Photos: Ethiopian Orthodox Celebrate Christmas
Bermuda’s Ethiopian Orthodox Church started their Christmas celebrations last night [Jan 6], with members heading to the east end to take part in the service at their intricately decorated Church.
The difference in the date of Christmas celebrations is due to the use by the Church of the Julian calendar; the western world uses the Gregorian calendar, under which Christmas is observed on December 25.
A member of the Church explained that Christmas – called Lidet or Genna by the congregation – is a major holy day in Ethiopia, where more than half of the population is Orthodox Christian.
The church was specially decorated with Christmas flowers and other festive decorations, and the service began with scripture readings and special prayers.
For the main ceremony, the clergy wore their best vestments, and the service began with the procession of the Ark, which was held on the Deacon’s head and was covered with elaborate cloths.
Under the direction of Elmore Warren, a group of children performed for the congregation by singing a few songs, including the Amharic alphabet.
The service was a few hours long, and after it ended the attendees greeted each other and exchanged Christmas salutations before gathering for the traditional feast.
The Church was elevated to Diocesan Status in 1977 with the consecration of the former garrison chapel on Old Military Road in St. George’s as the Debre Ganet Immanuel Cathedral Church. The Bermuda Church belongs to the Archdiocese of Latin America and the Caribbean.
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- Ethiopian Orthodox To Celebrate Christmas | Bernews.com | January 7, 2014
beautiful
Beautiful church but am not sure sure of the beauty of separation of men and women
We use our own chant which was given to Ethiopian St Yared from angel of God.. This chant is much like the chant modes used in the temple of Jerusalem.
The Liturgical Language is Geez (GE – EZ). The Laguage is a very ancient Language indigenous to Africa. It is considered among the Afro-Asiatic family of languages by western scholars; having similarity with Hebrew and Arabic. The language is read left to right however. Ethiopians do not speak Geez in common use. Clergy speak it with each other at times. But it is strictly for wordhip.
People who are Christians in Ethiopia which is 60% of the nation wear white inside the HOly church. We cover ourselves as a symbol of blocking out the world and our sins. This is very important to us when standing in front of the Alter of God in prayer. Street cloths are a disgrace to serious Ethiopian Christians in the church. You can read throughout scripture about the holiness and vitue of white. Remember the story of the wedding garment and theone pwrosn who was at the feast without a weding garment. He was ejected and was banished into outer darkness. There is numerous readings in Revelations as well. These all effect the mind and thought of Ethiopian Christians. Thus the white long “scarf”. We call them ‘netella’ (thin fabric), Qewtah (two single pieces of fabric sown together) and Gabee ( A thick heavey wrap).
Women and men pray separate. This is a common eastern tradition ( like wearing the white wraps). This can be found in the old testament regarding the Tabernacle and how to worship in it and in other areas if the bible this mentioned. You will find this practice in all OO churches and many EO. I find today that many OO communities are slacking off on this as with many other practices as well.
The umbrella is the symbol of the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit the Church is dead. So we use the umbrella to keep it insight that we are expereincing the Holy Spirit.
The head priest has his own head gear, deacons have theirs and Assistant priests has theirs.
There is alot more to these issues but I tried to give you a very basic understanding.