Practices and beliefs Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

priests , deacons conducting church service @ st. michael ethiopian orthodox tewahedo church, washington, dc.

the faith , practice of orthodox ethiopian christians includes elements miaphysite christianity has developed in ethiopia on centuries. christian beliefs include belief in god (in ge ez / amharic, ′egziabeher, lit. lord of universe ), veneration virgin mary, angels, , saints, besides others. according ethiopian orthodox church itself, there no non-christian elements in religion other old testament, or higge orit (ሕገ ኦሪት), added new testament, or higge wongiel (ሕገ ወንጌል). hierarchy of kidusan (angelic messengers , saints) conveys prayers of faithful god , carries out divine will, when ethiopian christian in difficulty, or appeals these god. in more formal , regular rituals, priests communicate on behalf of community, , priests may enter inner sanctum of circular or octagonal church tabot ( ark ) dedicated church s patron saint housed. on important religious holidays, tabot carried on head of priest , escorted in procession outside church. tabot, not church, consecrated. @ many services, parish members remain in outer ring, debteras sing hymns , dance.

processional crosses carried on long poles in ethiopian orthodox religious processions

the eucharist given feel pure, have fasted regularly, , have, in general, conducted themselves. in practice, communion limited young children , elderly; @ sexually active age or have sexual desires not receive eucharist. worshippers receiving communion may enter middle ring of church so.

ethiopian orthodox believers strict trinitarians, maintaining orthodox teaching god united in 3 persons: father, son, , holy spirit. concept known səllasé, ge ez trinity .

daily services constitute small part of ethiopian orthodox christian s religious observance. several holy days require prolonged services, singing , dancing, , feasting. important religious requirement, however, keeping of fast days, during adherents abstain consuming meat , animal products, , refrain sexual activity. devout believers maintain full schedule of fasts, comprising @ least 250 days year apart other forms of fasting purely left individual decision of faithful.

an ethiopian orthodox ceremony @ fasilides bath in gondar, ethiopia, celebrating timkat (epiphany).

in addition standard holy days, christians observe many saints days. man might give small feast on personal saint s day. local voluntary association (called maheber) connected each church honors patron saint special service , feast 2 or 3 times year.

exorcism

an ethiopian orthodox hand cross, used priests in church services , perform exorcisms.

priests intervene , perform exorcisms on behalf of believed afflicted demons or buda. according 2010 pew research center study, 74% of christians in ethiopia claim have experienced or witnessed exorcism. demon-possessed persons brought church or prayer meeting. often, when ill person has not responded modern medical treatment, affliction attributed demons. unusual or perverse deeds, particularly when performed in public, symptomatic of demoniac. superhuman strength – such breaking 1 s bindings, described in new testament accounts – along glossolalia observed in afflicted. amsalu geleta, in modern case study, relates elements common ethiopian christian exorcisms:

it includes singing praise , victory songs, reading scripture, prayer , confronting spirit in name of jesus. dialogue spirit important part of exorcism ceremony. helps counselor (exorcist) know how spirit operating in life of demoniac. signs , events mentioned spirit affirmed victim after deliverance.

the exorcism not successful, , geleta notes instance in usual methods unsuccessful, , demons apparently left subject @ later time. in event, in cases spirit commanded in no other name name of jesus.