celebrate the baptism of Jesus according to the ancient Orthodox calendar

Record ID: 862364

  • Title: ETHIOPIA: Thousands take part in Epiphany festival in Ethiopia to celebrate the baptism of Jesus according to the ancient Orthodox calendar
  • Date: 21st January 2013
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Amharic) TILAHUN HABTEMESKEL, ADDIS ABABA RESIDENT SAYING: "What makes today's Timket different from that of our time is that today it seems it is getting more choreographed and organized. In our times it used to just go with the flow on its own. I like it. I like the order and the way the holiday is being celebrated. This is what has changed."
  • Embargoed: 5th February 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ethiopia
  • City:
  • Country: Ethiopia
  • Topics: People,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA9Q44I4JE12X0IDHK5NAZNOQOK
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: It is one of the most important religious celebrations in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church calendar; Epiphany festival, or Timket, commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the river Jordan.
    Every year thousands of people come together in a fever of religious devotion with worshippers singing and dancing in the streets.
    Celebrations began on Saturday (January 19) with the procession to a holy Epiphany site on the outskirts of the city.
    Church leaders carry representations the box built by Moses to house the 10 commandments - the Ark of the Covenant.
    The Arks in the procession are replicas, which travel every year from the 20,000 churches in which they are kept.
    For many the festival of Timket or baptism marks an important renewal of their faith.
    "Timket is celebrated in commemoration of the baptism of our lord and savior Jesus Christ when he was 30 years old in the river Jordan on a Tuesday in the hands of John. Since one cannot inherit the Kingdom of God without being the Son of God, one can be baptized at Timket and become the son of God," said Meymenan Sahilu Sahilu, a priest of the Orthodox Church.
    Every year for centuries women and men dressed in all white snake through the streets of Addis Ababa singing, chanting and playing traditional instruments.
    But some believers say the festival has become much more organised.
    "What makes today's Timket different from that of our time is that today it seems it is getting more choreographed and organized. In our times it used to just go with the flow on its own. I like it. I like the order and the way the holiday is being celebrated. This is what has changed," said Tiluhan Habtemeskel, an Addis resident.
    In the end, Sacred water is ceremoniously sprinkled over believers .
    Epiphany is celebrated throughout the country with different cultural and ritual processions starting on the eve of January 19, with great religious devotion and lasts for three days
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