bobjots : redux

On January 7, Christians in Ethiopia celebrated Christmas based on their calendar. The video below shows a group of women singing hymns (known as Mezmur/Psalms) in Lalibela, a town in Northern Ethiopia (also known as the New Jerusalem) that is a major destination of pilgrimage among Ethiopian Orthodox Christians:

 
January 7 of our present Gregorian calendar coincides with 29 Tahsas (4th month) of the Ethiopian calendar which until the replacement of the Julian calendar in 1582 with the Gregorian calendar coincided with December 25. Since the adoption of the Gregorian calendar, December 25 shifted 10 days before the original date hence having this interesting development whereby Christmas is celebrated in Ethiopia (and a lot of other Orthodox majority areas) 10 days after it is celebrated in the rest of world.

Christianity has ancient roots in Ethiopia, having been proclaimed the official religion in 330AD of the Kingdom of Axum. It currently counts 62% of the population of Ethiopia as adherents with the Ethiopian Orthodox Church claiming 51%, the rest being Protestant and a small uniate Ethiopian Catholic Church (approximately 1%). The remaining population of Ethiopia are either Muslim (33%) or practice traditional religions.

Islam was introduced in Ethiopia around 615AD when refugees from Mecca were advised by the Prophet Muhammad to take shelter there during their persecution by the Quraish tribe as it had a Christian king who would be friendly to them. Muslim tradition names Bilal ibn Ribah, an Ethiopian Muslim, as the first muezzin to be appointed by the Prophet Muhammad (or the person responsible for the calling the azan).

It is interesting to note that both these religious communities have generally co-existed well over the centuries. Probably they didn’t have to dispute over terminology like “Allah” .. hehe.

And speaking of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, their broader canon of the Scriptures include a book known as the Didascalia. A 3rd century work originally in Greek, it is possibly based upon an original Jewish treatise written for converts and was later modified for Christian use. Chapters 2 and 3 would be quite interesting reading for those of us who are married:

Chapter II
Teaching every man that he should please his wife alone; and that he should not adorn himself and become a cause of stumbling to women; and that he should not love idleness; and that he should occupy himself with the Scriptures of life, and avoid profane writings and the bonds of the Second Legislation; and that he should not bathe in a bath with women; and that he should not give himself to the vice of harlots.

Chapter III
An instruction to women, that they should please and honour their husbands alone, caring diligently and wisely for the work of their houses with attention; and that they should not bathe with men; and that they should not adorn themselves and become a cause of stumbling to men and ensnare them; and that they should be chaste and quiet, and not quarrel with their husbands.

Interested yet? The full text in English can be found here.

I’ve always been intrigued by how Christian communities in various traditions and cultures practice their faith. To see this ancient community celebrate their Christmas is quite an experience. It sure challenges some of our stereotypes. A BBC audio slideshow of this year’s celebration can be viewed here.

Enjoy the virtual experience, even as we from the Western Church tradition prepare to end the season of Epiphany and enter into Lent.