Timkat is the Ge’ez expression for the traditional celebration of Epiphany, commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ in the hands of John the Baptist at River Jordan. Epiphany (Aster’eyo in Ge’ez) denotes the manifestation of the mystery of the Trinitarian God in which God the Father testified the sonship of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit revealed itself as a dove right at the Jordan River when Jesus was baptized.
Timkat is an Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church celebration of Epiphany. Timkat celebrates the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan. The day is observed in commemoration of Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River.
The first mystery of the Christian faith rests in and around Epiphany, which traditionally calls for grand annual celebrations among Christians in Ethiopia. Timkat is also the religious practice that initiates a child to Christendom.
The annual Timket celebration is held across Ethiopia on Tir 11 E.C (January 19 G.C) with processions of priests carrying replicas of the Ark of Covenant, locally known as ‘Tabot’s, escorted by thousands of believers.
This celebration is also registered in UNESCO as an intangible heritage.
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As land of God, Ethiopia has been following the teachings of the apostles and started celebrating epiphany at the national level in 530 AD during the reign of Emperor Gebre Meskel. In 1140 AD, king and priest Lalibela made an amendment to the existing tradition of the Epiphany celebration by which he made a decree that urged all arks of covenant (Tabots) to be carried to a river or pool together to bless the waters. In 1426 AD, following a proposal from scholars, Emperor Zer’a Ya’ekob declared that the Tabots be taken to nearby pools on the eve (January 18) and stay the night there blessing the nation. In 1486 AD, Emperor Naod also made an order that the Tabots be escorted by the faithful in colorful processions.
Though epiphany is a religious festival, many ethnic groups in Ethiopia celebrate it in line with their cultures. This adds to the appeal of the festival for foreign visitors and makes it one of the national celebrations which attract many tourists to Ethiopia. Given the spiritual and cultural values of the festival, it is the responsibility of every Ethiopian to preserve this longstanding tradition and hand it over to the coming generation as it is.
Ethiopia's Most Vibrant Festival - Timkat
The Tabot and its Significance
During the ceremonies of Timkat, the Tabot, a model of the Ark of the Covenant, which is present on every Ethiopian altar (somewhat like the Western altar stone), is reverently wrapped in rich cloth and borne in procession on the head of the priest. At the center of each parish church is the Tabot, the wooden slab believed to be a replica of the Ark of the Covenant. This is the holiest object that has to be carried on the head of the arch priest of the parish church with much reverence.
The Tabot, which is otherwise rarely seen by the laity, represents the manifestation of Jesus as the Messiah when he came to the Jordan for baptism.
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Following those traditions, the Tabots are taken to rivers and pools early afternoon on the eve of Timket, which is known as “ketera” meaning ‘making a reservoir for the celebration’.
While the act of all arcs going to the river or a nearby water pool exemplifies how our Lord Jesus Christ who went from Jerusalem to the river of Jordan, the fact that spending one night exemplifies how our Lord in humility waited for His turn to be baptized among the crowds that were being baptized by Saint John.
Later on, the Holy Arcs are escorted back by the crowd to their temples in colorful march and festivities.
The Celebration in Gondar
Timkat is a very colorful annual event in the city of Gondar (the capital city of Ethiopia from the early 17th to mid-19th century), a city known as the Camelot of Africa. It is usually the choice of many tourists coming from within the country and from abroad to celebrate the annual festival of the Epiphany. Located in northwestern Ethiopia, Gondar is also known for its age-old castles, some dated back to the 17th century.
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Fasiladas Bath, where Timkat celebrations occur in Gondar, represents the Jordan River. At the Ketera marking the eve of the Timkat celebration, eight of the 44 Tabots of the Orthodox Tewahedo Church within the city flock towards the Bath from all directions.
The Eve of Timkat: Ketera
At the Ketera marking the eve of the Timkat celebration, eight of the 44 Tabots of the Orthodox Tewahedo Church within the city flock towards the Bath from all directions.
The three days of Timket celebration starts on Tirr 10 (January19) early afternoon. The Holy Tabots of each church are carried out in slow procession to a river or pool of water accompanied by priests and church choirs chanting hymns. The hymns commemorate the humbleness of Our Lord Eyesus Kristos who walked to the River Jordan to be baptized by his servant, John the Baptist.
Church Scholars and Choirs sing psalms at the Ketera (eve) expressing how our lord Jesus Christ descended to the world in search of his lost creatures. The songs articulate about the acts of John, his prophecies, his righteousness before the eyes of his Lord and how he preached solidly about GOD who will come after him who is LORD Jesus Christ. People gathered from local churches accompany those choirs in singing psalms throughout the expedition of the Arc of the covenant.
Then the people spend the whole night in their specific areas praising and chanting about our Lord Jesus Christ and his great act of baptism before returning to their homes the next day.
The Blessing of the Water
Then the nearby body of water is blessed towards dawn and sprinkled on the participants, some of whom enter the water and immerse themselves, symbolically renewing their baptismal vows.
The Orthodox clergy are seen in the foreground, the Patriarch with two other Bishops blessing the pool of water.
The Divine Liturgy (Kidase) starts early in the morning before the waters are blessed by the Patriarch, Archbishops and Priests. Afterwards, the waters are blessed in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit before people are baptized.
The Christians at that very moment wait passionately living in the memory of the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ remembering that moment thousands of years ago.
Customs and Traditions
The whole city - especially areas along the path to the baptismal pool - is adorned with flags of Ethiopia. Adherents of the faith, especially women, wear clothes with green, yellow and red signifying the Ethiopian flag as the symbol of the rainbow, which in itself means the covenant between man and God.
Dressed up in their finest, the women chatter excitedly on their one real day of freedom in the year. The young braves leap up and down in spirited dances, tirelessly repeating rhythmic songs.
The parishioners of each church are dressed up in their finest traditional costumes; the boys and girls dress to their best, using the festival as an opportunity to find their mates.
The hymns of St. Yared and other religious songs, as well as worldly songs, accompanied by Eskista, traditional dances both religious and worldly, highlight the festive mood of the day. It is believed that if there is not enough festivity and songs, traditional hymns sung by Debteras (seasoned church educated elites) accompanied by sticks, hand sistra and elegant drums, the Tabot would exert pressure on the priest carrying it and force him to stop from walking farther.
The Mystery of Baptism
The opening of heaven right after Jesus was baptized indicates that we have been redeemed from Adam’s sin that led to the closure of the heavens through faith in LORD Jesus Christ and baptism. This reveals the spiritual value of Epiphany as an opener of the heavens.
Timket ‘ጥምቀት' Baptism - AsterEyo (Epiphany) ‘ጥምቀት' or 'Timket’ is a Ge’ez word meaning, “immersion in water”. The feast of Timket covers the period from Tirr 10 - 12 (January 19 - 21). During this time, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church celebrates the baptism of Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos, as well as the clear manifestation of the Mystery of the Holy Trinity.
The Three Days of Timket
The celebration spans three days, each with its unique significance:
- Day One: Ketera
- "Ketera", means “making a reservoir” for the celebration of 'Timket'.
- The three days of Timket celebration starts on Tirr 10 (January19) early afternoon.
- The Holy Tabots of each church are carried out in slow procession to a river or pool of water accompanied by priests and church choirs chanting hymns.
- The hymns commemorate the humbleness of Our Lord Eyesus Kristos who walked to the River Jordan to be baptized by his servant, John the Baptist.
- A special tent is set up where the Holy Tabots reside. The prayer and the chant of priests and church choirs continue long into the night accompanied by drums, the ringing of bells, and the blowing of trumpets.
- Day Two: Timket
- "Timket", the commemoration of the Baptism of Our Lord Eyesus Kristos in River Jordan, is observed on Tirr 11 (January 20).
- Our Lord Eyesus Kristos was baptized at the River Jordan. This was meant to destroy the letter of condemnation written by Satan against Adam and Eve. The letter was hidden at the foot of Jordan River.
- The Timket Divine Liturgy starts around 2:00AM. It is followed by prayers and blessings directed towards the river or the collected water from three water taps.
- The water from each tap is gathered in one cistern in the name of the Holy Trinity and is sprinkled on the believers.
- By noon on Timket Day all the Holy Tabots are paraded back to their respective churches except for the Saint Michael Tabots, which stay one more day by the river to celebrate ‘Qanna Ze Galilla’ (Cana of Galilee).
- Day Three: Qanna Ze Galilla
- 'Qanna Ze Galilla' celebrates the Wedding of Cana on Tirr 12 (January 21). This is where the first miracle at the beginning of the Lord's ministry where He changed water to wine.
- The story of the wedding of Cana of Galilee also shows how the Holy Virgin Saint Mariam intercedes on our behalf. When Holy Virgin Saint Mariam saw that the wine at the wedding had run out, she informed her Son, “they have no wine”. Of course Our Lord was already aware of their condition, but he was waiting for his Holy Mother's intercession to present their needs to him.
- So Our Lord Eyesus Kristos responded to His Holy Mother’s intercession by changing the water into wine. This shows how the Holy Virgin Saint Mariam always presents our needs to her Son and then advises us to do whatever He tells us.
- The presence of Our Lord and his Holy Mother at Cana is also an assurance of the sanctity of Matrimony, and an indication that the Lord is present in his Holy Church with his Holy Mother and Saints.
AsterEyo (Epiphany)
'AsterEyo' (Epiphany) means appearance or manifestation. The season of AsterEyo goes from January 19 (Ketera) to the start of the three-day Nineveh fast.
Our Lord Eyesus Kristos, the incarnate God the Son standing in River Jordan, plus the Holy Spirit descending like a dove, as well as God the Father speaking from heaven, testifying about His Only Begotten Son is clear evidence of the three persons of God. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The great mystery of the Holy Trinity is revealed clearly for the first time right after John the Baptist baptized Our Lord Eyesus Kristos. At this point, the heavens open. This indicates that baptism is the opener to God's kingdom.
The Holy Spirit descending like a dove reminds us of Noah at the end of the flood sending out the dove, which symbolizes peace with God.
Christ was baptized by John, not because he was sinful, but because he is the one who took up on himself the sins of the world.
The Holy Trinity
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church celebration of the Holy Trinity is known by the name ‘Aga‘izite Alem Kidisiti Selassie -አጋዕዝተ ዓለም ቅድስት ሥላሴ. It is celebrated on January 16 (Tirr 07) of the Ethiopian Calendar.
| Date (Gregorian) | Date (Ethiopian) | Event |
|---|---|---|
| January 16 | Tirr 07 | Aga‘izite Alem Kidisiti Selassie (Holy Trinity Celebration) |
| January 19 | Tirr 10 | Ketera (Eve of Timket) |
| January 20 | Tirr 11 | Timket (Epiphany) |
| January 21 | Tirr 12 | Qanna Ze Galilla (Wedding at Cana) |
