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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.

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Haile Selassie I - Prophecy

The Icon of Christ Pantocrator from Mount Sinai

A picture of the King in Italy, on his first visit to the country, under Mussolini’s Government in 1924 (LEFT), and an Icon of Christ Pantocrator (Emperor), discovered in the Monastery of Saint Catherine, Mount Sinai (RIGHT), where Moses saw the Face of God.
That Icon is one of the most ancient we have of Christ (6th century A.D.), it is absolutely strange (short hair) and particularly depicts the Messiah in His royal manifestation. It is absolutely THE SAME physiognomy, even for general lines, robes, posture.
It was discovered in 1930, year of Coronation.
The christian iconist for sure had seen the picture of His Majesty before…
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Ethiopian Orthodox Church Visional Artworks

The Prophets of Old That Did Not Die – Enoch Elijah and Ezra

According to Ethiopian Tradition, only three prophets of old never tasted death: Enoch (top right), Elijah (top left) and Ezra (bottom right). As it was written:
“And now abideth Faith, Hope, Love, these three; but the greatest of these is Love.” (I Corinthians 13:13)
Enoch is also interpreted as Faith, Elyas is interpreted as Love, Ezra is interpreted as Hope. Elyas is thus considered the greatest of all them, and therefore he has been summoned to witness the Transfiguration of Christ on Mount Tabor, representing the Prophets together with Moses.
It is said about them in the traditional book of “Zienà Elyas”:
“Halie Luya to the Father, the scales (ladders) of Enoch (the science of language) that He has concealed from the face of death; Halie Luya to the Son, the chariot of Elyas that made him ascend to the heavens. Halie Luya to the Holy Spirit, the bridge of Ezra that made him quit from death unto life.”
On the bottom left we have Elisha, one of the three disciples of Elyas (together with Jonah and Obadiah), that asked for the double of Elyas’s spirit and received accordingly, through his cape, that Elyas threw at him while ascending to heaven, as it is depicted here.
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Ge'ez ግእዝ Mysteries

ጥምቀት – Baptism

This artistic work of Selam Semrete Selassie meditates the shape and meanings of the 4 letters of the word Timqet ጥምቀት Baptism, through which we can pictographically visualize its traditional iconography.
Tiet ጥ represents the change and fracture determined by the sacrament of rebirth: it is here associated to the suddenly apparition of the Father from heaven.
Miem ም represents the substance coming over the body, that is both the Holy Spirit (Menfes) and the Water (May); here is the dove descending upon the head of Christ.
Qof ቀ represents the hit of that holy substance upon the head of the baptized one, and his unction.
Taw ት is associated with Krstos and the body of the baptized one that receives the sacrament.