The followers of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church marked the baptism of Jesus Christ, Epiphany across Ethiopia colorfully on 19 January. Timket is a beautiful religious carnival in Ethiopia celebrated by tens of millions across the country.
The religious holiday, Timket, is an occasion to celebrate, honor and commemorate the day when Jesus Christ was baptized by the hands of John the Baptist. Ethiopian Epiphany was inscribed among the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2019.
Let’s cement our unity with love and reconciliation- Patriarch Abune Mathias
Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us love, obedience and humility during Epiphany. He was baptized by John to carry across humility. All followers of Orthodox Christianity should live the teachings of our God and respect his instructions. We have to respect and love all human beings without any difference. We have to promote peace, unity, love, reconciliation and humility.
Our country passed through difficult times over the past two years. Citizens suffered a lot. Now, as peace has once more reigned we have to focus on helping the affected people, supporting the needy and fostering the existing peace.
It is time to strengthen our unity through love and reconciliation. It is time to turn our faces to rehabilitating the destroyed infrastructure, comforting the bereaved and strengthening our peace and unity through love, justice and equality. Let’s return everything to what it was with love and reconciliation.
Abune Mathias, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church
Epiphany is our public cultural museum- PM Abiy
Epiphany festivity teaches humility to Christians. Similarly, Epiphany is an important occasion for Ethiopians as a nation to showcase citizens’ colorful diversity and celebrate the holiday in unity.
For Ethiopians, Epiphany is more than just a religious celebration; it is a celebration of our cultural values. From Gondar to Harar, from Mekele to Bale, from Metemma to Jimma, Ethiopians will pour out to the streets.
People also travel from one area to another to visit relatives. It is the day when our social life is highlighted, we decorate with different clothes, and we listen to different songs. Epiphany is our public cultural museum.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed so said during his best wish message for Timket
Religious tolerance vital for sustainable peace: Mayor Adanech Abiebie
Religious tolerance, humility and mutual respect are vital to maintain lasting peace in Ethiopia at large and in the capital Addis Ababa. Timket (Epiphany) is a celebration to honor the day when Lord Jesus Christ was baptized by the hands of a human being. For Ethiopians, the festival is beyond and religious festival.
Ethiopian Epiphany festival was inscribed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) which makes it a festival for the whole Ethiopians beyond the followers the Orthodox Tewahido followers.
“During the Timket celebration, we have to promote religious tolerance, mutual respect for each-other, and humility to
strengthen sustainable peace, unity and harmony for our country and citizens.”
Addis Ababa City Mayor, Adanech Abiebie so said during her Timket best wish speech at Jan-Meda
Ethiopian Epiphany strengthens unity of people- Minister Kejela Merdassa
Beyond its religious values, The Ethiopian Epiphany festival strengthens the unity of the people of Ethiopia. The festival is a religious festival and celebrated colorfully annually. In addition to its religious value, Timket is an important celebration to strengthen the unity of the people of Ethiopia.
Ethiopia is endowed with immense cultural, religious and historical heritages, of which Timket is one among these beautiful Ethiopia’s values.
Culture and Sports Minister Kejella Merdassa said during his best wish messages for Timket
The Ethiopian Herald January 21/2023
