Timkat: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added

Inline

Revision as of 20:51, 18 January 2017

Timkat (Amharic: ጥምቀት which means "baptism") (also spelled Timket, or Timqat) is the Ethiopian Orthodox celebration of Epiphany. It is celebrated on January 19 (or 20 on Leap Year), corresponding to the 10th day of Terr following the Ethiopian calendar. Timket celebrates the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. This festival is best known for its ritual reenactment of baptism (similar to such reenactments performed by numerous Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land when they visit the Jordan).

During the ceremonies of Timkat, the Tabot, a model of the Ark of the Covenant, which is present on every Ethiopian altar (somewhat like the Western altar stone), is reverently wrapped in rich cloth and borne in procession on the head of the priest.^[1] The Tabot, which is otherwise rarely seen by the laity, represents the manifestation of Jesus as the Messiah when he came to the Jordan for baptism. The Divine Liturgy is celebrated near a stream or pool early in the morning (around 2 a.m.). Then the nearby body of water is blessed towards dawn and sprinkled on the participants, some of whom enter the water and immerse themselves, symbolically renewing their baptismal vows. But the festival does not end there; Donald Levine describes a typical celebration of the early 1960s:

By noon on Timqat Day a large crowd has assembled at the ritual site, those who went home for a little sleep having returned, and the holy ark is escorted back to its church in colorful procession and festivities. The clergy, bearing robes and umbrellas of many hues, perform rollicking dances and songs; the elders march solemnly with their weapons, attended by middle-ages men singing a long-drawn, low-pitched haaa hooo; and the children run about with sticks and games. Dressed up in their finest, the women chatter excitedly on their one real day of freedom in the year. The young braves leap up and down in spirited dances, tirelessly repeating rhythmic songs. When the holy ark has been safely restored to its dwelling-place, everyone goes home for feasting.^[2]

Notes

^ Fuller, L.K. (2004). National Days/national Ways: Historical, Political, and Religious Celebrations Around the World. Praeger Publishers. p. 93. ISBN 9780275972707. Retrieved 2014-10-04.
^ Donald N. Levine, Wax and Gold: Tradition and Innovation in Ethiopia Culture (Chicago: University Press, 1972), p. 63

External links

"Timket" (PDF). 13 October 2004. Retrieved 2014-10-04.
"Ethiopian Rift Valley Safaris - Timket - Epiphany in Ethiopia". ethiopianriftvalleysafaris.com. Retrieved 2014-10-04.
"meskelsquare.com". meskelsquare.com. Retrieved 2014-10-04.
Timkat Celebration in Lalibela

[google-1] Fuller, L.K. (2004). National Days/national Ways: Historical, Political, and Religious Celebrations Around the World. Praeger Publishers. p. 93. ISBN 9780275972707. Retrieved 2014-10-04.

[2] Donald N. Levine, Wax and Gold: Tradition and Innovation in Ethiopia Culture (Chicago: University Press, 1972), p. 63

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 [[Image:Timket Ceremony Gondar Ethio.jpg|thumb|A priest carrying a [[Tabot]] in a Timkat ceremony at Gondar, at which water will be blessed. He is assisted by a [[deacon]] holding a liturgical [[parasol]].]]
-'''Timkat''' ([[Amharic language|Amharic]]: ጥምቀት  which means "baptism") (also spelled ''Timket'', or ''Timqat'') is the [[Ethiopian Orthodox]] celebration of [[Epiphany (holiday)|Epiphany]]. It is celebrated on January 19 (or 20 on [[Leap year|Leap Year]]), corresponding to the 10th day of Terr following the [[Ethiopian calendar]]. Timket celebrates the [[baptism of Jesus]] in the [[Jordan River]]. This festival is best known for its ritual reenactment of [[baptism]] (similar to such reenactments performed by numerous Christian [[pilgrim]]s to the [[Holy Land]] when they visit the Jordan); early European visitors confused the activities with the actual [[sacrament]] of baptism, and erroneously used this as one example of alleged religious error, since traditional Christians believe in "one baptism for the remission of sins" ([[Nicene Creed]]).
+'''Timkat''' ([[Amharic language|Amharic]]: ጥምቀት  which means "baptism") (also spelled ''Timket'', or ''Timqat'') is the [[Ethiopian Orthodox]] celebration of [[Epiphany (holiday)|Epiphany]]. It is celebrated on January 19 (or 20 on [[Leap year|Leap Year]]), corresponding to the 10th day of Terr following the [[Ethiopian calendar]]. Timket celebrates the [[baptism of Jesus]] in the [[Jordan River]]. This festival is best known for its ritual reenactment of [[baptism]] (similar to such reenactments performed by numerous Christian [[pilgrim]]s to the [[Holy Land]] when they visit the Jordan).
 During the ceremonies of Timkat, the [[Tabot]], a model of the [[Ark of the Covenant]], which is present on every Ethiopian [[altar]] (somewhat like the Western [[altar stone]]), is reverently wrapped in rich cloth and borne in procession on the head of the priest.<ref name="google">{{cite book|title=National Days/national Ways: Historical, Political, and Religious Celebrations Around the World|author=Fuller, L.K.|date=2004|publisher=Praeger Publishers|isbn=9780275972707|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=llmCOvtWcUcC|page=93|accessdate=2014-10-04}}</ref> The Tabot, which is otherwise rarely seen by the laity, represents the manifestation of Jesus as the [[Messiah]] when he came to the Jordan for baptism. The [[Divine Liturgy]] is celebrated near a stream or pool early in the morning (around 2&nbsp;a.m.). Then the nearby body of [[holy water|water is blessed]] towards dawn and [[Aspersion|sprinkled]] on the participants, some of whom enter the water and immerse themselves, symbolically renewing their [[baptismal vows]]. But the festival does not end there; Donald Levine describes a typical celebration of the early 1960s: