NEBAB #15: Meskel (መስቀል)- The Feast of the Cross

  NEBAB #15

The Orthodox Tewahedo Magazine

MESKEL (መስቀል)- THE FEAST OF THE CROSS

Image: Painting by artist Yoseph Abate

The Spiritual Education Unit

Ethiopian Orthodox Church

Archdiocese of the Caribbean and Latin America

The Feast of Meskel

In this issue:

    1. The Feast of Meskel: The Finding Of The True Cross Of Christ

    2. But The Message of The Cross Is Foolishness to Those Who Are Perishing

    3. Faith and works

    4. “Ask Abba/Kes”

    5. A Miracle of the Holy Virgin Maryam

    6. Children’s corner

    7.ይበል ግዕዝ 

    8. Orthodox Q&A

 

Finding Of The True Cross Of Jesus Christ

The work that God was doing was none other than the salvation that was to be found in the Christ Death on the Cross and His  resurrection. The events surrounding the coming of Eyesus, the Messiah, were the fulfillment of the book of Habakkuk.

Meskel, translated as “True Cross”, is the day we celebrate the finding of the True Cross in the 4th century when Empress Helena mother of Constantine the great, discover the True Cross on which Eyesus Christos  was crucified. Empress Helena being led by a revelation that the True Cross lay in the midst of three overgrown hills, caused a bonfire to be built, prayed, added frankincense, lit it and the smoke therefrom descended to a mountain used as a rubbish heap for centuries. On September 27th G.C. (Meskeram 17th E.C.) excavations began. After 6 months of digging on March 18 G.C. (Megabit 10 E.C.) three crosses were found, the true cross performed miracles. Ethiopians have been celebrating Meskel for the past 1600 years. There are three calendar days in a year which commemorate the True Cross. 

1. September 26th G.C.(Meskerem 16 EC) that is known as “Demera”. 

2. September 27th G.C (Meskerem 17 EC) and

3. March 18th G.C. (Megabit 10 EC) that is known as Meskel.

The Ethiopian King Atse Dawit 2nd received the right arm of the cross from the Egyptian Orthodox Church, this King died before the cross arrived in Ethiopia and his son Zera Yakob brought the cross to Ethiopia where he found a cross-shaped mountain in Gishen and placed the cross there after building a Church.  This was told to him by God in a dream to “keep His Cross in the Cross shaped place”.

Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah, that thy beloved may be delivered”. Psalm 60:4

But The Message Of The Cross Is Foolishness To Those Who Are Perishing

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, One God. Amen.

“But the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God” 1 Corinthians 1:18. To the sick and gasping even wholesome meats are unpleasant, friends and relations burden some, who are often times not even recognized, but are rather accounted intruders. Much like this often is the case of those who are perishing in their souls. For the things which tend to salvation they know not, and those who are careful about them they consider to be troublesome. Now this ensues not from the nature of the thing but from their Disease. And just what the insane do, hating those who take care of them, and besides reviling them, the same is the case with unbelievers also. But as in the case of the former, they who are insulted then more than ever compassionate them, and weep, taking this as the worst symptom of the disease in its intense form, when they know not their best friends; so also in the case of the Gentiles let us act; yea more than for our wives let us wail over them, because they know not the common salvation. For not so dearly ought a man to love his wife as we should love all men, and draw them over unto salvation; be a man a Gentile, or be he what he may. For these then let us weep; for the word of the Cross is to them foolishness, being itself Wisdom and Power. For, says he, the word of the Cross to them that perish is foolishness. For since it was likely that they, the Cross being derided by the Greeks, would resist and contend by aid of that wisdom, which came (forsooth) of themselves, as being disturbed by the expression of the Greeks; Paul comforting them says, think it not strange and unaccountable, which is taking place. This is the nature of the thing, that its power is not recognized by them that perish, for they are beside themselves, and behave as madmen; and so they rail and are disgusted at the medicines which bring health. But what do you say, O man? Christ became a slave for you, having taken the form of a slave, Philippians 2:7 and was crucified, and rose again. And when you ought for this reason to adore Him risen and admire His loving kindness; because what neither father, nor friend, nor son, did for you, all this the Lord wrought for you, the enemy and offender— when, I say, you ought to admire Him for these things, do you call that foolishness, which is full of so great wisdom? Well, it is nothing wonderful; for it is a mark of them that perish not to recognize the things which lead to salvation. Be not troubled, therefore, for it is no strange nor unaccountable event, that things truly great are mocked at by those who are beside themselves. Now such as are in this mind you cannot convince by human wisdom. Nay, if you want so to convince them, you do but the contrary. For the things which transcend reasoning require faith alone. Thus should we set about convincing men by reasonings, how God became man and entered into the Virgin’s womb, and not commit the matter unto faith, they will but deride the more.

Excerpt from Saint John Chrysostom

Faith and Works:

The Royal Example

Queen Helena and her son Constantine, King Heraclius (see Nebab #1), Emperor Dawit and his son Zera Yaqob- our history is full of examples of kings and queens venerating the Holy Cross. Let’s see which of their examples we can apply to our lives today:

Queen Helena: Prayed for her son’s eventual conversion to Christianity

Emperor Constantine: Used the position and power he had for the work of God’s kingdom

King Heraclius: Fought for justice and freedom for oppressed Christians

Emperor Dawit: By his friendship with other nations secured the relics of the cross

Emperor Zera Yaqob: Carried on the work of his father in honouring the Holy Cross

Ask Abba/Kes

"Why do we Fast on Wednesdays and Fridays?"

We fast on Wednesday in remembrance of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ being betrayed by Judas Iscariot.

We fast on Fridays in remembrance of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ's crucifixion. 

This day serves as a reminder of what He sacrificed and a time for us to reflect on what He endured for our sake.

BIBLE QUIZ!

The Feast of Meskel is about the true meaning of the finding of the True Cross of Jesus Christ. Where in the Book of Habakkuk does “the prophet marvel at the Lord’s works?”

 

A Miracle of the Holy Virgin Maryam

A miracle [performed] by Our Lady Mary, the Holy Virgin. May her prayer be with our king, Zara Yaqob, amen.A man named Yohannes served in the church of the Holy, Pure, Majestic One[, Mary,] and the martyrs Barbara and Juliana. [The priest] Yohannes loved Our Lady Mary with his whole heart and strength, and he ministered to her church very well. The church had a major feast during which all believers in Our Lord Jesus Christ would come and celebrate the feast of Barbara and her sister Juliana. The feast was celebrated annually on the eighth day of Tahsas. One year, when it was time to celebrate the feast of Barbara and Juliana, the people celebrated the feast and then everyone went home. Yohannes [became worried and] searched for the Book of the Life of Barbara, and he became distressed when he was unable to find it.

 For many days, he searched diligently, swearing [oaths to God] and praying. However, his efforts were to no avail. After exhausting all his options, he approached the holy relics of Barbara and Juliana. He took them out of the reliquary and put them on a pulpit, beneath the icon of Our Lady Mary, the Pure One. He prayed fervently in front of her icon, prostrating himself on the ground and asking her to reveal to him where the Book of the Life of Barbara and Juliana was. He pressed his face against the relics of the martyrs, begging them to ask so that Our Lady the Virgin Mary would reveal where the book was. He told the martyrs, “I know that nothing is impossible for you all!” This happened on the twenty-fifth day of Maskaram, when the priest came to church for the midnight prayer. Now, it is customary among the Egyptians that any priest who doesn’t come to the midnight prayer will not be allowed to receive the Holy Mystery [of Communion] or to celebrate the Divine Liturgy [that day]. The next day, the twenty-sixth of Maskaram, Yohannes the priest came to church as usual for the midnight prayer. He opened the church gates and entered. But when he wanted to open the door before the sanctuary door, it opened on its own. Again, when he wanted to open the sanctuary’s door, the door opened on its own. Inside he saw three virgins moving around the altar, surrounded by a great light. The third virgin, who was in the middle, was surrounded by a greater light than the two virgins on either side of her.

When the priest saw this, he was so shocked by the light’s splendor that he fell down and hit his face. Then he heard one of the virgins saying, “My dear Lady, someone must have stolen the Book of My Life. I don’t know where they put it.” Our Lady the Virgin replied, “The Lord has given the people who took the Book of Your Life their due reward for their crime. One of them was killed, and the other was blinded.” Meanwhile, in the church was a bird called Boom. This ugly bird was destroying the church’s walls and even breaking the candelabra out of sheer spite! That virgin said, “My dear Lady, what should I do about this bird, which destroys my church?” Our Lady replied, “From now on, he does not have the authority to stay in your church.” When Yohannes the priest heard this, he rejoiced. But he [also] understood that the three virgins were Our Lady the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, [along with] Barbara and Juliana. He became mute and unable to speak.  In the morning, when people came for morning prayer, among them was the son of the [now] mute priest Yohannes. When he approached his father, his father couldn’t speak to him. Instead, he signed to him to light the candelabra on the eastern side of the sanctuary. When the people saw that the priest had become mute, they knew that he must have had a vision. When his son was trying to light the candelabra, he saw the Book of the Life on the altar tablet, and he joyfully rejoiced. 

He brought the book out for all the people to see. When the priest Yohannes looked at the book, his tongue was untied, and he began to speak again. He then told the people everything he had seen. When the people heard what had happened, they joyfully rejoiced. Their faith in Our Lady Mary, Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God, and in the martyrs Barbara and Juliana, was strengthened. They understood that the martyrs were always with Our Lady, in Jerusalem, the city of the Great King. After that, the priest Yohannes went to Patriarch Benjamin and reported the event. When Benjamin heard the news, he was delighted. He promoted the priest to be the vicar in that church. No one ever saw Boom, the bird that was destroying the church, after that day. This miracle happened on the twenty-fifth day of Maskaram. The people gather every year to honor Our Lady Mary, Holy Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God, and to commemorate Barbara and Juliana. When they gather, they read this miracle story and praise the Lord, his mother the Virgin, and the venerable martyrs. May their holy prayer and blessing be with our king, Zara Yaqob, and shepherd him. The Book of the Martyrology of the Holy Barbara and Juliana is still there today. Then, on the eighth day of Tahsas, they expose the relics of the martyrs and put them under the icon of Our Lady Mary, Holy Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God. They celebrate the feast for three days and go home. May their prayers protect our king, Zara Yaqob, who is also named Constantine, from the snares of the cursed Satan, forever and ever, amen.

O Holy Virgin Maryam, pray for us!

LIJOCH! The Children's Corner

Memory verse : 1 Corinthians  1 : 18

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

ይበል:ግዕዝ (yibel Ge’ez)

Let's reclaim our forefathers’ language

Today we look at another pronoun, ዘ (ze). This is difficult to translate directly into English but easy to understand with examples. It is most basically understood as meaning ‘who’.

Examples:

ዘመረደ

ze (the one who) werede (came down)

It can also express a genitive relationship (see Nebab #13 for the lesson on the genitive)

ፈያታዊ ዘየማን

feyatawi (thief) ze (on/of) yeman (right hand)

This genitive usage can be found in some baptism names like ዘአማኑኤል or ዘዮሐንስ, in this case meaning (the one who is of Emmanuel/John i.e. dedicated to Emmanuel or John)

Look out for the prefix ዘ- in front of words and pay attention to the translation of the phrase to get a better sense for the meaning and function of ዘ!

ORTHODOX Q&A

How can I make the true meaning of the Holy Cross always relevant in my daily life?

"Without the Cross there is no life, no peace, because while all this struggling we forget the Cross, the main thing, and we are searching for peace. We ignore the Cross and we search outside - [the] wrong way - and we are suffering without peace, without life."

Send us your questions at: seu.eotccarla@gmail.com

References

Short message on behalf the Spiritual Education Unit:

His Grace Abune Thaddaeus, Head Administrator Archimandrite Abba Gebreyesus, and all clergy and faithful- thank you for the opportunity to share this labour of love with you. Thanks also to the team of the Spiritual Education Unit for their hard work.

-Liqe Teghuan Tekle Mariam Greene

Finding Of The True Cross of Jesus Christ

Lecture by Brother Amde Brhan Jack

Ask Abba/ Kes

Living Tewahedo Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Ministry

Orthodox Q&A 

His Grace Abune Thaddaeus, Sermon

Miracle of the Holy Virgin Maryam: pemm.princeton.edu/en-us/stories/21

CONTACT US:

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Tel. 868-642-4230.

e-mail: eotc.arch.carla@gmail.com

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