Religious Holidays & Fasting

RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS and FASTING

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church observes a rich calendar of religious holidays, deeply rooted in ancient Christian traditions. Here’s a list of major and notable religious holidays celebrated in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church:

📅 The Major Feasts of Our Lord

Be'ale Tsinset (በዓለ ጽንሰት) - His conception (Feast of the Annunciation) - Megabit 29 (April 7) - It marks the Archangel Gabriel’s announcement to the Virgin Mary that she would conceive by the Holy Spirit

Lidet (ልደት) - Christmas (Nativity) - Tahsas 29 (Jan 7 Gregorian) - Celebrates the birth of Jesus

Timket (ጥምቀት) - Epiphany - Tir 11 (Jan 19 Gregorian) - Commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River

Hosanna (ሆሳእና) - Palm Sunday - 1 week before Easter - Marks Jesus' entry into Jerusalem

Siklet (ስቅለት) - Good Friday - Friday before Easter - Crucifixion of Jesus. Day of mourning

Tensae (ትንሳኤ) - Easter - Sunday after Good Friday - Celebration of the resurrection

Debre Tabor (ደብረ ታቦር)- Transfiguration of Jesus - Nehase 19 (Aug 25 Gregorian)

Be'ale Erget (በዓለ እርገት) - Ascension - On the 40th day after His Resurrection - Commemorate the ascending of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to the highest heavens Peraklitos (ጰራቅሊጦስ) - Pentecost - 50 days after Tinsae (Resurrection) - The Descent of the Holy Spirit

Almost every day of the Ethiopian month is dedicated to a saint or holy figure. Each enjoys local observance and often involves bringing out the Tabot (the Ark) in processions and services.

🛐 Feasts of the Virgin Mary (Kidist Mariam)

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church honors the Virgin Mary with an impressive number of feasts—33 in total—spread throughout the year. These encompass both major celebrations and monthly commemorations.

Major Feasts of the Virgin Mary:

Conception of Mary
Nativity of Mary
Presentation of Mary in the Temple
Conceived of the Lord (Annunciation)
Flight into Egypt
Dormition (Asterio Mariam)
Assumption (Filseta), observed over several days
Apparitions or “Appearances” of Mary posthumously

Filseta (Assumption of Mary)

This is among the most significant celebrations, observed from August 7 to August 22, commemorating Mary’s Dormition and Assumption. Fasting and daily liturgies deepen the spiritual observance. Pilgrimages to monasteries during this period are common.

Monthly Feast Days

Every 21st day of each Ethiopic month is dedicated to the Virgin Mary — commemorating her death or heavenly birth and contributing to the large number of observed feasts.

Covenant of Mercy (Kidane Mihret)

Another important feast, celebrated on Yekatit 16 in the Ethiopian calendar (around February 24 in the Gregorian calendar). It honors Christ’s promise of mercy through Mary.

Feast of the Appearance of St. Mary

Celebrated on May 29 (Ginbot 21), this feast honors a miraculous apparition of Mary at the Church of Debre Mitmak, where she blessed the faithful in a vision witnessed by multitudes

The Nine Minor Feasts of the Savior

While "minor" in classification, these are still vital liturgical days observed with deep reverence.

Sibket: The first Sunday of the Advent fast (Prophecy).
Birhan: The second Sunday of Advent (Light).
Nolawi: The third Sunday of Advent (The Shepherd).
Gena Gehad: The Eve of Christmas.
Timkat Gehad: The Eve of Epiphany (Ketera).
Kana Ze-Galila: The Wedding at Cana (First miracle).
Meskel: The Finding of the True Cross (Sept 27).
Gizret: The Circumcision of Christ (Jan 14).
Debre Zeyt: Mid-Lent (Mount of Olives).

Key monthly dates (based on the Ethiopian calendar):

1st of the month: Lideta (Birth of the Virgin Mary)
7th of the month: Selassie (Holy Trinity)
12th of the month: Kidus Mikael (St. Michael the Archangel)
13th of the month: Kidus Rufael (St. Raphael the Archangel)
16th of the month - Kidane Mihret (Covenant of Mercy of Our Lady)
19th of the month: Kidus Gabriel (St. Gabriel the Archangel)
21st of the month: Kidist Mariam (The Virgin Mary)
24th of the month - Abune Tekle Haymanot
27th of the month: Medhane Alem (Savior of the World)
29th of the month: Ba'ale Wold (Feast of God the Son)

🔔 Liturgical Cycles and Fasting

Feasts are often preceded by fasting periods:

Abiy Tsom (Great Lent-አብይ ጾም) - 55 days-Great Lent leading up to Easter (Fasika)

Tsome Filseta (ፆም ፍልሰታ) - 15 days (Aug 7–22) - Fast of the Assumption of Mary

Tsome Nineweh (ነነዊ ፆም) - 3 days (movable) - Repentance (Jonah’s fast)

Tsome Hawariat (Apostles' Fast-ፆም ሐዋርያት) - 40 days (after Pentecost) - Apostolic missions

Tsome Nebiyat (ፆም ነብያት) - 40 days - Advent Fast (before Christmas)

Gahad of Christmas, Epiphany, etc.1-day fast before major feasts - require preparation and purification

Tsome Dihnet (ጾመ ድህነት) - is the Fast of Wednesday and Friday