Names of the Week
First Week of the Great Lent
Zewerede
Name Week 1 & Describe the meaning
“Zewerede=ዘወረደ” (“Zewerede” means the one who descended from above). Thinking about why God came down, the sacrifices that Jesus Christ made.
What is fasting?
Abstinence from all things body needs/desires.
Deprive body from negative things
To weaken your body and strengthen your spirit
Denying yourself
Sacrificing yourself
Means to attain something greater
Ultimate Goal is Spiritual Discipline
What do we say when we do prostration?
Egzio Mareneh Christos (Lord have mercy/compassion upon us)
2nd Week of the Great Lent
Kidist
Name Week 2 & Describe the Meaning
“Kidist=ቅድስት”. Kidist means holy and it is to remind us all to go through the process of being holy.
Holiness is one of the main attributes of God. The goal in humans' lives is to imitate that Holy nature of God. Becoming Holy (departing from evil thoughts and actions and separating ourselves from the evil world) is not a sudden change: it is a process.
Why should I fast?
Jesus Christ fasted, and showed us how to fast. We should take same path He took in teaching us how to receive righteousness and how to receive the kingdom of Heaven. Who are we not to fast, if Jesus, Himself fasted?
Everyone in the bible fasted - Adam, Moses, David, etc
To make the desire of the body obey the will of the soul, to seek forgiveness of guilt and to increase the reward of the soul.
Develops Spiritual Strength
BONUS. The student to your right will ask you a spiritual question that they know the answer to. You will have to answer correctly. If not, repeat this with the student sitting to your left.
3rd Week of the Great Lent
Mukrab
Name Week 3 & 4, Describe the meaning
Week 3:“Mikurab=ምኩራብ”. The word Mikurab stands for the synagogue. It reminds us that our Lord during his ministry taught in the synagogue.
Week 4: “Mesague=መፃጉዕ” Mesague means one who is infirm. (Jn. 5:1-9). A hymn for the healing of the sick and giving sight to the blind by the Lord is sung on this day.
How do I fast?
Limit things for the Lord (social media, conversations, etc)
Food: Vegan - No Meat & No Dairy
You need food to survive. If you learn to fast from something you need, you will be able to fast from something you do not need.
Fasting is not only for food but your bodies are fasting:
1. Legs - stop going to places where you might hear, see, or do bad things
2. Mouth - not saying bad things like cursing or words that might hurt others, & gossiping
3. Ears - trying not to listen to bad things such as songs with curse lyrics
4. Eyes - trying not to look at bad things such as music videos, movies, etc
5. Hands - trying not to hit a person
Why was Nicodemus visiting Christ at night?
1. He lacked faith
2. He did not want to be discovered by the high priests even though he was a highly respected figure.
4th Week of the Great Lent
Metsagu
Name Week 5, 6, 7 & Describe its meaning
Week 5 “Debre Zeit=ደብረ ዘይት”. Debre Zeit is the Geez word for Mount of Olives. A hymn of our Lord’s second coming which he taught on Mount Olives is sung on this day.
Week 6 Gebrehare =ገብርኄር" “Good Servant”. The story of the good servant who received five talents and made a profit of five more talents is told and sung on this day. (Mt. 25:14-30).
Week 7 “Nicodimus=ኒቆዲሞስ”. A hymn commemorating the coming of Nicodimus to our Lord during the night is sung.
How many fasts are in the EOTC? Name them.
1. The Great Fast (Lent)..... ዐቢይ ጾም
2. Wednesday and Fridays.... የረቡዕ እና ዓርብ ጾም
3. Nineveh..... ጾመ ነነዌ
4. Gehad (the eves of Christmas and Epiphany).... ጾመ ገኀድ
5. The fast of the prophets or advent...... ጾመ ነቢያት
6. The fast of the Apostles ...... ጾመ ሐዋርያት
7. The fast of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin Mary. ....ጾመ ፍልሰታ ለማርያም
What was the first temptation satan tried to tempt Christ with?
Satan came and said, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread." But Jesus Christ replied, "It is written man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God."
5th & 6th & 7th & 8th Weeks of the Great Lent
Debre Zeit & GebreHare & Nicodemus & Hosanna (Himamat)
Name the 8th Week, Along with the events in that week & Describe the meanings.
Week 8 s "Hosaena=ሆሳዕና" Palm Sunday. It is a commemorative day on which our Lord entered into the temple in triumph and during which the people sung “Hosanna in the highest”.
The week from the eve of Palm Sunday to Easter is known as Semune Himamat=ሰሙነ ህማማት - Passion Week. On these days, varieties of food are not eaten. Adoration is given to God. A book known as “Gibrehimamat” composed of different passages taken from the Scriptures and other religious books dealing with the passion and death of our Lord is read.
The altar is covered with a black cloth in rememberance of the dark centuries during which Adam was alienated from his Crator. The priests wear black vestments. As this week is a time of commemorating of the suffering and damnation of 5500 years, prayer for the dead and that of intercession are not said. Such prayers are said only on Palm Sunday.
Holy Thursday: It is a day on which the Lord Jesus in absolute humility washed His Disciples’s feet, ate the Last Supper with them and revealed the mystery of the Holy Eucharist. On this day the Liturgy is celebrated. Before the Liturgy, the priest brings water in a basin and saying the prayer of thanksgiving, washes the feet of the faithful. When the Liturgy is over, the faithful leave for home after benediction
BONUS. Recite/Find a verse in The Holy Bible about fasting.
Any of their choice.
What is a Misbak? When is it sung?
Misbak is a hymn sung from the book of Psalms. It is always sung before one of the gospels is read.