The liturgical 12 months of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is punctuated by quite a few fasting durations, meticulously outlined in a standard system. This method designates particular days and seasons for abstinence from sure meals, primarily meat, dairy, and eggs. A typical annual cycle contains the lengthy Lenten quick (Tsome Nebiyat), the quick of the Apostles (Tsome Hawariyat), the quick of the Assumption (Tsome Filseta), the quick of Nineveh, the quick previous Christmas (Tsome Gahad), and quite a few Wednesdays and Fridays all year long. These fasting durations range in size and stringency.
These durations of dietary restriction maintain profound religious significance throughout the Ethiopian Orthodox religion. They’re noticed to commemorate particular biblical occasions, domesticate religious self-discipline, foster humility, and draw believers nearer to God by means of prayer and reflection. The historic context of this fasting custom displays the Church’s historic roots and its adherence to early Christian practices. The collective observance of those fasts additionally strengthens communal bonds throughout the Ethiopian Orthodox group.