NEBAB #17: The Season of Flowers- ዘመነ ጽጌ (Zemene Tsige)- Week 2
NEBAB #17
The Orthodox Tewahedo Magazine
THE SEASON OF FLOWERS- ዘመነ ጽጌ (ZEMENE TSIGE)- WEEK 2
The Spiritual Education Unit
Ethiopian Orthodox Church
Archdiocese of the Caribbean and Latin America
Zemene Tsige- 2nd Week
In this issue:
Theme of this week: kine Tibebu (the skillfulness of His wisdom)
1. Why this season matters
2. The Hardships Of Our Holy Virgin Maryam
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
Why this season matters
This period was also the remembrance of the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt: the trials and suffering that they endured as a poor family fleeing a mighty persecutor, always on the run, unfriendly and hostile residents who refused to help them, thieves who tried to steal from them, idol worshippers who wanted to harm them, as their idols were demolished in the presence of the Lord. Our Lord and His family endured much suffering during this time, and all on our behalf.
✞The Theotokos (The Mother of God)
*Suffered in the cold while carrying Fire.
*Hungered while carrying for us the Bread of Life.
*Thirsted while carrying the Spring of Life.
*Was bare while carrying the Garb of Life.
*And was saddened while carrying the Joy of Life.
*The Mother of God hungered, thirsted, was bare, became exhausted, was saddened, wept, her foot bled and she suffered.
✞For he/she who can notice, this was all done for our salvation. Truly, while knowing this, anyone who does not give the Virgin Mary honor is only Satan. Even the beasts, plants, and rocks give honor to the Mother of God.
Why did Our Holy Savior, Jesus Christ, flee? And why did He make His destinations Egypt and Ethiopia?
1. So that the prophecies would be fulfilled. As it has been foretold that He would go to Egypt on a swift cloud. (Isaiah 19:1, Hebrews 3:7)
2. To fulfill the typology. His ancestors, according to His flesh, like Abraham, Jacob (Israel), and Jeremiah had fled there.
3. So that he would eliminate the worship of idols from Egypt. (Isaiah 19:1)
4. To consecrate the monasteries of Egypt and Ethiopia.
5. To indicate that His incarnation was real/true and not an illusion. Because if He had not become man, He would not have taken flight. And since Herod could not kill Him if he had found Him. Because without His will and before Friday (the day of the crucifixion) His blood couldn’t be shed.
6. To bless flight and give to the martyrs and
7. To redeem Adam’s flight by His.
Despite these daunting hardships and sorrowful treatments, our Lord blessed Africa with His presence. Most of the areas where the Holy Family passed through or spent time have holy reminders of Them being there. There are Churches - many named after St. Mary - monasteries, convents, caves, trees, wells, springs, rocks with imprints from our Lord’s hand and foot, and other relics. Also, our Lord performed miracles of healing in certain places.
We are thankful for the grace which our Lord bestowed upon the continent of Africa, and that, even for a short time, it was home to Him and His Family. May we be like the kindhearted residents who helped the Holy Family, and always help those in need to the best of our ability.
Embracing Hardship with Faith
Last week during the first week of Zemene Tsigue, the Season of Flowers, we reflected on Our Lady Maryam as the “Bride of Christ”. Tiwediso Mer’at. The Bride praises him and says “Weldi ihuye qalike Adam” Your voice is pleasing my beloved groom. In the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, we see the Bride of Christ as three things: (i) Our Lady the Virgin Maryam (ii) The Church (iii) Our souls united with God.
Today we will continue to focus on Our Lady Virgin Maryam as the Bride of Christ and how she embraced hardships. Throughout scripture, the relationship she had to her Son, who is God, was one of complete humility and obedience even in the many struggles that they faced. Even as the Bride, she was not ommitted from hardships but showed an example of how to bear with hardships through humility and reverence before God. Like Saint Mary, we are called to deny ourselves and to focus on God as we journey toward the cross. In the book of Hebrew 11:1, paul explains to us that the hardships that we face can sometimes never understood or calculated before hand. He scribes this faith that we must have as “ The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
For it is in this, that the elders before us, obtained a good report. “For without faith, it is impossible to please God”
“Faith then is the seeing of things that are not plain bringing it to the same full assurance with what are seen. So then neither is it possible to disbelieve in things which are seen, nor, on the other hand can there be faith unless a man be more fully assured with respect to things invisible, than he is with respect to things that are most clearly seen. For since the objects of hope seem to be unsubstantial, faith gives them substantiality, or rather, does not give it, but is itself their substance.”
St. John Chrysostom
When they were told to flee to Egypt, Saint Mary and Saint Joseph did not know where there were going. Like so many faithful witnesses in the scripture such as Abraham who believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness or Noah who trusted in the Lord and his family was saved. Saint Mary and Saint Joseph also bore witness to this faith in the face of uncertainty. They saddled on their donkey with Salome and headed to Egypt. Saint Mary was not given a blue print nor the privileges of being the Bride of Christ but she endured all things with patience and through this, many miracles were wrought, bringing Glory to God. Springs sprung up, idols were demolished and the dead was raised to life! At a village called “Belbais” the Lord Jesus noticed His Mother feel pity for a poor woman whose dead child was being carried to the graveyard. He touched the coffin and rebuked the dead child, saying, “You sleepy, wake up!” The dead child rose from the dead, stood up and worshipped the Lord, crying aloud “This is the True God, the Savior of the world, who came incarnate of this virgin in a mystical way that surpasses human understanding” The crowds were astonished and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.
In our lives, many miracles can be wrought through faith and bearing witness to our creator by being humble and showing respect. “Seeing that we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses” as Paul advises, “let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.” As the Bride Saint Mary did not rid herself of the trials of this life but was faithful through her obediences. Let us observe her and be made worthy of the calling to be united with Christ our Bridegroom. Looking to Him as “the author and finisher of our faith”
May our faith preserve us especially in this time to run the race marked out for us. May the Blessings and Prayers of Our Holy Mother, Saint Mary, be with us all. Amen
Faith and Works:
Our Blessed Suffering
By the suffering of the Holy Family in Their flight, suffering itself was blessed. Thanks to this, we can always see our suffering in a different way by remembering the suffering of the Virgin Mary. Practical advice in bold.
Money Problems- We think we have problems putting food on the table? The Virgin Mary was so dehydrated her body could no longer make milk for her Baby. But since she suffered poverty, our money troubles are blessed if we bear them patiently without breaking the law of God
Mistreatment by others- It is disheartening to be spitefully treated by anyone, especially those you’ve done good for in the past. Our Lady Mary brought the Light of the World into the country of Egypt and she was mistreated horribly. But since she suffered mistreatment, being mistreated by people is blessed if we bear it with 100% love and 0% judgement towards them.
Ask Abba/Kes
"How Can I Have More Faith?"
The Christian faith has 2 aspects: (i) theological and doctrinal faith (ii) personal faith expressed by the believer in his special relationship with the Holy trinity, showing the extent of his reliance on God and Christ. One of the ways in which the faith of a believer can be measured is firstly the spiritual mistakes, hindrances and backsliding into sin. The Christian must be aware of the snares of satan and sin and be steadfast as a lion and refuse to become a mule ridden by the devil, for Christ was called “The Lion of the tribe of Judah” Rev 5:5. The followers of Christ must be strong lions that powerfully overcome all the works of satan. Otherwise, for what purpose is the cross on which Christ was crucified and by which He conquered Satan and all his work?
BIBLE QUIZ!
Who wrote these words in Romans 16:20?
A Miracle of the Holy Virgin Maryam
A miracle performed by Our Lady Mary, Holy Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God. May her prayers and her blessings be with her servant Laeka Maryam in the morning and in the evening, forever and ever, amen.
There was an elderly woman in the city called Sambat. She was a God-fearer, and she loved Our Lady Mary, Holy Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God, with her whole heart. As much as she was able, she gave alms [that she earned] from the labor of her hands to the poor and needy. She did so in the name of Our Lady Mary, Holy Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God.
On the first day of every week, which is the Sabbath, stewards and servants of the church of Our Lady Mary, Holy Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God, were coming to her. One day a servant of the church of Our Lady Mary, Holy Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God, who is called Holy of Holies, came to the woman.
Amazing miracles and wonders took place in that church. The servant said to the elderly woman, “Our dear blessed mother, get up so that we may go to the believers of the city and ask them [to donate] for the needs of the church offerings, wine, incense, lamps, and oil for lighting the church.” She agreed and went with him to the believers. There were some who gave a little bit of incense, there were some who gave some offerings, and there were others who gave a few lamps and oil to illuminate the icon of Our Lady Mary, Holy Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God. After she completed this service, she gathered all these donations and gave them to the servant. She also added to it from the labors of her own hands. That servant accepted it and, having blessed the woman, bid her farewell and returned to the church of Our Lady Mary, Holy Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God. According to his custom, he ministered every Sabbath. After they incensed the church and completed the Eucharist on that Sabbath, people [of the faith] came to that elderly woman, while carrying gifts for the church. They said to her, “Our dear blessed mother, take these gifts and give them to the church.” She replied to them, “O my dear children, keep these gifts until the servant of the church comes.” They agreed with her. When they had left her, a servant of the church of Mar Giyorgis came to the woman and said, “Dear good woman, fearer of God, I am asking of you to help me with the church of Mar Giyorgis.” She agreed to do it, and she got up and went to the faithful who had come to her previously. She took the gift for Our Lady Mary, Holy Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God, from them and gave it to the church of Mar Giyorgis. Enraged, Our Lady Mary, Holy Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God, appeared to that elderly woman that very night, which was Sunday night—that is, the Sabbath. Mary said to her, “Why have you given my gift to another church?! Truly, I say to you, if I did not love you and did not remember your labors on my behalf, then I would not show you mercy. So now, after you get up swiftly in the morning, just as I have commanded you, bring back my gift. After eight days, I will come and take you with me.” Then Mary bid her farewell, gave her
peace, and ascended into heaven. In the morning, that elderly woman got up, crying and weeping. She said, “My dear Lady Mary, Twofold Holy Virgin, the Mother of God, have mercy on me. Show compassion to me and forgive my sins.” She took silver from her son and gave it as a gift to Our Lady Mary, Holy Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God, and said, “I have wronged you, my dear Lady Mary, Holy Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God.” Then Mary blessed her. Immediately, on the eighth day, the woman became sick and died on that Sunday, just as Our Lady Mary, Holy Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God, had told her. Then Mary appeared to her and embraced her. She received her spirit and brought her up into heaven with her beloved son One bishop who saw what had happened bore witness about the elderly woman. He said, “I have seen her face shine like the sun.” Look, dear brothers, at the love of Our Lady Mary, Holy Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God. She loves whoever loves her, and she helps whoever believes in her. She pays a beautiful reward to whoever offers a gift to her from the labor of their hands. She pursues them all the days of their lives. She makes them heirs to the kingdom of heaven. As for us, dear beloved brothers, it is right for us to resemble those holy people. Let us love Our Lady Mary, Holy Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God, with all our strength. Let us give alms to the poor in her name, all the more so on the day of her feast, so that she will ask for the forgiveness of our sins in the presence of her beloved son. May the prayers and blessings of Our Lady Mary, Holy Twofold Virgin, the Mother of God, be with her servant Laeka Maryam, who limitlessly loves her forever and ever, amen.
O Holy Virgin Maryam, pray for us!
LIJOCH! The Children's Corner
Memory verse : St Matthew; 2 : 14
Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt.
Colour the picture
Bible Quiz answer: Tertius (a scribe for Paul)
ይበል:ግዕዝ (yibel Ge’ez)
Let's reclaim our forefathers’ language
Continuing to learn vocabulary, this week we will learn 3 words:
ናሁ አስተርአየ ጽጌ
nahu aster’aye tsige
(Now the flower has been revealed)
nahu- in this case, nahu means ‘now’, but it can also mean something like ‘lo’ or ‘behold’. It calls attention to whatever the speaker wants the listener to notice
aster’aye- coming from the root verb ርእየ ri’iye- to see/look, aster’aye means to manifest or be made manifest. Other derivations of ri’iye you may have encountered are ራእዮ ra’iyu- His appearance (in a hymn for our Lord’s Transfiguration, and አርአየ ar’aye- show/reveal (in the prayer ‘the cross shined’)
tsige- flower, a form of the root word ጸገየ tsegeye also meaning flower, bloom or blossom
ORTHODOX Q&A
What does the word “Orthodox” Mean?
The word “Orthodox” literally means “straight teaching” or “straight worship”, being derived from two Greek words: “orthos” = straight, and “doxa” = “teaching” or “worship”.
The Orthodox Church carefully guards the truth as received from the Apostles without modification, alteration, or change, against all error and schism both to protect its flock and to glorify Christ our God whose Body is the Church.
Oral instructions, known as holy tradition, was the method of teaching and instruction in the beginning of the Christian era. These teachings, which come to one’s attention through communication, are the teachings of the Church, the divine truth as “a sound (that) came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind” (Acts 2:2) a sound which penetrates and moves the soul of the believer.
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
Embracing Hardship with Faith
The Life of the Saint of Saints Virgin Mary
Homily of St. John Chrysostom
Homily of Kesis Muse - “He Who Has the Bride Groom” SPOT Church
Ask Abba/ Kes:
How Do We Build Ourselves Up On The Most Holy Faith? -Father Matta El - Meskeen
Miracle of the Holy Virgin Maryam: pemm.princeton.edu/en-us/stories/41
Orthodox Q&A
What Coptic Orthodox Christians Believe - Fr. Markos R. Hanna
CONTACT US:
Archdiocese headquarters: Medhane Alem (Saviour of the World), Old Golden Grove Rd. Arouca, Trinidad and Tobago.
Tel. 868-642-4230.
e-mail: eotc.arch.carla@gmail.com
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