A Church built in the name of His Grace Abune Petros, the Ethiopian Martyr of Righteousness, inaugurated

Translated by Derib

A Church and commemorating obelisk built in the name of His Grace Abune Petros, the Ethiopian Marty of Righteousness, who was murdered by the Italians was inaugurated on Ginbot 1, 2001 E.C. (May9, 2009) by His Holiness Abune Paulos, Patriarch of the EOTC, Bishop of Axum and Echege to the See of Tekle Haymanot, President of the World Church Council and Honorary President of the World Conference of Religions for Peace,  and Ato Abadula Gemeda, President of the Oromiya National Regional State.

His Holiness, during the inauguration, said that, “In this world that passes, a person who has done an everlasting deed is always commemorated. His Grace’s righteous deed is also remembered by people and God. His Grace Abune Petros has become a great martyr in this world full of temptation. This obelisk erected in his name helps the generation remember the great deeds of His Grace Abune Petros.

His Grace Abune Kewstos, Bishop of North Shoa and Member of the Holy Synod, stated that  he was happy to see the completion of  the church and commemorating obelisk and thanked all those who contributed to the construction of the church, the Priest’s Training Center and the monk’s residence. He appreciated the cooperation of the Muslim community in Fiche town for their support ranging from giving sand for the construction   to erecting tents for the inauguration.

Ato Kedir Hassen, a Muslim resident of Fiche, who was attending the inauguration, stated that  His Grace Abune Petros gave his life not just for the Muslims and Christians but for all Ethiopians, and he was happy to celebrate the inauguration with Christian brothers. Ato Kedir said “His Grace Abune Kewstos has to be thanked because he allowed both the Muslims and Christians to participate in the construction.”

Higher government officials, guests and thousands of people from Fiche town and its environs attended the inauguration.

Addis Ababa Diocese building inaugurated

Translated by Derib

The building that the Addis Ababa Diocese of the EOTC had constructed for more than 16 million birr was inaugurated. The building is said to alleviate the space problem that the Diocese has faced and provide additional services.

Inaugurating the building, His Holiness Abune Paulos, Patriarch of the EOTC, Bishop of Axum and Echege to the See of Tekle Haymanot , President of the World Church Council and Honorary President of World Conference of Religions for Peace,  stated that the building helps the Church’s effort to continue its traditions in the modern era and thanked the Bishop of Addis Ababa Diocese and employees for their great contribution in the construction of the building.

Ato Kuma Demeksa, Mayor of Addis Ababa, motioned at the inauguration that the involvement of the Church’s in development activities is appreciable and the construction of such a building shows its contribution for the development of the city.

His Grace Abune Samuel, Bishop of the Addis Ababa Diocese and Special Assistant to the His Holiness the Patriarch, stated that the building has additional services that did not exist before, and helps get more human resources that the Diocese did not have before.

It was mentioned during the inauguration that the building has four storeys, more than 65 rooms and has rooms for internet, library and meetings.

Our Lady gave me back my light just in one day

Translated by Derib

Her name is Aynalem Berhanu and her Christian name is Welete Berhan (meaning daughter of light). She is a 10 year old girl who was born in Kera, Addis Ababa. She is a grade four student at Atse Zera Yakob Primary School.  

Christmass in 2001 E.C. (2009) was a different holiday for her. Her two eyes had become blind suddenly for an unknown reason. Her parents took her to eye specialists in the different corners of the city, but there was no solution. When everything was dark, St. Mary’s intercession took away all their worries. The child in her sweet words says the following about the wonders that happened to her.

“My parents were disturbed due to what happened to me. I was very sad because I did not know how to live in such a condition. I had cried day and night. My parents took me to different holy waters after they saw that doctors could not cure me. My father told his brother (my uncle) about me, in a very worried tone. My uncle, together with his sister (my aunt) immediately took me to Tsadkane St. Mary’s Monastery on Tahisas 20, 2001 E.C. (December 29, 2008). We arrived there at night. I walked to the monastery assisted by them.”

“On the next day (Saturday Tahisas 21, 2001 E.C. i.e. December 30, 2009), we went to the holy water after we heard the Miracles of St. Mary and participated in the morning prayer. I do not forget the peace and settled atmosphere I felt when the holy water touched my body. After I bathed in the holy water, drank it and smeared my eyes with the holy soil, I went  back to the our resting place. After I took some rest, my eyes started to ache. I felt that something was pushing my eyes out from the inside.  I was worried as I thought that my eyes had bulged out. I cried. When she saw my condition, my aunt took me to the cave, but my eyes continued aching. There was nothing in my eyes though, as my aunt tried to see what is wrong with them.” 

“After a while, my eyes sensed some light- I felt light then darkness three times and then I clearly saw the picture of St. May in front of Me. I burst into tears and told my aunt that my eyes stated to see. The things that my aunt saw were out of her imagination-she started to shout and cry and talk about the miracles of St. Mary.”

“All the people gathered there burst into tears- they stated to hail St. Mary. St. Mary, Our lady, gave me back my light in just one day, on her day of commemoration. She made me thank the place where I was cured. She bore ma again. Let her do you all the good things as she gave back my light. Praise be to God for ever, who gave her to as.”

When one sees the child speak of the miracle that has been done to her, one thanks God for his miracles. It does not look like that a 10 year old child can speak like that.

Let St. Mary helps us in all our troubles.

Two churches in West Hararge called for help

Translated by Derib

The ministers two churches in Me’eso Wereda of the West Harage Diocese called for help from the laity because they could not provide the appropriate services due to shortage of priests and lack of church articles.

Kesis Mekonen Tariku, minister of the Kora Debre Bisra St. Gabriel Church in the woreda, said that he is the only mister of the church, which is surrounded by other sects. The laity in the area are very few  and cannot support the church to provide the appropriate services. The church is being kept safe by pythons, tigers, hyenas, and other wild animals, which were put in place by God. The minster said that, at that moment, there was no candle to be lit while the Miracles of St. Mary is being read, and urged the laity to help in any way they can, the diocese and the Central administration to assign deacons and priests.

Also, Kesis Fitsum Getahun, administrator of the Aba Bordede Mekane Hiwot Abune Gebre Menfes Kidus Church, stated that due to the shortage of priests and church articles, it was not possible to provide the appropriate mass and other services. The minister added that the church was attacked and robbed several times due and the roof of the church has started leaking as a result of that.  Kesis Fitsum underlined that the laity have the responsibility to save the church, which is surrounded by the other sects and is in great danger.

Building Kuskuam Mariam church started

Translated by: Dn. Teklebirhan Ze Arsema

A church is under construction for Kuskuam Mariam - an arch stayed in a tent on her will. The ground stone has been laid down and blessed by His Grace Abune Samuel, the bishop of Addis Ababa diocese.

His Grace , by the message he has transmitted when laiding down the ground stone on the 16th of Miazia says “We have to praise our lady Mary for the miracle that she has shown us. Due to this miracle, we can say nothing than praising God and praying to Lady Mary for her intercession us with God. To see the church, congregate and participate on liturgy, let the will of our Lady Mary be with us”.

Ato Kinfe Reta, who has taken the whole initiative to build the church says, “Lady Mary has shown me a revelation several times so that I have taken the whole initiative to build the church in a very near future”.

During the interview he made with the reporter of Seme’a Tsedk newspaper says, “There is nothing best other than praising and serving the Holy Mary for what she has done for me”.  He further said that it was in his dream that Lady Mary gave him the command so that he has started to build the church immediately following the dream.

Ato Kinfe also says, “The command that Lady Mary gave me is to knock down the present day temporary church “Mekagno” and build the new one by myself without any support from other bodies. To do so, as Lady Mary knows, I have the capacity”. rntion He further said that the shape of the church will keep the tradition of the church.

He has built a number of churches in rural area, but he was not willing to mention the right figure. Besides, he also didn’t disclose the total cost to spend to build the church.

As the head of Kaliti St. Michael and Kuskuam Mariam church Aba Aklok Amare said, the person has been given the mandate to build the church after discussing the issue with the Christians of the area and members of the parish council. Therefore, Ato Kinfe is building the church on his will.

As Ato Hayelom Gebere Tinsae, the vice chairperson of the parish council, said, the base of the church has been built in a good way. He further disclosed that Ato Kinfe has paid 34,000 ETB as compensation cost for the previous temporary church “Mekagno”.

The reporter of the news noticed that Ato Kinfe, who is living at Addis Ababa owning a number of trade enterprises, usually passes his time supervising the building process.

In the previous volumes of Seme’a Tsedk it has been reported that the Arch of Kuskuam Mariam which is found in Addis Ababa diocese, Akaki Kaliti Sub – city at Sefere Genet has been doing a lot of miracles.

A lot has to be done to free the youth from unemployment

Translated by: Dn. Teklebirhan Ze Arsema

His Grace Abune Samuel, Bishop of the Diocese of Addis Ababa and the supportive bishop of the patriarch, discloses, a lot has to be done to make the youth who congregate in the church from unemployment.

As His Grace says on the graduation ceremony of the youth who took a three months training made at Abune Gebre Menfeskidus church on the 15th of Miazia, ethically polished youngsters who are engaged in church service have a paramount significance.

Mentioning the fact that the effort of the parish council has to be admired, in polishing the youngsters, the diocese will try to create conducive environment so as to make the youth creative and independent. 

In addition, his holiness mentioned that the diocese is working on arranging conditions to make the entire ten sub – cities youngsters take necessary training so that they can borrow money from the diocese and develop their church.

When he stresses the truth that the youngsters have to lead their life says, “The spiritual education that you have acquired has a significant importance to keep your self and lead a better life”.

Melake Hiwot Aba Fisseha Dinberu, the head of Mekane Heyawan Abune Gebre Menfeskidus church, on his part, said that since our church is facing a challenge from anti – church elements, such training has a supreme importance for the youngsters to be strong in their spiritual life. Besides, the church has also other plans to give continuous courses.

The trainees during their stay took various courses like “Temherte Haimanot”, “Mesehaf Kidus Tenat”, “Yebetekrestian Tarik” and “Yesenemegbar Timheret”. 

As Biruk Tsegaye, the representative of the youngsters, said, since the majority of the trainees had no adequate knowledge of the teachings of the church, the training has now helped them show behavioral change. Above and beyond, he stressed that the church has to do a lot by engaging the youngsters in different development projects to save them from objecting their religion.

During the graduation ceremony, it was mentioned that the whole cost of the training was incurred by the parish council and Sunday school of the church.

Animal fattening Project Implementation at Asebot Monastery

Translated by: Dn. Teklebirhan Ze Arsema

Mahibere Kidusan Asebe Teferi sub center discloses that a ground stone has been laid down to implement animal fattening project at Asebot Debre Wegeg Holy Trinity and Aba Samuel Monastery which is found at Asebot town, Me’eso wereda, Western Harerge diocese.

As Ato Habtamu Meshesha, the head of Mahibere Kidusan Asebe Teferi center unfolds; it was His Grace Abune Markos who laid down the ground stone on Megabit 12, 2001 E.C.

On the day of laiding the ground stone, His Grace says, “The ground stone that we laid down today will serve as food and shelter for monks and the laity. Besides, it is a good practice and a best model for the community of the area”. He further discloses that as our church is one of the pioneers in development packages, this activity is concrete evidence.
 
His Grace further unveil that, as saint David says in his song “ Your sons will carry on the dynasty of your ancestors”, what Mahibere Kidusan is doing by developing and implementing projects is following the foot steps of our predecessors. Therefore, we have to work with them in collaboration so as to promote the status of our monasteries.

The head of the diocese, Megabi Hadis Aba Aregawi Nemomsa, on his part mentioning the fact that Mahibere Kidusan is a joint venture of the holy church, says “Since the capacity of the laity of the surrounding is very limited, we require the unreserved support of Mahibere Kidusan”.

The implementation of the project has been started soon. This becomes real due to the effort of Social Service and Development section of Mahibere Kidusan. The implementation has been started following the discussion and agreement made amongst the diocese, the monks of the monastery, members of Me’eso wereda maekel and Mahibere Kidusan Asebe Teferi center.

The project encompasses rooms for animals, store for foodstuff, a general store as well as temporal rooms for sick animals. On top of this, it has been said that the effort of the laity of the area has to be encouraged.

It has been said that since the project implementation is being done by volunteers, the laity of the area have to actively involve until the completion of the implementation.

On the occasion of laiding down the ground stone, including the bishop of the diocese, heads of the diocese and wereda secretariats, abbot of the monastery, members of the councils of Me’eso wereda maekel and Asebe Teferi center and other invited guests have been there.

      Praise be to God. Amen!!