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+ HOLY ICONS IN THE ETHIOPIAN TRADITION +
'Icons' a brief review:
As indicated the Icon is for the benefit of worship as is common in the Orthodox Church and as such are not simple decoration.
Like in most homes which display photos of important family members that have paved the way for the family. These family
members are precious to us and are always in our thoughts and thus edify the center most area of our our lives which is our living
spaces with their image for ourselves and to share with all others who enter in. Likewise in the Orthodox Church we keep in mind
the faith of those who truly loved the lord. The sight those who paved the way of the true faith is precious to us even in death and
is revealing of Gods love.
Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints .....
More importantly the Orthodox Church in the first centuries wrote with iconography to express to various peoples and cultures
the universal message of salvation. This was the first method of mass media used to preach the Gospel message in all languages
but one word.
The Orthodox Church still continues with this means to keep the believer and non-believer seeing and hearing the Word and by
such receiving a blessing.
Matt. 13:16 Blessed are your eyes because they see and your ears for hearing.....
Again; the Church writes Icons which often times 'depict' those who have kept the true faith of God in His Church which holds the
true virtue for man in this world.
Icons also 'render' men and situations which are the subject of various biblical narratives which connected human beings with God
cooperatively in an eternal grace are also in the church. These actions of cooperation; indeed perfection between men and God
formed our holy scripture and faith is thus for all believers worthy of remembrance and veneration (NOT worship) since we are to
be just as cooperative with God and thus perfect in all our manners to reach that aim as the scripture instructs. We receive as
believers a blessing from those who indeed were perfect in action and deed whose prayers were just as perfect, full and contrite.
Even thought they or no longer in this world they are the Saints of God and we are happy to keep the beauty of their lives not only
on the church walls but more importantly in our hearts.
Pslam 145:10-12 and your saints shall bless you. They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and talk of your power to make
known to men His mighty acts.
Holy Icons were the first media used for teaching a world that was largely illiterate at the dawn of the Church on earth. Icons are
still used to channel the eye to holiness and worship of God in the Orthodox Church today.
Icons are 'written' and not 'painted' and are to 'read' and not to simply be looked upon. It is an error to consider an Icon a picture.
The Icon of Christ is "written" to express to the "reader" that He alone is the head of the Church.
Ephesians 4:15 even as Christ is head of the Church......
John 10:30 I and my Father are one.....
Acts 8:37 I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.......(Ethiopian eunuch)
Matt. 16:16 You are Christ the Son of the living God..........
(Saint Peter - The Apostle)
There are many Icons written of Christ our Lord to explain to us the greatness of His word. But He alone is the true ineffable icon of
God ....Amen.
The Head of the Church, Iyesus Kiristos (Jesus Christ), the Son of God, Medhane Alem (Savior of the World)
Source: Tsega Tekle Haimanot ~ FB post ~ 23 August 2020
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Tsega Tekle Haimanot ~ 23 August 2020 (The author/writer of the above summary)
To whom this may concern (whoever it may be, known or unknown), if you have a problem with the Icons I post because they are
not "black" ( dark or brown) enough, and look too European or just doesn't look the way you want it to look, even though they're
Ethiopian and used by the Church, do us both a favor, unfriend me if it bothers you that much, because I'm not going to waste my
time anymore on the topic.
Thank you in advance.
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Commentary on the above: Due to the numerous helpful and enlightening writings shared by the writer identified above, I
respect highly the author and his explanation above. My only concern is that the icons reflect the accurate and complete picture or
story and people of the time. For example, it is well known that the Europeanization ('whitening') of Christ was carried out in 325
A.D. at the Conference of Nicea. This does not mean that Christ did not exist or that he was any less royal than his lineage dictates,
but if Christ is not reflected in an accurate and complete light, the reader of the Icon will not extract the maximum higherstanding
from the Icon. Therefore, it is necessary to revisit history, when we are able, and "correct the abuse", the distortions, intentional
and unintentional, meant to cause confusion in the hearts and minds of men and women. Bless!
Source: Malchijah - 30 October 2020
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Enquan Le Egziabher Ab Beal Aderasachu!!!
Happy Monthly Feast of God the Father!!!
(Amharic): Hulu ke abate zend tesetitognal keab beker welidin
yemiyawke yelem kewelidem beker welidim ligelitew
kemifeked beker abin yemiyawke yelem.
(English): All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no
man knoweth the Son but the Father; neither knoweth any man
the Father, save the Son and he to whomsoever the Son will
reveal Him.
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Enquan Le Dinigil Maryam Weladeete Amlak Beal Aderasachu!!!
My Lady Mary -
That House visited by God,
Whose greatness is inexpressible
Whose beautiful appearance is ineffable,
It was for you that the prophets of Israel
Built up their tower of prophecy.
O Holy One, set me back firmly
In the discipleship of your beloved Son.
Cause my enemies to flee from before my face.
May they be crushed as fine as the dust of sand.
Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of your
womb forever and ever!!
Source: Tsega Tekle Haimanot ~ FB Post 18 Mar 2018
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In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. One God.
Amen.
Enquan Le Leeq Melak Qidus Mika'el Beal Aderasachu!!
On this day God sent Michael the Archangel to Jeremiah the
prophet, and delivered him from the narrow prison wherein
Zedekiah the king had imprisoned him, and Abimelek
(Ebedmelech) the Ethiopian, the captain of the royal guard
brought him out. And straightway Jeremiah blessed him, and he
(the angel) told him that he should neither see the desolation of
Jerusalem, nor taste the bitterness of captivity and calamity,
and this actually came to pass for him. And He fell asleep for
seven and sixty years, and with Michael were wine, and figs and
he gave them to Jeremiah the prophet. And for this reason the
doctors of the Church have commanded us to make a festival in
honor of the glorious Archangel Michael on the twelfth day of
each month. Salutation to Michael, the angel of the Covenant of
God, and helper of all who are on land and sea, like whom there
is no other. (Jeremiah 44-46)
��O Michael, embellished in the garment of light; Befriending
you is beautiful at all times. You are a forgiver of sins, O friend
of the souls of the faithful.��
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Enquan Le Qidus Giorgis Beal Aderasachu!!
Happy Monthly Feast of Saint George!!
Our great Martyr.. Saint George :
He was born in 280 AD in Cappadocia, Asia Minor. St George's
father was martyred for being a christian, when our saint was
nearly 17 years old. Our saint grew up with a lot of faith and
love in God. St. George had joined the Roman Army at 17, &
gained many victories, he also had the rank of Tribune.
The Emperor Diocletian, was ruler of the Roman Empire at the
time, and he had just sent an edict to destroy the churches,
burn all christian books, dismiss christians from their jobs, take
all their possessions, make most of them slaves, and make them
offer sacrifices, & burn incense to the Roman gods.
St. George was at Alexandria at the time when he saw the edict
he read it and tore it up, the roman soldiers then took him to
Cappadocia to receive punishment. As our Saint had great
favour with the emperor the ruler of Cappadocia transfered the
matter to Diocletian. Our saint then confessed to the Emperor
the true Christian faith. The Emperor jailed our saint, and then
sent a lady to try to seduce him, but instead our saint converted
her to the faith, hearing this the Emperor ordered her
beheading & she received the crown of martydom. The emperor
then stretched our saints arms and legs with chains, & placed a
huge stone on his chest, then they pulled the saint over iron
spikes till his flesh was torn etc.., they also passed flames over
his body to burn his wounds, & spread salt over the wounds to
increase the pain. When he was put back in his cell the Lord
appeared to him, embraced him, and strenghtened him.
St. George also experienced many more tortures for 7 years,
many people were also converted to christianity because of the
many miracles which they bore witness to. At one time St
George raised a dead man by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ
and many more believed, and so many more were martyred. In
the end when our saint was beheaded, the heathen Roman
Emperor Diocletian died a terrible death.
May his prayers be with us all, and glory be to God forever.
Amen.
Tsega Tekle Haimanot ~ FB post ~ 4 Oct 2019
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Nothing is hidden from God's view!...
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