DOCSLIB.ORG

Download Tour Dossier

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Download Tour Dossier Tour Notes Historic Ethiopia - Timkat Festival Tour Duration – 13 Days Tour Rating Fitness ●●●●○ | Off the Beaten Track ●●●○○ | Culture ●●●●○ | History ●●●●● | Wildlife●●●○○ Tour Pace Busy Tour Highlights Join worshippers celebrating at Ethiopia’s most important religious festival Engage with some of Africa’s finest scenery in the Simien Mountains Visit the unique rock hewn churches of Lalibela and Tigray Tour Map - Ethiopia - Timkat Festival Tour Essentials Accommodation: Mix of simple but comfortable hotels and lodges Included Meals: Daily breakfast (B), plus lunches (L) and dinners (D) as shown in the itinerary. Group Size: Maximum of 12 Start Point: Addis Ababa End Point: Addis Ababa Transport: Minibuses (groups of 1-8), Coaster buses (groups of 9-12) & internal flights Countries: Ethiopia Extension options: Harar and Danakil Depression. Also, the Omo Valley Explorer tour runs back to back with this tour. Ethiopia - Timkat Festival Join us on this small group tour to Ethiopia for the Timkat Festival which is the Ethiopian Orthodox Church’s celebration of Epiphany. Pilgrims travel for days to the churches at which the celebrations are held and we will join them this year in Gondar. In addition, discover Ethiopia’s natural beauty as revealed in the Simien Mountains, where we walk amidst some of Africa’s most captivating scenery looking for endemic gelada baboons and other wildlife. In Lalibela, we spend time exploring both the main churches and lesser known ones before driving to the region of Tigray. It is similar to Petra with churches hewn out of the surrounding landscape, but quite spectacular, with many built halfway up almost inaccessible cliff faces. We spend time learning about the history of the ancient Axumite Empire at Axum and travel to ‘Africa’s Camelot’; the wonderful castles and palaces of Gondar. A truly unforgettable tour. Tour itinerary notes While our intention is to adhere to the day-by-day itinerary as printed below, a degree of flexibility is built in. Overnight stops may vary from those suggested and on occasions alternative accommodation, of a similar standard to that named below, will be used. Tour Guide Our guides are a key strength, chosen for their knowledge of and passion for the areas in which they work. All of our guides are carefully hand-picked, and are not just passing through these countries, but are usually locally born. Unlike some companies it should be noted we do not send a guide or tour leader from Undiscovered Destinations in the UK as we have every confidence in our locally appointed representative who is responsible for operating the tour on our behalf. Groups of 1-4 people will have a driver and different guides in each place visited, rather than one guide accompanying the trip throughout. Groups of 5- 12 people will have the same guide throughout. Itinerary Please Note – Dates shown are for the January 2021 Departure. Day 1 – 13th January- Addis Ababa Arrive in Addis Ababa and transfer to hotel accommodation. The rest of the day is free to relax. Overnight at Nexus Hotel or similar. No meals are included today. Day 2 – 14th January- Addis Ababa – Adigrat and Tigray churches (260 km, Approximate driving time: seven hours) A morning flight takes us to Mekele and on by road to Adigrat. We explore the sites of Tigray, visiting some of the region’s 130 rock churches including Medhane Alem Adikusho, Wukro Cherkos and Abraha Atsbeha. The architecture is notably different here. Churches are in part or wholly excavated within the living rock, rather than carved from it. Overnight at Agoro Lodge or similar. (BD) Tigray’s rock-hewn churches The rock-hewn churches of the Tigray region are one of Ethiopia’s most enchanting and fascinating sites. Many of them are carved into sheer cliff faces which take effort to reach, perhaps to protect the treasures that many of them hold in terms of paintings and artefacts, or to provide the solitude necessary for religious meditation. Isolated and mysterious, the churches are still used today and if lucky enough to visit when a religious festival is taking place, an unparalleled place to witness Ethiopia’s spiritual traditions. Even without this though, they retain an aura which is spellbinding, enhanced by the fact that very few western travellers actually get here. However, the time and effort it takes to reach them makes them all the more special. Day 3 – 15th January- Day 3 – Mekelle - Axum (130 km, Approximate driving time: three hours) The road to Axum passes through spectacular landscapes. Axum is Ethiopia’s holiest town and since 1980 a World Heritage Site. Highlights include a remarkable collection of ancient stelae, the bath and palace of the Queen of Sheba, and St Mary of Tsion Church, claimed by some to hold the Ark of the Covenant containing the original stone tablets handed down to Moses. Overnight at Yared Zema Hotel or similar. (BD) Axum The northern town of Axum is reputed to have been the capital of the legendary Queen of Sheba, in the 10th century BC. Once a great city and the capital of a powerful empire around the time of the birth of Christ, it is thought by some to be one of the great civilisations of antiquity, controlling the all-important trade routes between Asia and Africa for many centuries. Today it is a site of pilgrimage, containing many important religious buildings as well as palaces and tombs belonging to past Emperors of Ethiopia. The most notable of these is the church of St Mary of Tsion, which is said to contain the Ark of the Covenant and is watched over by a guardian who prevents anyone from seeing it. According to legend, the ark was brought here by Emperor Menelik, son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. Axum is also famous for its collection of stelae, sculpted from single pieces of granite and intricately carved. Although some are in ruins, those that remain are the legacy of one of Africa’s most powerful civilisations. Day 4 – 16th January- Axum - Simien Mountains (290km, Approximate driving time: five- six hours) The journey to the Simien Mountains is long, but as we ascend towards the mountains the scenery is rewarding. Along the way it’s worth keeping an eye out for endemic Ethiopian wildlife, including Gelada Baboons and many species of birds. Depending on our arrival time there may be an opportunity for a short walk in the park to glimpse the breath-taking beauty of Simien mountainscapes. Overnight at Ras Dejen Hotel or similar. (BD) Please Note: it can be very cold in the mountains at night so you should bring warm clothing to wear. Simien Mountains Ethiopia is sometimes called the ‘Roof of Africa’, and the spectacular Simien Mountains hold its highest point Ras Dashen, at 4620m the fourth highest mountain on the continent. The Simiens are a dramatic landscape of green carpeted gorges and chasms which are home to some of the country’s rare and endemic species. It is relatively easy to see large troops of gelada baboons, shaggy maned primates with bright red patches of flesh on their chests, grazing on the vegetation, which are found only in Ethiopia’s mountains. You are less likely to see two of its other rare creatures, the Walia Ibex and the Simien wolf, the rarest of the world’s canine species. Walking in these mountains, watching lammergeier vultures swoop into deep ravines, offers one of the scenic highlights of travel in Africa. Day 5 – 17th January- Simien Mountains Today we walk in the mountains, taking in awe-inspiring viewpoints and spotting some of the endemic wildlife. The effects of altitude, though mild, will be apparent. We’ll make frequent stops, stay well hydrated and travel at the pace of the slowest. Shorter hikes are possible for those preferring not to walk for the whole day. Overnight at Ras Dejen Hotel or similar. (BL) Day 6 – 18th January- Simien Mountains - Gondar (145km, Approximate driving time: three hours) Drive to Gondar, once Ethiopia’s imperial capital, and famous for its beautiful castles and palaces. This afternoon, you can witness the Eve of the Timkat Festival celebration. Overnight at Goha Hotel or similar. (BD) Day 7- 19th January- Timkat Celebrations Early in the morning we will go to the church to see the Timkat celebration and the crowd waiting to be baptized by the holy water. The water which symbolizes the Jordan River is blessed by the priest, and the patriarch then dips a golden cross into it, and extinguishes a burning consecrated candle on the altar. He then sprinkles water on the assembled congregation in commemoration of Christ's baptism in the Jordan River. The ceremony will be over around 8am and afterwards we visit some of the town’s main sites, which include the Bath of King Fasiladas and the ornately decorated Debre Birhan Selassie Church (Light of Trinity) known for its colourful murals. Overnight at Goha Hotel or similar. (BD) Gondar The Royal Enclosure at Gondar is one of Ethiopia’s key sites, and rightly so. Enshrouded in mystery as to its origins, Gondar became the capital of King Fasiladas in the 17th century and an important city in the region. What is astonishing about Gondar is its collection of castles, very European in character and seeming very out of place in this corner of Africa. There are different theories as to who constructed them – some say Portuguese architects and builders were responsible while others claim that Ethiopian craftsmen constructed them. The best preserved is Fasiladas’ Palace, a two storey building with towers and parapets. There are several buildings within the enclosure, including a lion cage, a chancellery and the Royal Archive.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • AXUM – Welcoming and Engaging Visitors – Design Report
    Pedro Guedes (2010) AXUM – Welcoming and engaging visitors – Design report CONTENTS: Design report 1 Appendix – A 25 Further thoughts on Interpretation Centres Appendix – B 27 Axum signage and paving Presented to Tigray Government and tourism commission officials and stakeholders in Axum in November 2009. NATURE OF SUBMISSION: Design Research This Design report records a creative design approach together with the development of original ideas resulting in an integrated proposal for presenting Axum’s rich tangible and intangible heritage to visitors to this important World Heritage Town. This innovative proposal seeks to use local resources and skills to create a distinct and memorable experience for visitors to Axum. It relies on engaging members of the local community to manage and ‘own’ the various ‘attractions’ for visitors, hopefully keeping a substantial proportion of earnings from tourism in the local community. The proposal combines attitudes to Design with fresh approaches to curatorship that can be applied to other sites. In this study, propositions are tested in several schemes relating to the design of ‘Interpretation centres’ and ideas for exhibits that would bring them to life and engage visitors. ABSTRACT: Axum, in the highlands of Ethiopia was the centre of an important trading empire, controlling the Red Sea and channeling exotic African merchandise into markets of the East and West. In the fourth century (AD), it became one of the first states to adopt Christianity as a state religion. Axum became the major religious centre for the Ethiopian Coptic Church. Axum’s most spectacular archaeological remains are the large carved monoliths – stelae that are concentrated in the Stelae Park opposite the Cathedral precinct.
    [Show full text]
  • Calendar of Holidays September 2017 - September 2018
    If you have any comments, questions or corrections regarding the below calendar, please contact CSEE at 800.298.4599, or [email protected]. Calendar of Holidays September 2017 - September 2018 September 1 (Begins at sundown on August 31 st) [Moves] Eid al-Adha (Islam) Eid al-Adha is the Festival of Sacrifice held at the conclusion of the Hajj. Those who can afford to do so sacrifice their best domestic animals, such as sheep or cows. This practice recalls Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son, in obedience to God, and commemorates God's forgiveness. September 1 Church year begins (Orthodox Christianity) This day marks the beginning of the Orthodox Christian liturgical calendar. September 8 Nativity of Mary (Christianity) This feast originates in fifth century Jerusalem and celebrates the birth of the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus. This is recognized in the Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches. September 12 Ghambar Paitishem (Zoroastrianism) This is the third of the six Ghambar festivals in the Zoroastrian year. This five-day seasonal festival celebrates the creation of the earth, and the summer crop harvest. September 14 Holy Cross Day (Christianity) This day recognizes the Cross as a symbol of triumph in the Christian religion. The date traces back to the dedication of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher on September 14, 335. By order of Saint Helena and her son, the first Christian Roman Emperor Constantine, the church was built over the ruins of the Crucifixion and Burial sites in Israel. According to some traditions, it was also at this site that Helena found the True Cross.
    [Show full text]
  • Newsletter Template 2011
    2013 The Holy Days of January Celebrations, Observances and Information about Religious, Spiritual, and Cultural Occasions oly days with no fixed date H Office of InterFaith Pastoral and Spiritual Care During this time of year, our aboriginal brothers and sisters of Nisga’a tribe of Senior Chaplain British Columbia, experience the strong north winds which blow off the glaciers Rev. Kathleen Ennis-Durstine and icecaps. They call it K’aliyee. Aboriginal people extension 3321/ room 4201 see themselves as continuous with the natural world Staff Chaplain and the timing of their religious celebrations reflects Janie Brooks this. They typically think in terms of seasons — there extension 5050/ room 4115 is an appropriate season for every activity which is necessary and important. The seasons are known by Staff/Spanish Language Chaplain Margarita Roque these name: the season of berry-picking, of fishing, of extension 2626/ room 4115 gathering food. When each season occurs, communi- ty gatherings of song, dance, and storytelling happen. Catholic Chaplain These are also times to discharge obligations: for giv- Fr. Olusola Adewole ing thanks. Every season is a special season, a time to extension 2966 /room 4115 thank the Creator, and to recognize that all things Catholic Mass: Thursday at 12:00 noon share in the circle of living—therefore all times and (Main Chapel, room 3201, third floor all things are sacred. Nisga’a Eagle Spirit Main) and Saturday at 4:00 pm (Main Chapel, room 3201, 3rd Floor Main Hos- pital) Iroquois Midwinter Ceremony This is typically held in January or February. When the dipper constellation appears directly overhead and the new moon ris- Prayer and Meditation Tuesday 12:45 es the spiritual year begins.
    [Show full text]
  • On Dean W. Arnold's Writing . . . UNKNOWN EMPIRE Th E True Story of Mysterious Ethiopia and the Future Ark of Civilization “
    On Dean W. Arnold’s writing . UNKNOWN EMPIRE T e True Story of Mysterious Ethiopia and the Future Ark of Civilization “I read it in three nights . .” “T is is an unusual and captivating book dealing with three major aspects of Ethiopian history and the country’s ancient religion. Dean W. Arnold’s scholarly and most enjoyable book sets about the task with great vigour. T e elegant lightness of the writing makes the reader want to know more about the country that is also known as ‘the cradle of humanity.’ T is is an oeuvre that will enrich our under- standing of one of Africa’s most formidable civilisations.” —Prince Asfa-Wossen Asserate, PhD Magdalene College, Cambridge, and Univ. of Frankfurt Great Nephew of Emperor Haile Selassie Imperial House of Ethiopia OLD MONEY, NEW SOUTH T e Spirit of Chattanooga “. chronicles the fascinating and little-known history of a unique place and tells the story of many of the great families that have shaped it. It was a story well worth telling, and one well worth reading.” —Jon Meacham, Editor, Newsweek Author, Pulitzer Prize winner . THE CHEROKEE PRINCES Mixed Marriages and Murders — Te True Unknown Story Behind the Trail of Tears “A page-turner.” —Gordon Wetmore, Chairman Portrait Society of America “Dean Arnold has a unique way of capturing the essence of an issue and communicating it through his clear but compelling style of writing.” —Bob Corker, United States Senator, 2006-2018 Former Chairman, Senate Foreign Relations Committee THE WIZARD AND THE LION (Screenplay on the friendship between J.
    [Show full text]
  • St Mary's Parish Hadding
    Ethiopian Celebrations at St Mary’s For a number of years now, at the request of Archbishop Diarmuid, St Mary’s has been host to the small The Ethiopian Tewahedo Church here in Dublin. The church is made up of somewhere between 40-60 members, more on the important feast days. Abba Yohanes, an Ethiopian monk, has been with the church since he replaced another monk who used to come from London. During his time here, he has received degrees in theology from both St Patrick’s College , Maynooth and Trinity College Dublin. The church dates back to St Frumentius, Bishop of Akum d. ca. 383. who is credited with bringing Christianity to the Aksumite Kingdom, the origins of the Ethiopian Tewahedo Orthodox Church. The Church considers itself to belong to the One, Holy, Catholic (Universal) and Apostolic Church founded by Our Lord Jesus Christ. It is Holy because its founder, Jesus Christ, is Holy; it is Catholic because the whole world is its St Mary’s province and because it is universal in time and place; it is Apostolic because Parish it was established on earth by the Apostles of Christ. It belongs to the group of Orthodox Churches termed "Non-Chalcedonian". Together with the Roman Hadding- Catholic Church and the Byzantine Orthodox Churches they comprised the One, Holy, Catholic and Apos- ton Road tolic Church for four centuries until the division arose on account of the Greek-Roman Council of Chalce- don in 451 A.D. which insisted that Christ had the two natures of Humanity and Divinity.
    [Show full text]
  • Alexandra E.S. Antohin Thesis Submitted in Fulfilment of The
    EXPRESSIONS OF SACRED PROMISE: RITUAL AND DEVOTION IN ETHIOPIAN ORTHODOX PRAXIS Alexandra E.S. Antohin Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy University College London 2014 I, Alexandra E.S. Antohin, confirm that the work presented in this thesis is my own. Where information has been derived from other sources, I confirm that this has been indicated in the thesis. Signed: 2 ABSTRACT This thesis investigates the notion of sacred promise, a grounded devotional category for Ethiopian Orthodox Christians. It is based on ethnographic research among urban parishes seeking to gather the often dispersed memberships of local Orthodox communities in Dessie, a city of a quarter million residents in north-central Ethiopia. The central thesis contends that the spaces and methods of engagement by Ethiopian Orthodox Christians are organized by the internal dynamics of archetypal promises. I consider the wide spectrum of social and ritual activities contained within the domain of “church” to be consistent with a developed socio-theological genre of “covenant”. Covenant is narratively defined as a dialogic of bestowal and responsibility and it is also expressed in performative, material, and associative dimensions. Starting from an investigation of the liturgical praxis of temesgen (the ethic of thanksgiving), each chapter explores variations of covenant: as unifying events of human/divine manifestation (e.g. feast days); as the honour of obligation within individual stances of paying respect on an interpersonal and meta-relational level, at church and during visits to mourning houses; and through customs of reciprocity by confraternities and the blessings such practices confer on the givers and receivers.
    [Show full text]
  • Teacher's Guide to Faces: People, Places, and Cultures: Let's Celebrate!
    Teacher’s Guide to Faces: People, Places, and Cultures: Let’s Celebrate! November/December 2008 issue This guide was prepared by Nancy Attebury. She has a B.S. in Elementary Ed. and an M.A. Children’s Literature. She is a children’s author from Oregon. Happy New Year from Vietnam, pages 6-7 Discussion --When is the Tet? --Why is it held? --What food is prepared? --What customs are observed? --Name some of Tet’s sights and sounds. Break into groups. Find information about the New Year celebration below. Answer the same questions as you did for Tet. Share answers with the class. Hanukkah Hmong New Year Indian New Year Chinese New Year Japanese New Year American New Year Timkat: The Ceremony of Epiphany, page 10 Vocabulary 1. What is the most important festival in the Ethiopian Orthodox calendar? Timkat 2. Using the Julian calendar, when is Christmas (Genna)? January 7 3. When is Timkat? January 19 Divide into two groups. Have each group define three of these words: Epiphany ritual Tabot sistras brocade procession ornate myrrh censers frankincense Share group answers with the class. A Day for Love, pages 11-12 Comprehension What is your favorite Valentine tradition? Think about Valentine traditions in the article. Match the first part of the sentence with the correct ending. ____ If a man passed a girl’s window 2 ____ Pinning bay leaves to a pillow 4 ____ A girl would marry 3 ____ If a man picked a woman’s name 1 1. she would be his companion for the coming year.
    [Show full text]
  • Domestic Varity Festival Tour Packages
    Domestic Varity Festival Tour Packages Attractions Overviews Orthodox Christianity and Islam, the two main religions in Ethiopia, have coexisted since Mohammed,s time. The first believers in Islam were converted while the prophet Mohammed was alive and the first mosque was built in the eighth century. However, culturally the Orthodox Church has dominated the political, social, and cultural life in the highlands, as it has been official religion of the imperial court and hence also of the feudal establishment until Haile Selassie was deposed in 1974. Since the religion and state have been separated In General festivals/ Celebrations in Ethiopia are great and colorful events, mostly religious, and frequently take place over several days. During the festivals days People dress in traditional costume and celebrate festivals across the country. History of Christianity in Ethiopia Ethiopians date the coming of Christianity to Ethiopia to the fourth century AD, when a Christian philosopher from Tyre named Meropius was shipwrecked on his way to India. Meropius died but his two wards, Frumentius and Aedesius were washed ashore and taken to the royal palace. Eventually they became King Ella Amida’s private secretary and royal cupbearer respectively. They served the king well, and Frumentius became regent for the infant prince Ezana when Ella Amida died. Frumentius and Aedesius were also permitted to proselytize the new religion in AXUM (as modern Ethiopia was then known). After some time, Frumentius and Aedesius returned to the Mediterranean, traveling down the Nile through Egypt to do so. When they reached Egypt, Frumentius contacted bishop Euthanasias of Alexandria and begged him to send missionaries back to AXUM, since the people there had proved so ready to receive the gospel.
    [Show full text]
  • Ethiopia, Timkat Festival & the Simien Mountains
    Ethiopia, Timkat Festival Tour Code: 48460 & the Simien Mountains Grade 6/SS Holiday Duration: 16 nights Magnificent walking in Ethiopia's Simien HOLIDAY DATES Mountains, plus experience the colourful 14th Jan 2021 - 30th Jan 2021 religious Timkat Festival in Gondar Magnificent views in the Simien Mountains, colourful Timkat Festival, explore rock churches and enjoy a traditional coffee ceremony. Ethiopia is a diverse melting pot of culture and history. HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS Simien Mountains – experience dramatic scenery and some of Africa’s finest walking Attend the most important festival in Ethiopia - Timkat Discover rock churches and religious architecture Explore the beauty and history of Gondar and Lalibela Savour incredible cuisine and the coffee ceremony Spot Gelada monkeys, hamadryas baboon, hyena and jackal and descent with walks in some remote areas. Paths Ethiopia, Timkat Festival are mostly good, but there may be some steep and & the Simien Mountains rough ground. Walks will last up to 6 hours and could involve as much as 750m of ascent and descent. See the Walks & Excursions section for A visit to Ethiopia unveils so many contrasting more information. experiences. From the Roof of Africa in the Simien Mountains to the Danakil Depression, from the rock- hewn churches to the centuries-old Ethiopia coffee ceremony, from Gelada monkeys to a visit to the earliest human, the country's epic landscapes, culture and rich history make every day one to Sightseeing savour. We begin our adventure in the bustling city of Addis The sightseeing element of the holiday will be Ababa. We then fly to Bahir Dar and explore Lake significant allowing you to get a good feel for the Tana and its centuries-old monasteries.
    [Show full text]
  • English/Amharic
    0149100017 . A'l "''T1lt +-'1"'1'£ ;r+c1blf ABBA MATT_fiiAS I . CAll,\.?~ Allaor lll\ll•f"tt~i;?~;~ft he-t AAilli.AltilfDi . ... Patriarch of Ethiopia, Archbishop ofAxum, E_chegue of the See of St:Tekle Haimanot mbt;Q.1. ifOD")Ol +hi\ v~~PJcr+ Rec;u CLT I CIH I ITA Mc~\S\4;1-ff 3 ~q ( ~ot 8 Le ~ 28-A~ Ref. No. · ~ \\ \J:LI- v\~ cuo Federal,Demo~ratic Republic Eth.,.· 1¥"'~ L..._ .. _.. ·-·· ·_·q_.P_.1._... _... _.·· -·· ·-···-· · -··· ~ Date ~inistry o~ Culture. and.TQ"urism =:-::::~----~--.... ~ , Au~hority of Research & Conservation of ..;+at 'PCtM ~ ~.., Cultural Heritages ~~ · 11U: ~ Addis Ababa. 'R. nhfl+ +"):.. • " ·: m~vtb jijq~ ., ~.'te ~t- ILt , l .. - Re: Registration ·of Celebr~tion of Timket ·by UNESCO -~-------------~-.-J · It is . known that ·most of the tangible and in~allgible 'cultural, natural and historical heritages registered by United Nation Educational SCientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) b~lon :g to Ethi~pi~~ OrthodoxTewahedo Church · In· the same-ray we presented a question to th·e Authority concerning the registration of celei,Jration 9! Tiinket, which is one of the church's hlstorical and spirltuai heritages to be registered · as· one of the :intangible hei"itage by UNESCO. The Authority · gave due consideration a~d requested us to . present evidences to UNESCO, whi~h describe the · celebration·of Timket, sue~ as diffe~ent p~otos, video and written documents also petitions whi·~h t:omprise 300 signatures with· written document about historical development of celebration of Timket in Engiish and "Amharic. '')., . Based on .this, w~ have ~ttached 2 pages writte!l.
    [Show full text]
  • Epiphany (Holiday)
    Epiphany (holiday) This article is about the Christian feast day. For other of Israel (2 Maccabees 15:27).[15] In the New Testament uses, see Epiphany. the word is used in 2 Timothy 1:10 to refer either to the birth of Christ or to his appearance after his resurrection, [15] Epiphany (Koine Greek: Ἐπιφάνεια, Epiphaneia, and five times to refer to his Second Coming. “Manifestation”, “striking appearance”)[1] or Theophany,[2] (Ancient Greek: (ἡ) Θεοφάνεια, Τheophaneia meaning “Vision of God”)[3] also known 2 History as Three Kings’ Day,[4] is a Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation of God the Son as a human being in Jesus Christ. In Western Christianity, the feast commemorates principally (but not solely) the visit of the Magi to the Christ child, and thus Jesus’ physical manifestation to the Gentiles.[5][6] Eastern Christians commemorate the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, seen as his manifestation to the world as the Son of God.[7] In some Western Christian denominations, especially in the past,[5][8][9] and also in the present-day Church of England,[6] the feast of the Epiphany also initiates a litur- gical season of Epiphanytide. The traditional date for the feast is January 6. However, since 1970, the celebration is held in some countries on the Sunday after January 1. Eastern Churches following the Julian Calendar observe the Theophany feast on what for most countries is January 19[10] because of the 13-day difference today between that calendar and the generally used Gregorian calendar.[11] In the Church of England,
    [Show full text]
  • Living Well at LRU Living Well Center for Vocation and Purpose
    Living Well at LRU Living Well Center for Vocation and Purpose “Vocation is the place where our deep gladness meets the world's deep need.” ― Frederick Buechner WELCOME BACK! As we begin classes again, we will continue to work through the pandemic following LR’s hybrid plan. Virtual Community Coffee Hours: We will resume our weekly community coffee hours via Zoom and invite you to join us for a break from the routine or an opportunity to connect with the greater LR community. Conversation may lead to questions of identity, purpose, or vocation. Or it may simply center around navigating life, especially during COVID. Our only “agenda” is to support one another as we share our days and our journeys at LRU. Please join us at your convenience between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. each Tuesday through April 20th. Drop in here (Passcode: 826531) Interfaith Opportunity: January 26, 2021, 4:00—5:00 pm CST Neighbors Together in a Divided Nation: An Inter-religious Conversation The Augsburg University Interfaith Institute invites students, faculty and staff of ELCA Colleges and Universities (NECU) to join in reflecting upon how various religious and secular traditions call for our engagement in loving and serving the neighbor, working for healing, justice, peace and mercy, and the care of creation in a divided and often distrustful nation and world. Please register here. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 https://www.penncd.com/why-to-get-excited-over-fall/ What Makes for a Life Worth Living? In lieu of hosting in-person convocations this year, we have created a series of video interviews in which a variety of community and religious leaders respond to this question.
    [Show full text]