Liturgy, matins, and the chant of our fathers — the cycle by which the parish prays.
The Anaphora of the Apostles, sung in Ge'ez and Amharic. The ancient prayers of Saint Hippolytus, rendered in the chant of our fathers. The faithful approach the Holy Mysteries after preparation by fasting and confession.
The sacrament of new birth — entrance into the Body of Christ through water and the Holy Spirit. Following the ancient Orthodox tradition, infants are baptized on the 40th day for boys and the 80th day for girls; adult catechumens prepare with the priest before the rite.
The sacramental union of a man and a woman before God and the church. Couples meet with the priest for preparation and counsel before the wedding liturgy, which includes the crowning rite and the shared cup of blessing.
The Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, received by the faithful at the Divine Liturgy. Those approaching the chalice prepare through fasting from midnight, prayer, and recent confession.
The priests receive the faithful for sacramental confession by appointment, especially during the fasts. A pastoral conversation is offered at any hour to any soul who asks.
Catechism, hymnody, and instruction in the faith for children and adults alike. Taught in Amharic and English by our diaconal teachers, with classes for every age.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church keeps the longest and most rigorous fasting tradition in Christendom. The year is woven through with seasons of preparation and seasons of joy — together they teach the soul to wait for the Lord and to rejoice in his coming.
Throughout the year, the faithful keep seven fasts of varying length: the Great Lent (Hudadi, ሁዳዴ) before Pascha, the Fast of the Apostles after Pentecost, the Fast of the Assumption in Nehasse, the Advent Fast (Tsoma Genna) before the Nativity, the Fast of Nineveh before Lent, the Fast of the Prophets, and the weekly Wednesday and Friday fasts in memory of our Lord's betrayal and crucifixion.
During the fasts we abstain from animal foods and live on grains, vegetables, legumes, and fruit. The fast is not a burden but a school — a discipline that teaches the body to obey the soul and the soul to seek the Lord.
Our liturgy is sung in the three-fold chant of Saint Yared the Deacon (sixth century), who received the musical modes — ge'ez, ezel, and araray — from the angels in a vision. Every season of the year has its proper chant, and the kebero drum and sistrum (tsenatsel) accompany the sung Psalter.
We administer the seven holy mysteries of the church: baptism, chrismation, the Eucharist, confession, holy matrimony, holy orders, and the anointing of the sick. For requests for baptisms, weddings, funerals, or anointing, please reach out to our clergy through the registration page or write to us directly.
"Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding." — Psalm 47:6–7