The celebration of Fasika or Ethiopian Orthodox Easter is an important religious celebration marked among the followers of Orthodox Christianity. It is a holiday that brings together all Christian denominations, including Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant, for a series of traditional services and activities.
The celebration of Fasika is marked following the end of close to two months of exuberant fasting known as Lent (Abiy Tsom).
Last Sunday, Orthodox Christians marked Palm Sunday or Hosanna, which commemorates Jesus’s march into Jerusalem sitting on the back of a colt with Palm fronds laid before him and celebrated among followers of the Orthodox church; a week before the actual holiday, Easter.
Currently, they are observing each of the days of the Passion Week, also known as Holy Week- the week leading up to Easter Sunday and have a significant meaning for Christians because the days demonstrate Jesus’s sufferings, willingness to sacrifice His Life on the cross in order to pay for the sins human beings committed.
Thus, the days are observed among followers of Orthodox Christians with greater devotion and enthusiasm.
Following the Easter festival, Ethiopians are extending a helping hand for the unfortunate ones to let them celebrate the festively happily and joyfully. While some are providing support in the form of money and kind, others are readying themselves to mark the upcoming Easter festival and spend time with the destitute members of the community.
As part of this commitment, last Thursday, May 2, 2024, President Sahle-Work Zewde shared food items with elders, low income earners and destitute residents of Addis Ababa.
As ENA reported, President Sahle-Work has shared food items with low income and destitute residents in Arada Sub-City of Addis Ababa for celebration of the upcoming Ethiopian Easter holiday.
Speaking on the occasion, President Sahle-Work said that providing support to destitute communities in the country should be a regular task of everyone. According to her, extending a helping hand on such occasions and in our day to day activity is of critical importance to lessen the burden of the needy ones. Hence, in all occasions providing support for the unfortunate ones, big or small, must be sought to make a difference in their lives. For this reason, she has pledged for a continued and enhanced provision of sustenance.
Stating that similar charitable deeds will continue to grow in the future, the President urged the community to support one another in their daily lives. She also stressed the need to spend the upcoming Easter festival with destitute members of the community.
Beneficiaries of the assistance also expressed gratitude to the president for her charitable deed which they said will help them spend the holiday joyfully.
In similar manner, the Mayor Office of Addis Ababa has shared food for more than 255 thousands of low income earners and the needy in all sub-cities and city administration institutions to help them celebrate the festival happily.
Mayor Adanech Abiebie extended her heartfelt gratitude for those investors and volunteers who have taken part and offered support for their generosity.
“On behalf of our City Administration, I would like to express my gratitude to the generous investors and volunteers of our city who made sharing with their fellow citizens a tradition and provide support to the needy from what they have earned,” the Mayor said.
Meanwhile, ahead of the Easter holiday, religious fathers are extending their best wishes and offer Easter blessings to the people of Ethiopia and those celebrating the festival.
In his message in relation to the festival, the Ethiopian Catholics Church Cardinal Abune Birhane Eyesus Demrew Souraphiel said that Jesus crucified on the Cross for His love for all human beings. The sole path to undo our nation’s problems is choosing peaceful approaches.
For Christians, Easter has the great secret that gives enlightenment and a congratulatory message to all human races because it confirms that death is not the final end of humankind.
“The crucifixion of Jesus on the cross signifies and lets us know who the almighty God is and what the purpose of life is. It also lets us know the source of peace and truth. The Cross confirms how far the values like dignity of life, love serving others as well as generosity, justice, forgiveness. We should keep on praying, for peace diligently, God will help us and be on our side,” Abune Birhane Eyesus concluded.
President of the Evangelical Churches Fellowship of Ethiopia, Pastor Tsadiku Abdo for his part said that “when we are celebrating the Easter holiday, we should draw a number of lessons from the deeds of Jesus- how far he was engaged in sincerity to save the lives of all humankind through his blood and join the eternal life.”
Jesus paid the entire price to reconcile man and the almighty through his blood. His deeds teach people how they should behave and act in various circumstances. “We should follow His steps and act in accordance with His commands and will.”
Though he knew by heart the plan of the disciple to passing him to the then leaders, he kept on serving and washed their feet, including the betrayer, Judas Iscariot, on the night before his death to demonstrate that love is above everything and it is the best way to win than being heartless.
No matter how severe the hurdles he faced were, Jesus won at the end of the day. By conquering death and making the impossible possible, he taught human beings the power of love.
Thus, while we are celebrating Easter, we should learn to love and forgive our enemies, stop harming others.” he remarked.
BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
The Ethiopian herald May 4/2024
