A Septuagint- based Bible Translation To be on sale

A new Amharic Bible that has needed a fourteen years devotion of scholars of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church is to be on sale. As sources from the church's council of scholars have indicated, the new Amharic version has based itself on the Septuagint Ge’ez version. The translation has been published as a response to the long time request of Orthodox Churches who wanted to have a Septuagint-based translation, the Ethiopian Bible society says.

According to Ato yilma Getahun, secretary General of the society, ten thousand copies have been made available with an outlay of 1.2 million birr. the new translation is expected to be on sale after being inaugurated on February 22,2008 /Yekatit 15,2000 E.C/.

Hymners and distributers asked to revere church's order

Hymners and their distributers who are disturbing serenity under the cover of the church have been asked to quit their unholy activities. They are expected to work only as per the order of the church, the Sunday schools Department said.

According to Aba Sereke Birhan Wolde- Samuel, the Department Head, the church is on the way to take the matter to court since those who are disturbing cities and monasteries with their unauthorized laud speakers have to be checked. The disturbance is tarnishing the image of the church and extending its scope to disturbing very peaceful, remote monasteries, Aba Sereke Birhan said. Currently, it is becoming quite common to listen to ear-piercing shouts of Hymn advertisement claiming that the songs are prepared in line with the church's order.

Row at Debre –Libanos Getting worse

            The land- holding dispute between the Debre-Libanos Monastery and lay residents within the premise of the holy place is reported to be getting worse.

            As monks and nuns have reported, they were battered by such illegal claimants of land as they were undergoing a maintenances work for the fence of a  shop the monastery has long established at the disputed area.

            The monks and nuns were contacted in Addis Ababa as they were trying to report on the critical issue to the patriarchate office. The illegal claimants are harassing monks and nuns by battering them whenever the fathers and mothers are out for a nocturnal service.

            Sources from the office of the Holy patriarch indicate that many letters have been written to the president of the Oromia region. Yet, no clear cut response has been heard so far concerning the disputed.

      Praise be to God. Amen!!