Calander of Fasts and Feasts

The Orthodox Church uses the Old Calendarist, (the Era of Incarnation, the birthday of our Lord) approach in

determining the dates of Easter and the other Church occasions that are dependent on the date of Easter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The purpose of this page is to clear up a few questions that some might have regarding the calendar system that the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and her sister Orthodox Churches.

To learn about the historic origins of the Orthodox Calendar please read the article below tracing the Orthodox Calendar.

The Ethiopian calendar differs from that of Europe

and the countries that Europeans influenced through colonization or occupation and so on.

The Ethiopian calendar is based on the Julian calendar, which is acurately behind 7 years behind the European or Gregorian calendar.

The Orthodox Ecclesiastical Calendar

Last updated 2000 April 7 by M.J. Montes.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notes on the Orthodox Easter

History

Between AD326 and AD1582, Christianity determined Easter using an algorithm approved by a Church Council in AD325, with the equinox defined as March 21. From AD1054 (when the Orthodox and Catholic Churches split) through AD1582 both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches celebrated Easter on the same date, still using the algorithm from AD325. The Julian Calendar was used by the European (and Christan) communities until the Gregorian reform of 1582.

Since AD1582 October (when the Gregorian Calendar was adopted by much of Catholic Europe), the Orthodox Easter usually falls on dates different than the Western Christian Easter, although apparently the Churches are discussing using the same formula to determine Easter - probably a formula different than that currently used by either Church.

The Orthodox Easter is determined in the Julian Calendar. It has been claimed that Orthodox Easter does not fall on the date of Passover (15 Nisan in the Hebrew Calendar), or before it; this is true recently, but using the modern formulae for determining the date of Passover (rules which go back to the fourth century A.D.), one finds that, in fact, Easter occurred on the first day of Passover several times before the year A.D. 1000. From 1900 until 2099 the Eastern Easter will fall one (45.5%), four (4.5%), or five (21.5%) weeks after the Western Easter - and on the same date in 57 (28.5%) of those years. (I've compiled some Tables showing the offsets between Orthodox and Western Easters from 1583 through 3000 that shows this information.)

Calendar Reform in the Orthodox Church

In the 1923 May there was a well documented meeting that provided for Calendar Reform in of the Orthodox Church. Among other measures, the Orthodox Calendar would have been adjusted to match the Gregorian calendar date; the proposed leap year rule was different than the rule in the Gregorian Calendar, however the calendars would not disagree until AD2800; more often than not, Easter would be celebrated on the same date in both the Eastern and the Western Churches. Except for sporadic use in the 1920's, the calendar reform was not adopted. A wonderful resource examining the calendar reform and its lack of acceptance may be found in the excellent article Counter-reformation in Russian Orthodoxy: Popular Response to Religious Innovation, 1922-1925 by Gregory L. Freeze that appeared in the Summer 1995 issue of Slavic Review. Freeze mentions that soon after the adoption by the second (renovationist) council in 1923 May, the renovationists had a full-scale parish revolt on their hands - the common Orthodox parishioners (in the Soviet Union) did not accept the changes of this council, and indeed, had many other arguements with the renovationists. Other articles concerning Orthodox Calendar Reform that may be found online are: 1) On the Question of the "Revised Julian Calendar" by Father George Lardas; 2) The "Revised" Julian Calendar which offers some explanation of the "New Calendarist views"; and 3) On the Calendar by Father Alexander Lebedeff, which argues for the "Old Calendarist" views.

Algorithms

Alex Kochergin has sent the following information about the Eastern Easter: It has a cycle that (in the Julian Calendar) repeats itself every 532 (19x28) years (since the Julian Solar calendar repeats every 28 years and the Metonic Lunar cycle is 19 years). Eastern Easter tends to occur only after Passover, but only since about A.D 1000. The Gregorian Easter (on the other hand) does not track Passover. For example: in 1997, Passover is 22 April; Western Easter is three weeks EARLIER (30 March) and the Eastern Easter is the Sunday following Passover (27 April). While there are obviously different algorithms used, it is also the case the Julian, Gregorian, and Jewish calendars are slipping relative to each other. The Julian Calendar (and the feasts tied to it) are occuring later in the year (compared to the Gregorian calendar). The Jewish calendar is also moving to later dates in the Gregorian calendar, but at a significantly slower rate than the Julian calendar.

The Date of Orthodox Easter: A variation of Gauss' algorithm

Alex also provided the following algorithm that is based on the algorithm derived by the German mathematician Gauss, the principal simplification is that substitutions have been made for the case of Julian calendars and Orthodox Easters. This algorithm calculates the number of days AFTER March 21 (Julian) that Easter occurs (Note: It is a much simpler calculation than the Western Easter).

RMD(x,y) = remainder when x is divided by y.

R1=RMD(Year,19)

R2=RMD(Year,4)

R3=RMD(Year,7)

RA=19*R1+16

R4=RMD(RA,30)

RB=2*R2+4*R3+6*R4

R5=RMD(RB,7)

RC=R4+R5

The number RC ranges from 1 to 35 which corresponds to March 22 to April 25 in the Julian Calendar (currently April 4 to May 8 on the Gregorian). The Julian Calendar is now 13 days behind the Gregorian, and will be until March 1, 2100 when it will be 14 days behind the Gregorian Calendar.

The Date of Orthodox Easter: An algorithm based on Oudin's Algorithm

Another simple algorithm is listed in the Calendar FAQ by Claus Tondering . It is based on Oudin's algorithm, and is also simple and elegant.

------------------------

E-mail: c-t@pip.dknet.dk.

The document may be freely distributed, provided this

the document.

This document is provided "as is". No warranties are made as

to its correctness.

~ OTHER SPECIAL DAYS ~

Great Lent . . . . . (Abye Tsome) . . moveable date

Fast of Nineveh . (Nenawe) . . . . moveable date

Christmas Fast . . . . . . November 25

Apostle's Feast . . . . . July 12

St. Mariam Fast . . . . . August 7 . . . . fixed

St. Mariam Feast. . . . . August 22 . . . fixed

Non~Christian National Days

The following days are commemorated by all Ethiopians regardless of religion, race, or tribe.

New Years Day (Addis Amet) . . . . . . 11 or (12 Sept./LY)

Victory of Adua (Ye-Adua Amet) . . . . 03 March

Ethiopian Martyr's Day (Ye-Ethiopia) . . 19 March

Liberation Day (Le Nessanet) . . . . . . . 05 May

Revolution Day (Abeyot) . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Sept.

Days Rastafarian's Celebrate

HIM Haile Selassie Birthday . . . . . . . . 23 July

HIM Haile Selassie Coronation . . . . . . . 02 Nov.

+ These days are celebrated by Rastafarians because it was due to Haile Selassie's coronation that made the Marcus Garvey followers turn to Ethiopia as the promised land of the Bible. Also the Emperor's acceptance and embrace of the Jamaicans and his gift of the land in Shasamanie Ethiopia for them to repatriate.

+ Emperor Haile Selassie also sent his faithful Monk Abba Mandefro to Jamaica to teach those in the Diaspora his Orthodox Faith and Practice

Quick Facts:

The Orthodox calendar has 365 days (366 leap year). It is divided into 13 months, 12 of 30 days each and an intercalary month at the end of the year of 5 (6 days in a leap year).

The year starts on 01 Sept. (11 Sept. European Gregorian Calendar) in the Julian Calendar or on the12th in the year before (Julian) Leap Years. The Orthodox Leap Year follows the same rules as the Gregorian so that the extra month always has 6 days in the year before a Gregorian Leap Year.

Each year is named after one of the four Evangelists

~ Matthew, St, Mark, St. Luke and St. John ~

(The extra day in a leap year is added to the year of St. Luke.)

The day of the New Year is called Kidus Yohannes (St. John the Baptist) This is because St. John was the last of the prophets and is considered a bridge between the Old and the New Testaments.

He transfered the Gospel from the Old Testament to the New Testaments and the newness of life and salvation.

The names of the months and their starting dates are as follows:

Orthodox Month Name / Start Date / Start Date Leap Year

01. Maskaram . . . . . . . . . 11 Sept. . . . . . . 12 Sept.

02. Teqemt . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Oct. . . . . . . 12 Oct.

03. Hedar . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Nov . . . . . . . 11 Nov

04. Tahas . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Dec . . . . . . 11 Dec

05. Ter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 09 Jan . . . . . . . 10 Jan

06 Yekatit . . . . . . . . . . . . 08 Feb . . . . . . . 09 Feb

07. Megabit . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Mar -

08. Miyazya . . . . . . . . . . . 09 Apr -

09. Genbot . . . . . . . . . . . . 09 May -

10. Sene . . . . . . . . . . . . . .08 Jun -

11. Hamie . . . . . . . . . . . . 08 Jul -

12. Nahase . . . . . . . . . . . 07 Aug -

13. Paguemen . . . . . . . . . 06 Sep -

~ MAJOR HOLY DAYS ~

The Incarnation . . . . . . . . . . . (Tsinset)

Christmas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Lidet ) . . . . . 07 January ~ fixed

Epiphany/Christ Baptized . . . (Timket) . . . . 20 January ~ fixed

Palm Sunday . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Hosanna) . . . . . . moveable date

Holy Friday(Crucified) . . . . . . (Siklet) . . . . . . . . moveable date

Easter*Resurrection) . . . . . . . (Tensaye) . . . . . . moveable date

Ascension of Christ . (Ereget)

Pentacost / White Sunday. . . (Paracletos). . moveable date

The Transfiguration . . . . . . . (Debre Tabor) . . 19 Aug. ~ fixed

Holy Thursday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . moveable date

~ MINOR HOLY DAYS ~

Sebklet (First Sunday in Advent / before Christmas)

+ This festival is held in commemoration of the prophecies made by the prophets concerning the coming of the Messiah.

Berhan (Second Sunday in Advent / before Christmas)

+ In commemoration of the fulfillment of the Word (Our Lord)

Nolawe (Third Sunday in Advent / before Christmas)

+ In commemoration of the Good Shepherd (Our Lord)

Yelidet Gahad (Christmas Eve) ~ 06 January

+ In commemoration of the actual birth & revelation of Our Lord

Gizret (Circumcision) ~ 15 January

+ In commemoration of the circumcision of Our Lord

Debre Zeit (the Festival of Mount Olives)

+ The second advent is to take place on Mount Olives.

So special wishful prayers for righteousness are offered

Birth of Simon

+ Simon was an old man over 80 years old, he was just, and devout. It was revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord Christ. When Eeysus Kristos was brought into the temple, Simon took him

up in his arms and blessed God. It was said that the old man immediately became young (30 yrs. old), for this reason this Holy Day is called Birth of Simon (Born Again).

Qanna Ze Galilla (The Miracle of Cana of Galile)

~ Wedding of Cana January 21

This is the first miracle of the Lord where He changed water to wine.

Masqal (Finding of the True Cross)

19 Mar. (W) and 27 Sept.

+ In commemoration of the finding of the true Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, One God, Amen.

| | | | . | | | |

EVANGELIST

NAME

JOHN

MATTHEW

MARK

LUKE

JOHN

MATTHEW

MARK

LUKE

JOHN

MATTHEW

MARK

LUKE

JOHN

MATTHEW

MARK

LUKE

JOHN

MATTHEW

MARK

LUKE

JOHN

MATTHEW

MARK

LUKE

JOHN

ETHIOPIAN

NEW YEAR

Thur.

Fri.

Sat.

Sun.

Mon.

Tue.

Wed.

Thur.

Fri.

Sat.

Sun.

Mon.

Tue.

FAST of

NINEVAH

18 Feb.

09 Feb.

25 Jan.

14 Feb.

06 Feb

25 Feb.

10 Feb.

02 Feb.

22 Feb.

06 Feb.

29 Jan.

18 Feb.

10 Feb.

22 Feb.

14 Feb.

06 Feb.

26 Feb.

10 Feb.

02 Feb.

22 Feb.

07 Feb.

29 Jan.

18 Feb.

03 Feb.

23 Feb.

GREAT

LENT

03 Mar

23 Feb

08 Feb.

28 Feb.

20 Feb.

11 Mar.

24 Feb.

16 Feb.

07 Mar.

20 Feb.

12 Feb.

04 Mar.

24 Feb.

08 Mar.

28 Feb.

20 Feb.

11 Mar.

24 Feb.

16 Feb.

08 Mar.

21 Feb.

12 Feb.

04 Mar.

17 Feb.

08 Mar.

PALM

SUNDAY

Hosanna

20 Apr.

12 Apr.

28 Mar.

17 Apr.

08 Apr.

28 Apr.

13 Apr.

05 Apr.

24 Apr.

09 Apr.

01 Apr.

21 Apr.

12 Apr.

25 Apr.

17 Apr.

09 Apr.

28 Apr.

13 Apr.

05 Apr.

25 Apr.

09 Apr.

01 Apr.

21 Apr.

06 Apr.

25 Apr.

GOOD

FRIDAY

Siklet

25 Apr.

17 Apr.

02 Apr.

22 Apr.

13 Apr.

03 May.

18 Apr.

10 Apr.

29 Apr.

14 Apr.

06 Apr.

26 Apr.

17 Apr.

30 Apr.

22 Apr.

14 Apr.

03 May

18 Apr.

10 Apr.

30 Apr.

14 Apr.

06 Apr.

26 Apr.

11 Apr.

30 Apr.

EASTER

SUNDAY

Tensaye

27 Apr.

19 Apr.

04 Apr.

24 Apr.

15 Apr.

05 May

20 Apr

12 Apr.

01 May

16 Apr.

08 Apr.

28 Apr.

19 Apr.

02 May

24 Apr.

16 Apr.

05 May

20 Apr.

12 Apr.

02 May

16 Apr.

08 Apr.

28 Apr.

13 Apr.

02 May

ASCENSION

of CHRIST

Erget

05 Jun.

28 May

13 May

02 Jun.

24 May

13 Jun.

29 May

21 May

09 Jun.

25 May

17 May

06 Jun.

28 May

10 Jun.

02 Jun.

25 May

13 Jun.

29 May

21 May

10 Jun.

25 May

17 May

06 Jun.

22 May

10 Jun.

PENTACOST

White Sun.

Paracletos

15 Jun.

07 Jun.

23 May

12 Jun.

03 Jun.

23 Jun.

08 Jun.

31 May

19 Jun.

04 Jun.

27 May

16 Jun.

07 Jun.

20 Jun.

12 Jun.

04 Jun.

23 Jun.

08 Jun.

31 May

20 Jun.

04 Jun.

27 May

16 Jun.

01 Jun.

20 Jun.

THE YEARS East ~ West

2001 ~2008

2002 ~2009

2003 ~2010

2004 ~2011

2005 ~2012

2006 ~2013

2007 ~2014

2008 ~2015

2009 ~2016

2010 ~2017

2011 ~2018

2012 ~2019

2013 ~2020

2014 ~2021

2015 ~2022

2016 ~2023

2017 ~2024

2018 ~2025

2019 ~2026

2020 ~2027

2021 ~2028

2022 ~2029

2023 ~2030

2024 ~2031

2025 ~2032

Orthodox Holy days from the year 2001 EC ~ (2008 Western Calendar)

and continues to the year 2025 EC ~ (2032 Western Calendar)

The following is a list of Orthodox Feasts, Fasts and other special occasions during the year

Igzee'abiher misle kwulikimu (The Lord be with you all)

The Ethiopian day begins at dawn and not midnight as is the case in most other countries.

One 0'clock ET is seven 0'clock international

12 Noon ET is 6 0'clock, 4PM ET is 10 PM etc.

Ethiopian Week Day Name / English Name

Ehud,Sanbete, Krestiyan . . . . . . . Sunday

Sagna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Monday

Maksegno . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tuesday

Rabue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wednesday

Hemus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thursday

Arbe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Friday

Kdamie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Saturday

Finding of the True Cross

Celebration (Masqal)

The Finding of the True Cross :

According to Ethiopian Orthodoxy, after the ascension of Jesus, the cross on which he was crucified began performing extraordinary miracles. This raised the ire of the people who crucified Jesus, who then ordered the cross to be removed and buried in the outskirts of town. Residents living in the surrounding areas were commanded to dump their garbage on the site, and for the next three centuries the area turned into wasteland.

Three hundred years later, in the early fourth century, the Roman Empire was being ruled by Constantine the Great. His mother, St. Elleni (Helena), concerned about the plight of Christians, beseeched her son to allow the free practice of Christendom in her son’s empire.

The Emperor consented, and St. Elleni traveled from Constantinople to Jerusalem to look for the buried Cross. Once in Jerusalem, however,

no one could tell her the exact spot where it lay. It is said that she went into seclusion and prayed for God’s guidance.

As a result of her prayer, St. Michael the Archangel appeared unto her and gave her certain instructions. She ordered her soldiers and the local residents to gather a pile of firewood. After a prayer, a fire was set ablaze the wood. Clergymen doused incense on the flame and the smoke of the incense rose up towards the sky then arched down to the earth, pointing out the exact spot where the Holy Cross was buried.

Following this miraculous sign, digging began and commenced for six months until the True Cross was discovered.

This has been the premise of the celebration of “Mesqel” in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Since then, clergy and parishioners have dressed in traditional, colorful clothing to sing ancient hymnals dating back to the sixth century. A bonfire is lit up to memorialize the finding of the True Cross.

~ Fasting Days ~ There are 7 official fasting periods.

(1) All Wednesdays and Fridays, except for the fifty ays after Easter,

and also if the Feasts of Christmas and Epiphany falls on these days.

(2) The great Lent Fast of fifty-five days.(Abye Tsome)

(3) Fast of the Prophets (Tsome Neviyat) 25 November to 06 January

(4) Christmas Eve and Epiphany (The Vigils)

(5) Ninevah Fast of three days (Nenawe)

(6) Fast of the Apostles(Tsome Hawariat)Mon.after Pentecost & ends12 July

(7) Assumption of the Virgin Mariam (Tsome Filseta)

~ ~ ~ See "fastings why" below for explainations

Fasting is prayer and abstinence from food to attain forgiveness of sins and reward of the soul. It serves to weaken the force of the body so that the body may obey the soul.

~ Our Lord Christ has taught us that fasting with prayer has the power of driving away evil spirits (Matt. 17 :21)

~ During Fasting all animal products is prohibited; meat, egg, butter, milk, and cheese, anything that contains these products. (Fetha Nagast).

~ However in true fasting the eye is kept from seeing, the mouth from speaking, and the ear from hearing evil things.

Fasting has perpetual relation with religion. The way it is practiced differs from religion to religion, however anyone who has religion practices fasting.

Holy Days Calendar Dates ~ for 25 years

Major and Minor Holy Days

Why's of Fasting

Return to top of page

Return to top of page

~ FEASTING DAYS ~

We never fast on Sundays ~ It's generally a FEAST because it is the day on which Christ our Lord arose.

1. Tensaye (Easter Sunday)

2. New Year's Day

3. Lidet (Christmas Day)

Fasting Why's :

Fasting is not only prayer and abstinence from eating meat and meat products neither is it only to abstain until Noon or 3 PM.

When we fast we should also refrain from all wrongdoings, and evil things such as vanity, violence, jealousy, hatred, and all works of satan. Charity is recommended, alms given to the poor and the needy, and gifts brought to the church, without these charities fasting could not be complete. It is strictly observed by all baptized members of the church. Some young people today do not take fasting seriously and say it is only for priests and old people, however many others recognize that it is essential spiritually to help them navigate the difficulties of modern life.

(1) Wednesday and Fridays are observed because on Wednesday "the Jews took counsel together to put Christ to death" and on Friday He was crucified for our salvation. Besides that, the apostles found it necessary to observe fasting for two days in the week for the remission of whatever sins may have been committed during the week. So they decreed that Wednesday and Friday must be observed identically to the Great Lent observance.

(2) The Great Lent (Abye Tsome, sometimes called Hudade / Day of Duty) is the longest fasting period.

It begins 8 weeks before Easter. This Lent is observed as a remembrance of the 40 days and nights fasting of our Lord Christ after His baptism. Later the Ethiopian church added 15 more days to it. Therefore the Great Lent consists of 55 days total instead of 40 days. Only 1 meal is allowed after sunset, this is strictly observed by clergy and especially by Monks and Nuns.

~ The first week of the Great Lent is called Tsome Herqal (the Fast of Heraclius, a Byzantine emperor in the 7th century A.D.)

This was separately observed up to the time of Emperor Zara Yacob (1434-68). Emperor Zara Yacob, who devoted himself to prayer and fasting in the beginning of his reign, combined this with the Great Lent. The one week fast of Heraclius was first observed by the apostles who decreed that more days be added to the Lent of 40 days in exchange for Saturdays and Sundays, for on these days people are allowed to break the fast at 9 AM except for animal products.

~ It was observed by all Christians in the MidEast, Rome, all Christians in Africa and Nubia and especially those in Jerusalem. During the reign of Heraclius, the Christians of Jerusalem were severely persecuted by Foqa, who was governor of Jerusalem. They wrote asking Heraclius to come to the Holy Land to avenge their persecutor. Heraclius, was willing but expressed fear of the canon law made by the Apostles which states that: "Anyone who commits murder must fast and mourn until the end of his life." The Christians promised him that they would fast on his behalf.

So the emperor agreed and destroyed Foqa the prosecutor. They estimated that average age of a person ( 70 to 80 years), divided the days among themselves and fasted and prayed on his behalf. Many of the churches that once observed this occasion no longer do so. But it is faithfully kept by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

~ The church is very devoted to the strict observance of Passion Week, which also caused the Great Lent to be 55 days. The Apostles fasted in commemoration of Christ's Passion. All Christians young and old is required to observe the Fast of our Lord, the Great Lent. During Passion Week, no one is allowed to eat until sunset or until the evening stars appear.

During Holy Week, the sacrament of baptism, ordination, funeral services, and absolution are forbidden. However on Palm Sunday, absolution is done for those who died during Passion Week.

~ Maundy (Holy) Thursday ~ is the day on which our Lord in absolute

humility washed His Disciples feet, ate the Last Supper with them

and revealed the mystery of the Holy Eucharist. On this day the

priest brings water in a basin and saying the prayer of thanksgiving,

he washes the feet of the faithful.

~ Good Friday ~ is in remembrance of Christ's crucifixion an

Epitaphion (crucifix) is made and passages from the Holy Scriptures

and other religious books are read.

The faithful prostrate often sometimes hundreds of times in the day.

Therefore Good Friday is sometimes called a day of prostration.

Towards the evening (around 4:30 PM) the faithful approaches a

priest to be patted with small branches of olive trees, which

symbolizes the whipping of our Lord.

Then the faithful say "Lord have mercy upon us" 400 times. (Ig-zee-'o tesahalene)

or Lord have compassion upon us, O Christ (Ig-zee'o me-ha-rene Kristos)

(3) Fast of the Prophets (Tsome Neviyat) is observed from 25 November to 06 January. It is called the Fast of the Prophets because the prophecy about the coming of Christ was fulfilled. Sometimes it is called Yelidet Tsome or Christmas Fast because Christ was born at the end of the fast.

(4) Christmas and Epiphany (The Vigils) On Christmas and Epiphany, the Holy Liturgy is celebrated starting at midnight until 3 :00 AM. If Christmas and Epiphany falls on Wednesday and Friday, then Tuesday and Friday will be fast days.

(5) Ninevah Fast is a 3 day fast, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. It falls at one time in January and another in February.

It commemorates the mission of Jonah and it is a fast of the repentance of the people of Ninevah. They were saved from the wrath of God through prayer and fasting, so the faithful will receive mercy and blessings through this fast.

(6) Fast of the Apostles (Tsome Hawariat) starts the Monday after Pentecost and ends 12 July. July 12 is the Feast of Saint Paul and St. Peter. The reason is because the two apostles were murdered on that day. The length of this observance varies depending upon the date of Easter and may be a minimum of 14 days and a maximum of 40 days.

The apostles observed this fast after the manner of Moses and Christ. Moses fasted for 40 days after he received the 10 Commandments, but before he preached the Law to the people, and Christ fasted for 40 days right after He was baptized and before he preached the Gospel. Following this example the apostles after they received the power of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, observed this fast before commencing to preach the Holy Gospel.

(7) Assumption of the Virgin Mariam (Tsome Filseta) This fast is kept strictly by the church from 7 - 21 August.

On January 21 Ethiopian Calendar, 29 January European Calendar, the Virgin Mariam died. The apostles wanted to bury her body in the gardens of Gethsemane, so they carried her body to the garden to bury it. When the Jews saw this, they were very angry and said, "The apostles disturbed us before when they said Eeysus Kristos was risen and now they tell us that Mary is risen and ascended," So the Jews dispersed them and did not allow them to bury the Virgin Mariam, instead the Jews wished to burn it. A certain Jew named Tawfania ran forward to burn the Virgin and when he grabbed the body, Angels of God struck off his hands he stayed there helpless until he died. At this time the Angels then took the Virgins body to Paradise, accompanied by John the Apostle to burn incense over her body, and layed her under the Tree of Life.

When John returned and told this fact to the Apostles, they said to each other "John saw and we did not; let us pray and fast that we may see also."

~ Burial and Resurrection ~

They began fasting from 07 August for 15 days, after which the Angels of God brought the body of the Virgin to the apostles. They buried the Virgin on Sunday. On Tuesday 3 days later, the Virgin Mariam rose from the dead just as her Son Christ had resurrected.

~ Assumption ~

Thomas the apostles was not present to witness the burial because he was converting people to Christianity in other lands.As he was returning he was caught up in a cloud and he met the Virgin Mariam as she was ascending.

Thomas became afraid and wished to fall. Then he asked the Virgin, "I did not see the resurrection of your Son; why am I going to see your resurrection? " The Virgin answered and said " Do not be sorry; the others did not see my resurrection and ascension, but you have. " She gave Thomas a sign by which she was known. This sign in Amharic is called Seven (not the number), and represents her glory and honor. She told Thomas to tell the other apostles what he had seen just as Christ had instructed Mary Magdalene when He resurrected.

In Ethiopia all Baptized faithful including children above age 7 years old, fast and partake of the Holy Communion for 15 days, except on Saturdays and Sundays. Many elderly people go for retreat away from their homes and sustain themselves on cereals (a grain) and water, while praying and fasting. Young and old testify of miracles performed during this time.

Ig-zee-'o tesahalene ( "Lord have mercy upon us" )