BY HAILE DEMEKE
ADDIS ABABA – Intangible heritages like Timket are factors of cohesion among the society, faith fathers and officials remarked, urging all to keep sustaining and preserving the values to posterity.
Speaking at the Timket procession in Jan-Meda, both sides underpinned the fact that values enshrined in the heritages would further promote peaceful coexistences among the diverse faiths in addition to fostering tolerance.
Timket festivity, which commemorates the Baptism of Jesus Christ in the River Jordan by John the Baptist, was colorfully marked yesterday at Jan-Meda by adherents of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC). High-level government officials and foreign dignitaries, domestic and expat tourists were also in attendance at the grand event.
Addressing the congregation, the EOTC Patriarch Abune Mathias I emphasized the need for replicating the unity shown in the festival in day-to-day life. “Ethiopians all over the world should work together with far-reaching concern and with brotherly love to strengthen our peace and unity.” Abune Mathias further stated that cooperation and good intentions benefit everyone.
It is necessary to act with a pure mind that embraces good deeds. “We need to ask ourselves if we have done something good. Selfishness, wickedness, and evil ways lead to destruction. It is necessary to make peace and live in repentance.” “It is necessary to put into action without hesitation the words of our fathers that ‘reconciliation should dry up the blood’ by walking with a sense of unity. When this happens, we have the opportunity to straighten the crooked and reward the injured. In addition to this, it should be time to build our peace and unity,” the patriarch remarked.
For Addis Ababa Mayor Adanech Abebe, the brotherhood and solidarity shown during the festivity should continue to be strengthened. Religious tolerance, absolute humility, and servitude are needed for peace to prevail in Ethiopia.
Timket, which is registered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), has become a festivity for the whole of Ethiopia in addition to the followers of the Orthodox Tewahedo faith. “The sense of unity and humility seen on the occasion should be enhanced.”
Adanech reiterated the city administration’s consolidated efforts to ensure that public holidays including Timket are celebrated peacefully and will continue this effort in the future.
In his remark at the event, Culture and Sport Minister Kejela Merdassa noted that besides its religious significance, Timket is also a source of tourism. “We should jointly develop our culture and our country by using the important values and virtues found in all religions.”
The celebration of Timket was widely marked while the procession in Gonder, among others, lures many tourists from across the globe. Unique markings had also gone in Shenkora, Batu, Lalibela, Sekota, Gambela among others. As peace prevailed in the northern part, faithful in Tigray also celebrated Timket.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 20 JANUARY 2023
