Timkat/ Epiphany in Addis Abeba

Today, January 19th Timkat in Ethiopia. 

We went to the religious celebrations at Jan Meda, a big field where most citizens - apart from the moslims- come together as early as 07:00, in order to be blessed with the holy water. In fact it is the re-enactment of  the baptism of Jesus by Yohannis. At that point in his life it became clear that Jesus was called upon for his special task as Jesus Christ. 
Therefore, apart from all the flags, there are many decorations along the road depicting the baptism and Jesus with a dove on his crown chakra, receiving the holy spirit. 



 Anyway, in the middle of this huge field (two football playing fields together), there is a closed compound, where the orthodox pope and many, many bishops and priests stand together to do the ceremony. It encompasses a lot of chanting before the priests walk three times around  the basin and then bless the water with their huge wooden, silver and golden crosses.

I was somewhere in the middle of the crowd of 'ferengi' (foreigners with a special permit to be in the sacred area), dressed in white , as is the customs, with a Netella (a big thin white cotton scarf to be draped around you). 

There is so much to see, especially since the various types of priests are dressed in the most wonderful embroidered robes, carrying beautiful gold embroidered parasols and wearing phenomenal miters on their heads. Even the deacons are impressive. 

After the celebrations we drove back through a very festive city. 


Because the other very important occasion that is celebrated today is the blessing of the arc of the covenenat, the tabot. Only once a year the tabot is brought form the holiest of holies of its church to a  big tent where more tabots are being assembled. the whole night the priests are singing and drumming. A colleague of mine stays in a hotel near to that place and couldn't sleep the whole night. 

 The next day the tabots are carried back to their respective churches in festive processions, with people singing and dancing all around it.  

At the ceremony, I was interviewed by the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC televison): What I thought of the celebrations? Of course I told them in front of the camera about my love for Ethiopia, its old jewish-christian traditiosn, its beautiful landscapes etc. I did appear in the 8 o'clock news and got reactions from quite some of my ethiopian colleagues that they has 'seen' me on tv  and were proud of me.