Ethiopian Christians Celebrating Orthodox Epiphany Holiday

Addis Ababa, January 18, 2025 (ENA)—The annual Timket (Ethiopian Epiphany) is being colorfully celebrated, beginning in the early hours of   this morning across the country.

With processions of priests carrying replicas of the Ark of Covenant, locally known as 'Tabot', and escorted by millions of people, Timket on this day is observed in commemoration of Christ's baptism in the Jordan River.

Gondar, Addis Ababa and Lalibela are the top spots of Epiphany for massive celebrations of the day.

Timkat is the Ge’ez expression for the traditional celebration of Epiphany, commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ in the hands of John the Baptist at River Jordan.

In Ethiopia, various festivals attract numerous tourists in this month of January. The most popular holiday throughout the country that is celebrated in this month is Timket (Epiphany).

 Epiphany denotes the manifestation of the mystery of the Trinitarian God in which God the Father testified the sonship of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit revealed itself as a dove right at the Jordan River when Jesus was baptized.

Timkat is also the religious practice that initiates a child to Christendom. Timkat celebration, held annually on the 19th of January, is primarily a function in the purview of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, a church possibly as old as Christianity itself.