Ethiopian Timket (Ethiopian Epiphany) Festival - January 19, 2014
Timket is the greatest festival of orthodox Christians in
Ethiopia. Falling on the 19 of January (or the 20 of January once in every four
years), it celebrates the baptism of Christ in the river Jordan by John the
Baptist. It's a three-day affair and all the ceremonies are conducted with
great pomp. The eve of Timket (18 January) is called Ketera. On this day the
tabots of each church are carried out in procession to a place near a river
where the next day's celebration will take place. A special tent is set up for
each tabot, each hosting a proud manner depicting the church's saint. The
ceremony is accompanied by hymns and dances of the priests, drum beating, bell
ringing and blowing of trumpets.
A tabot is a replica of the Arc of the Covenant and the ten tablets
of the law which Moses received on Mount Sinai. It is the tabot rather than the
church building, which is consecrated, and it is accorded extreme relevance.The
priests pray throughout the night and mass is performed around 2 AM.
Processional crosses of varying size and elaboration as well as various
Ethiopian artifacts can be seen on the occasion. When the tabot is carried out,
it is wrapped in brocade or velvet and carried on the head of a priest with
colorful ceremonial umbrellas to shade it.
We offer Timket holidays of all destinations for groups and
individuals of all size.
