Category: Ethiopian Icons

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Ethiopian Icons Ethiopian Orthodox Church

The New Ethiopian Year and John the Baptist’s Beheading

On 11th of September Ethiopians celebrate the feast of Enkutatash, i.e. the First Day (1th of Meskerem) of New Solar Year of the Enochian calendar, still used in Ethiopia. On that day, the beheading of John the Baptist also occurred, and it is therefore commemorated by the Ethiopian Church.

John the Baptist was in fact a bridge between the Old and the New Covenant, and similarly, this day marks the passage between Old and New year. As it was written in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 11:

“Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he (…) For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.”

The head-cutting of John is therefore a perfect image of Transition from Old to New.

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Ethiopian Icons

Adam and Eve’s Expulsion From Paradise

A seraphim chases away Adam and Hewan from Paradise (Gennete Edom).

They committed their sin on Friday and were expelled in nakedness (while before they were dressing garments of light) at the end of the same day, prophecy of the Crucifiction of Christ and His Entrance into Paradise on Friday.

Although apparently they just took a forbidden fig fruit, their sin was a symbolic concentrate of all human wickedness and rebellion, infringing all the 10 commandments of God:

1) “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” – for Eve ate the fruit with the intention to become God.

2) “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain” – for Eve vainly speak about Him with the satanic snake

3) “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” – for they entered the Sabbath in impurity and sin.

4) “Honor your father and your mother” – for they disrespected the fatherhood of God.

5) “You shall not murder” – for Eve killed his husband giving him the fruit to eat.

6) “You shall not commit adultery” – for Eve was seduced by the devil against the authority of his husband.

7) “You shall not steal” – For they stole the fruit of God against His will.

8 ) “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” – for when God went among them, Adam accused Eve, lying about his own responsibility.

9 and 10) “You shall not covet” – for Eve coveted the power of God.

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Ethiopian Icons

The Burial Of Christ

Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus wash and embalm the body of the Lord, using Myrrh and Aloes (John 19,39), envelop it in a linen shroud with spices, as it had been prophecied by the Scripture:

“All thy garments smell of myrrh and aloes and cassia” (Psalm 45,8)

Five wise virgins (nuns of Christ) weep for His death: Maryam Mother of God, Mary of Magdala, Mary of Cleophas, Mary of Bethany (sister of Lazarus), and Salome. It is thus realized the gospel parable:

“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise” … “bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut” (Matthew 25). They are considered spiritual wives of Christ.