The festival begins in Timket Eve, January 18th. (today)
According to an Ethiopian epic called Kebra Negast the Ark of the Covenant was abducted from Jerusalem and brought to Ethiopia during the first millennium BC. It is the most sacred element of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
Early on Timket Eve, about 2PM, replicas of the Ark, covered by silks are solemnly carried by priests from each church to a nearby body of water. They are accompanied by a procession of tens of thousands of church members and believers.
Pictured above is a priest at the beginning of the procession.
More priests as part of the procession. They are dressed so beautifully.
The Ark is covered in silks. It is typically in the center of the church and no one is allowed close to it. So, Timket is one of very few opportunities believers have to be close to their most sacred object.
The procession is a loud and festive affair. Believers are chanting, dancing, drum-beating, horn blowing, prayer-stick-waving, and sistra (a musical instrument) rattling. It reenacts scenes described in the Old Testament.
As evening falls, priests and believers participate in an overnight vigil.
As dawn approaches a hymn is spontaneously started that spreads through the crowd.
The priest blesses the water at day break, and the celebration reaches its climax.
Believers are eager to get a splash of the blessed water and renew their vows.
Some believers jump right into the water.The festival continues until the third day which is dedicated to the Archangel Mikael. (I did not find much information about that.) On the third day the Arks are carried back to their respective churches with the same dancing, singing, and instrument playing as before.
It is a family/community celebration like no other. I had to add this sweet boy's picture dressed so perfectly in his shama.
It is a family/community celebration like no other. I had to add this sweet boy's picture dressed so perfectly in his shama.
