Church Calendar

Feasts in Meskerem

• 1Major FeastThursday 11 September

  Enkutatash (New Year)

  The Ethiopian New Year, celebrated on Meskerem 1.

• 1MonthlyThursday 11 September

  Lideta — the Birth of the Holy Virgin

  The birth of Our Lady, kept on the 1st of every Ethiopian month, together with the commemoration of the Prophet Elijah.

• 3MonthlySaturday 13 September

  Be’eta — the Presentation of the Virgin

  The Presentation of Our Lady in the Temple, kept on the 3rd of every Ethiopian month.

• 5MonthlyMonday 15 September

  Abune Gebre Menfes Kidus

  Commemorated on the 5th of every Ethiopian month, together with the Apostles Peter and Paul.

• 7MonthlyWednesday 17 September

  Commemoration of the Holy Trinity

  The Holy Trinity is commemorated on the 7th of every Ethiopian month.

• 10MonthlySaturday 20 September

  Kidus Meskel — the Holy Cross

  The Holy Cross is commemorated on the 10th of every Ethiopian month.

• 12MonthlyMonday 22 September

  Commemoration of St Michael

  The Archangel Michael is commemorated on the 12th of every month.

• 16MonthlyFriday 26 September

  Kidane Mihret — the Covenant of Mercy

  The Covenant of Mercy granted to St Mary, commemorated on the 16th of every Ethiopian month. This is the feast to which our parish is dedicated.

• 17Major FeastSaturday 27 September

  Meskel (Finding of the True Cross)

  Commemorates the finding of the True Cross by Empress Helena. Marked with the Demera bonfire.

• 19MonthlyMonday 29 September

  Commemoration of St Gabriel

  The Archangel Gabriel is commemorated on the 19th of every month.

• 21MonthlyWednesday 1 October

  Commemoration of St Mary

  St Mary is commemorated on the 21st of every Ethiopian month.

• 23MonthlyFriday 3 October

  Commemoration of St George

  St George the Martyr is commemorated on the 23rd of every month.

• 24MonthlySaturday 4 October

  Commemoration of St Tekle Haymanot

  St Tekle Haymanot is commemorated on the 24th of every month.

• 27MonthlyTuesday 7 October

  Commemoration of the Passion of Our Lord

  The saving death of Our Lord is commemorated on the 27th of every Ethiopian month.

• 29MonthlyThursday 9 October

  Commemoration of the Nativity

  The birth of Christ is commemorated on the 29th of every Ethiopian month.

• 30MonthlyFriday 10 October

  St Mark the Evangelist

  The Evangelist and first bishop of Alexandria, commemorated on the 30th of every Ethiopian month.

Fasting Seasons

• Tsome Nebiyat (Advent Fast)

  43 days

  Hidar 15 – Tahsas 28 (late November – early January)

  The fast of the prophets, kept in preparation for the Nativity.

• Tsome Nenewe (Fast of Nineveh)

  3 days

  Three days, two weeks before Great Lent

  A three-day fast recalling the repentance of Nineveh under Jonah.

• Abiy Tsome (Great Lent)

  55 days

  Fifty-five days before Fasika (Easter)

  The Great Fast, the longest and most solemn of the year, ending at Fasika.

• Tsome Hawaryat (Fast of the Apostles)

  40 days

  From the Monday after Pentecost until Hamle 5

  Kept in memory of the apostles who fasted before their mission.

• Tsome Filseta (Fast of the Assumption)

  15 days

  Nehase 1 – 16 (7 – 22 August)

  Fifteen days kept in honour of the Assumption of Our Lady. The Divine Liturgy is served on every day of the fast, ending with the feast on Nehase 16.

• Wednesdays and Fridays

  104 days

  Throughout the year, outside the fifty days after Fasika

  Weekly fasts recalling the betrayal and the crucifixion of Our Lord.

The Thirteen Months

The Ethiopian year has twelve months of thirty days and a thirteenth, Pagume, of five days — six in a leap year. The year begins on Meskerem 1, which falls in September, and runs seven to eight years behind the Gregorian calendar.

• 1. Meskerem

• 2. Tikimt

• 3. Hidar

• 4. Tahsas

• 5. Tir

• 6. Yekatit

• 7. Megabit

• 8. Miazia

• 9. Ginbot

• 10. Sene

• 11. Hamle

• 12. Nehase

• 13. Pagume