•Tourists lambast western media falsehood fabrications
ADDIS ABABA– The capital Addis Ababa hosted yesterday hundreds of thousands of adherents of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and celebrants from various faiths as well as foreign tourists as it marked Timket (Ethiopian Epiphany) at Jan Meda where the Tabots (replica of the Ark of the Covenant) came together.
Dire Dawa and Djibouti Diocese Archbishop His grace Abune Aregawi delivered speech representing his Holiness Abune Mathias Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Abune Aregawi said that all who are attending the great feast of Ethiopian epiphany and to all faithful, all over the world should praise and glorify Jesus Christ to save all with the water of repentance and baptism and wish a happy feast of Epiphany. Lord Jesus Christ was baptized in the hand of St. John the Baptist. The main purpose of the baptism is to open the gate towards the kingdom of God, referring to the importance of repentance, he added.
“We’re expected to forgive each other first and true repentance is the renewal and restoration of good faiths. It is in this way that we shall remove hatred, and revenge.”
Delivering speech representing the Mayor of Addis Ababa, Head of Addis Ababa Culture, Art and Tourism Ethiopia Hirut Kassaw (PhD) said that Timket is the holiday at which Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist. “It’s the event at which Jesus has expressed high degree of his love and forgiveness to human lives. The celebration is a source of price for Ethiopians.”
The holiday is one of the intangible heritages of the country inscribed by UNESCO and other countries across the globe are also celebrating and enjoying the holiday. On the other hand, the holiday is source of income, attracting tourists across the globe. As the holiday is an old aged being honored for the past thousands of years, we, the current generations, need to protect and pass it to the next generations, she said.
UNESCO’s Ethiopia Country Director Dr. Yumiko Yokozeki said that on behalf of UNESCO, “It is an honor and pleasure to be part of the celebration and the holiday is very colorful and the holiday is among the most important intangible cultural heritages of Ethiopia inscribed in December 2019.”
The country is remarkably rich in its tangible and intangible heritages, linguistics, which includes nine world heritage sites. Peoples across the country come together and participate in these beautiful celebrations and your presence in such large number is important in safeguarding these cultural heritages, she said.
The participants shared their views on the current situation of the country debunking the fake propaganda by some western countries and the media outlets aiming at tarnishing the image of the country.
Commenting on the fake propaganda by the western media outlets, Reverend Bronson Elliot Woods whose grandmother is from Axum said, “I arrived here in Ethiopia with my delegations from the U.S. to be part of the holiday. The holiday unites individuals in Christ, fellowship and community with one heart and we are extremely excited.”
He added, “Though the western media have given a terrible looks at Ethiopia I have brought about 20 African Americans delegations coming against the western advices because our faith is in God not in man. We have come here not in fear but to connect with our brothers and sisters.”
Nicolas Merer is from France and he said, “ As it is important part of Christian life, the celebration in Ethiopia is very unique and the vibe is awesome.”
BY HAILE DEMEKE
THE THURSDAY 20 JANUARY 2022
