Liturgical Calendar & Feasts
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church's calendar originates from Egypt and agrees with the Coptic Calendar, though it differs in the observance of saints' days.
Key Calendar Facts
- Days per Year: 365 days.
- Leap Year: An extra day is added every fourth year.
- Evangelist Cycle: Each year is dedicated to an Evangelist: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Luke's year is the Ethiopian Leap Year.
- Months: 12 months of 30 days each.
- Pagumen: The 13th "month" of 5 days (6 in a leap year).
Months & Days
The Ethiopian Months
| Ethiopian Month | Gregorian Equivalent |
|---|---|
| (1) Meskerem | September – October |
| (2) Teqemt | October – November |
| (3) Hedar | November – December |
| (4) Tahsas | December – January |
| (5) Ter | January – February |
| (6) Yekatit | February – March |
| (7) Megabit | March – April |
| (8) Miyazia | April – May |
| (9) Ginbot | May – June |
| (10) Sene | June – July |
| (11) Hamle | July – August |
| (12) Nehase | August – September |
Days of the Week
| English | Ge'ez Name |
|---|---|
| Sunday | Ehud, Senbete Krestian |
| Monday | Sagno |
| Tuesday | Maksagno |
| Wednesday | Rabue |
| Thursday | Hamus |
| Friday | Sadus, Arb |
| Saturday | Qadamit Sanbat |
Monthly Feasts
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church observes a vast number of feast days. The Annual Feast is marked by a procession of the Tabot (Ark). Below is the list of Saints/Feasts commemorated on specific days of every month:
| Day | Feast/Saint(s) Observed |
|---|---|
| 1st | Lideta (Birth of Mary), Elias (Elijah) |
| 2nd | Thaddius |
| 3rd | Ba'eta (Presentation of Mary) |
| 4th | Yohannis Wolde Negedquad |
| 5th | Petros we Paulos, Gebre Menfes Kidus |
| 6th | Our Lady of Qusquam |
| 7th | Holy Trinity Day |
| 8th | Kiros, Abba Banuda |
| 9th | Thomas (not the Apostle) |
| 10th | Kidus Meskel (Holy Cross) |
| 11th | Hanna we Iyachem, Fasiledes |
| 12th | Michael the Archangel, Samuel, Yared |
| 13th | Igziabher Ab (God the Father), Ruphael |
| 14th | Abba Aregawi, Gebre Kristos |
| 15th | Kirkos and Iyalota |
| 16th | Kidane Meheret (Covenant of Mercy) |
| 17th | Estifanos (Stephen), Abba Gerima |
| 18th | Ewstatewos |
| 19th | Gabriel the Archangel |
| 20th | Hnstata |
| 21st | Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God |
| 22nd | Deqsius |
| 23rd | Georgis (St George) |
| 24th | Abba Tekle Haimanot, 24 Heavenly Priests |
| 25th | Merkorios |
| 26th | Thomas the Apostle |
| 27th | Medhane Alem (Savior of the World) |
| 28th | Emmanuel |
| 29th | Bale Wold (God the Son) |
| 30th | Markos (St. Mark) |
Chronology & Movable Feasts
The church's chronology dates from the birth of Jesus Christ (Era of Incarnation), resulting in a 7 or 8 year difference from the Gregorian calendar. The reckoning of Easter (Fasika) is based on the system of Ammonius.
Rules for Movable Feasts
- Easter Lent: Begins on a Monday (Between Yekatit 1 – Megabit 5).
- Palm Sunday: Between Megabit 19 – Miyazia 23.
- Easter: Always a Sunday (Between Megabit 26 – Miyazia 30).
- Ascension: Always a Thursday.
- Pentecost: Always a Sunday.
Religious Festivals (Ba'alat)
There is a prodigious number of feasts. The principal ones include the 9 Feasts of the Lord, 33 Feasts of Our Lady, and the feasts of the Apostles, Angels, Righteous (saints), and Martyrs. The Senksar is the book that lists the saints to be commemorated daily.
9 Major Feasts of Our Lord
- His Conception
- Christmas (Liddet/Gena)
- Epiphany (Temket)
- Transfiguration
- Palm Sunday (Hosanna)
- Good Friday
- Easter (Fasika)
- Ascension
- Pentecost
Feasts of the Virgin Mary
There are 33 feasts commemorating the Virgin Mary. Notable dates include:
- Monthly: The 21st day of every Ethiopian month.
- Kidane Mehret: Yekatit 16 (Feb 24 Gregorian).
Fixed National Feasts
| Feast | Ethiopian Date | Gregorian Date |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas (Gena) | Tahsas 29 | January 7 |
| Epiphany (Timkat) | Ter 11 | January 19 |
| Finding of the True Cross (Meskel) | Meskerem 17 | September 27 |
Fasting and Abstinence
There are approximately 250 fast days a year, with about 180 being obligatory for faithful over age 13.
Fasting Rules
Frequency: One meal a day, taken in the evening or after 2:45 p.m.
Diet: Abstention from meat, fats, eggs, and dairy. Use cereals and vegetables.
Exemptions: No fasting during Christmas, Epiphany, and the 50 days between Easter and Pentecost.
Major Obligatory Fasts
- Great Lent (ዐብይ ጾም / ሁዳዴ): 56 days.
- Fast of the Apostles (ጾመ ሐዋርያት): 10−40 days (begins after Pentecost).
- The Fast of the Prophets / Advent Fast (ጾመ ነብያት): 40 days (preceding Christmas).
- The Fast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (ጾመ ፍልሰታ) : 16 days.
- Fast of Nineveh (ጾመ ነነዌ): 3 days (pre-Lent).
- Gahad (ጾመ ገሃድ): Eves of Christmas and Epiphany.
- Fast of Wellness or Fast of Salvation (ጾመ ድህነት): Every Wednesdays & Fridays (except during the 50 days after Easter).
The Holy Seasons
- Advent (Sibket)
- A time of penitential preparation for Christmas, embracing about 5 Sundays.
- Christmas (Liddet or Gena)
- Jan 7th. "Gena" also refers to a traditional game played by men on this day.
- Lent (Hudadi) & Holy Week (Himamat)
-
- Lent: 56 days of prayer and penitence.
- Maundy Thursday: Washing of feet ceremony; unleavened bread used.
- Good Friday: A day of sorrow; believers prostrate until 3 p.m.
- Easter (Fasika): The Feast of Feasts. A day of spiritual and physical feasting.