Orthodox Christians Start Celebrating Baptism of Christ

Addis Ababa 18/02019 Followers of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church celebrate eve of Epiphany, Timket, to commemorate the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Hans of John the Baptist in the Jordan River.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church celebrates the actual Epiphany on 19th of January; however, the celebration starts on the eve known as Ketera.

Ketera is the day that replicas of the Ark of the Covenant (Tabot) are taken from each church and monastery to a communal baptism place in which they stayed the night.

The Tabots are carried to the baptism place and back to the churches by priests accompanied by Sunday school students and the faithful.

The festival of Timket is celebrated on 19th of January (20th in a leap year) and it commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the hands of John the Baptist in the River Jordan.