Nebab #68 Pagumen
NEBAB #68
The Orthodox Tewahedo Magazine
PAGUMEN: THE 13TH MONTH
Ethiopian Orthodox Church
Archdiocese of the Caribbean and Latin America
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, One God Amen
What is the 13th month?
In the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the 13th month of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church calendar is called Pagumen. The word Pagumen is a greek word epagomenai, which means additional or added days. It can also mean an addition or surplus.
In the
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the 12 months of the year each contain 30
days with the remaining 5 days gathered together to form a short month called
Pagumen. Pagumen normally consists of five days but in a leap year it is
extended to 6 days. The church calendar is based on a 4 year cycle each
attributed to the writers of the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
Although the days of Pagumen are short, these days remind us
of the great work that is set before us. They are also a period of preparation
beyond the time on this earth toward everlasting life with our Lord God and Savior
Jesus Christ, His Angels and His Saints. They can be considered a period of darkness,
reminding us of the times we have lived without God, the times where we have
refused His invitation to repentance, turned away from Him and the ways we have
wounded others.
In the church, it is a time of spiritual retreat as we let
go of the old and welcome the new. It is a time that offers us, silence,
repentance and return to God
For Ethiopian Orthodox Christians, the new year is meaningless without Pagumen
Along with the new year, we should rejoice in the blessings
we have received and, through the additional years of life given to us, repent,
humble ourselves before God, and lift up our souls so that they may find joy
The Apostle Saint Peter said:
“The Lord is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish,
but wanting everyone to come to repentance” 2 Peter 3:9
Because of this, God and the saints rejoice with us. “I tell
you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner
who repents.” Luke 15:10
Therefore, in this new year that has been given to us, we should wash ourselves through repentance and make for ourselves a new heart and a new spirit.
Just as the old year passes away, our old self must also
pass away. We must separate ourselves from the sins and transgressions that
have made us old. Our old spirit must be renewed in righteousness
Therefore, let us hold firmly to our faith, live according
to good morals and be ready to make the sacrifices and fulfill the
responsibilities that this time demands of us
Pagumen points us beyond the calendar of an extra 13 months but reminds us of repentance, renewal, judgment and the hope of the coming of Our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ.
The Archangel St. Raphael is one of the seven honored archangels (leader of the angels). He is a great angel who has been given a special authority and ministry in the Kingdom of God. The name Raphael comes from the hebrew name Rafa, meaning health, healing or medicine and El which is a name for God. Raphael therefore means "the healing of God", "God heals" or "God has healed"
The name is also associated with meanings such as joyful, kind, merciful, righteous, and gentle as well as "appointed over healing"
Saint Raphael is said to have received from his Creator various ministries of help and healing including: healer of the sick, appointed over sickness and wounds, opener of the womb, assistance during childbirth, driving away demons, binding Azazel and a guide of the way
In the Book of Tobit, when Tobit became blind after bird droppings fell into his eyes, Saint Raphael was sent and used the gall of a fish to restore Tobit's sight
Saint Raphael guided Tobias, the son of Tobit, appearing in human form under the name Azarias, during his journey from Nineveh to Media. He protected him from difficulties along the journey and safely brought him home.
According to the Book of Enoch, he is an angel appointed over diseases and the wounds of humanity. He is believed to heal both bodily and spiritual afflictions
When Sarah the daughter of Raguel, was tormented by the demon Asmodeus, who had killed her husbands, Saint Raphael drove the demon away and saved her (Tobit 3:8-17)
He is said to have punished and bound the demon Azazel, who taught the descendants of Cain evil practices such as making swords and creating ornaments associated with immorality, casting him into the depth
He is believed to protect pregnant women during pregnancy and to help ease pain and anxiety during labor
He is associated with helping women suffering from infertility, so that their wombs may be blessed and they may have children, as in the story of Saint Sarah
Saint Raphael is said to have been given a great covenant or promise of mercy by his Creator
Those who call upon his name, seek his intercession and celebrate his feast, are to receive healing from bodily and spiritual afflictions. He is also given the ministry of helping, blessing and prsenting their prayers as in Tobit 12:15
"I am Raphael, one of the seven chiefs who present the prayers of the saints and enter before the glorious and exalted sovereignty of God."
Near Alexandria, on an island where a church was built in his name, Saint Raphael is said to have protected the faithful from the destruction caused by a great sea monster. He struck it with his spear and subdued it, saving the believers
This wondrous event is presented as a manifestation of the power given to him for the salvation and protection of all the church's faithful
Glory be to God Forever, Amen
A miracle performed by Our Lady Mary Mariham, Holy Virgin, the Mother of God. May her intercession be with us, amen. A deacon who dearly loved the Lord most high and also loved Our Lady Mary Mariham, Holy Virgin, the Mother of Mercy, lived in a certain place. Of all his prayers, he loved most this prayer that contains her praises and her joy. He would say this prayer humbly all the time:
“Rejoice, dear Mary Mariham, the Virgin who gave birth to the Lord! Rejoice, dear Mary Mariham, for you gave birth to the light of the world! Rejoice, dear Mary Mariham, the Holy Virgin who gave birth to the word of God as a virgin! Rejoice, dear Mary Mariham, dear Fullness of Grace, God is with you, for all people praise you. Rejoice, dear Mary Mariham, the Pure, dear Mother of Life, for you are our mediator between us and your only begotten son!”
As for this prayer, they established it and pray it in the holy church. It is called “The Five Joys of Our Lady Mary Mariham, the Holy Virgin.”
A terrible illness overcame the deacon, and he was close to death. While that deacon was sick, Our Lady Mary Mariham, the Holy Virgin, Mother of Mercy, Praise of the Angels, Joy of the Faithful, appeared to him.
Whoever pays his tithes when he himself is in need, will have a greater reward from God.
Because by doing so he is putting others before himself, unlike the person who pays but is comfortably off and can well afford it, who does not feel that he is forgoing any of his necessities in order to supply the needs of another.We observe that the Lord Jesus Christ praised the poor widow who paid the two small copper coins, and said that she had put more than all the others into the temple treasury because: “for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”(Luke 21:4) “she…. put in all that she had ” (Mark 12:44).
Miracle of Mary: https://pemm.princeton.edu/en-us/stories/210
https://t.me/Bete_kidus_Michael_12
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tL2Fo5gqmBA&t=611s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h1eXKphi1s&t=1123s
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