In the Name of the Father, the Son & the Holy Spirit; One God, Amen!

Church Holy Days

Saints’ days and other Feast Days were established by the church herself. ~+~ Some go back to apostolic times and others are of later origin. There is a great number of feasts in the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church.

  • Feast Days

    + 9 feasts of the Lord         + 33 feasts of our Lady, Virgin Mary 
    + Feasts of the Apostles    + Sunday, Saturday
    + Feasts of the Angels        + Feasts of the Righteous (Saints)
    + Feasts of the Martyrs.

  • Fast Days

    + There are 7 official fasting periods ordained in the Fetha Negest.
    + There are 180 of fasting days in total which are obligatory for all Orthodox Christians.
    + Total of 250 fasting days a year are for Monks/Nuns, Priests & other special groups in the church. 
    + Advent and Qusquam (40 days preceding, 'the Fast of the flight to Egypt').
    + The longest periods of fasting are those of Lent.

In addition to these, there is the fast of repentance which a man keeps after committing sin, it being imposed as a penance by the priest for 7 days, 40 days or 1 year. ~The priest rarely grants dispensations. ~ The person who ignores or neglects any injunction of the church is not considered good Christian. ~+~ (Pregnant women, the very ill or persons with chronic illness are excused from fasting)

The 7 Official Fasts

The 7 Official Fasting periods for lay persons. +All persons above the age of 7 observe the church fasts. + There is a fast of desire which a man keeps if he thinks that he will subdue his body by extra good works. + There is a fast which a Bishop keeps at the time he is consecrated. + There is a 40 days fast for all new monks/nuns, beginning the day of consecration continues to seclusion. + Monks/Nuns observe additional fast days not required of the lay people.

Wed/Fri Fast | Tsome Dihnet

Prophet's Fast | Tsome Nebiyat

Gehade Timqet | Eve of Epiphany

Fast of Nineveh | Tsome Nenewie

The Great Fast | Abiy Tsom

Apostle's Fast| Tsome Hawariyat

Assumption Fast | Tsome Filseta

Major Holy Days

  • The Nativity | Lidet

    The celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

  • Theophany | Timqet

    The celebration of the baptism of Jesus Christ, by St. John the Baptist.

  • Palm Sunday | Hosa'ina

    The celebration of when Christ entered Jerusalem and all praised Him.

  • Holy Thursday | Misiete Hamus

    The celebration of when Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist.

  • Good Friday | Siqlet

    The day which our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself for our sake.

  • Holy Resurrection | Tinsa'ie

    When our Lord and Savior arose from the dead, after freeing Adam, & chaining satan in hades.

  • Ascension | Irget

    The celebration of when our Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven. (Always Commemorated on a Thursday).

  • Pentecost | PeraqlīTos

    The celebration of the coming down of the Holy Spirit upon the Holy Apostles in the form of Fire.

  • The Transfiguration | Debre Tabor

    The celebration of the revelation of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ's divinity.