More than 150 year old traditional school near closure

Translated by Derib

The qine bet (qine house) of the traditional school at the Debre Tabor Debre Leulan Medhanealem Church in South Gondar  Diocese, which is more than 150 years old, is about to be closed due to shortage of food and clothing. Melake Bisrat Kes Abba Kiros Moges, administrator of the church, reported that the qine students of the school are dropping out because of the shortage of food. Though the Parish Administration Council tried to solve the problem, it was beyond its capacity, according to the administrator.

Mhr. Megabe Mistir  Gebre Sellasie ZeMariayam, a teacher  at the traditional school, explained that the food shortage has been worsening from time to time, and the students have been spending much of the time searching for food instead of attending their lessons.  The students could not get food that could feed them for two days even after searching for food for a long time in far away places. In addition to food, the students are also facing acute problem of clothing, and have become susceptible for diseases, he added. Mhr. Megabe Mistir Gebre Sellasie called for the help of the laity to make the students, who are the future hopes of the Church, self sufficient by helping them be engaged in dairy and vegetable farming and related development activities.

Some students who talked with Sima Tsidk said they spend three months to search for food, and are not even able to engage in labour work to feed themselves and attend their lessons. They said that students who finished aquaquam on (chanting education ) and came to attend qine could not continue their education due to the shortage of food and clothes. The students stated that they would not drop out but further their studies if their food, clothing and shelter problems are solved and if they can be self sufficient in the future by involving in development activities.

The laity urged to help the Church in their respective professions

Translated by Derib

At the exhibition entitled  “Our profession for our Church” that  Mahibere Kidusan organized, it was stated that the laity should serve the Church in their respective professions. At the exhibition that was open from April 9-13, 2009 (Megabit1-4, 2001 E.C.), head of the Professional Service   Department,  Ato Nigatu  Balcha, stated that the exhibition not only created awareness on how the laity can serve the Church in their respective professions, but also motivated them to do so. Ato Nigatu stated that God has given mankind a wise mind and it was the aim of the exhibition to help the laity see how man can use his knowledge and skills to develop the economic and social services of their Church. He added that the exhibition also showed that  the Church needs to make use of information communication technologies (ICT) and modernize its administrative system, and created awareness on how the Church can keep it cannons and dogmas amidst the globalization  influence.

Ato Solomon Abate, who came to see the exhibition, stated that the exhibition made him ask himself what he had done for the Church and motivated him to start serving his parish church in his profession. Another  interviewee at the exhibition, Ato Aynadis Alemu, stated that the exhibition made clear what the Professional Service Department of the  association has been doing and transmitted the message that people need to work in cooperation in their respective fields to solve  the Church’s problems.

The exhibition had nine sections covering a wide range of topics such as the objectives and activities of the Professional Service Department of Mahibere Kidusan, the Church in law and administration, heritages and tourism in the Church, and information communication technology and the Church and was attended by more than 1000 people.

Mahiberre Kidusan   developing   curriculum for teaching Church musical instruments

Translated by Derib

Mahibere Kidusan announced that it is in the process of developing a curriculum for the teaching of Church musical instruments. The curriculum is currently under trial stage and will be completed and put to practice in 2009-2010 ( Meskerem 2002 E.C.). The development of the curriculum helps the production of Church songs in accordance with the cannons of the Church and production of brothers and sisters who can follow the footsteps of their fathers, Dn. Wasihun stated.

The Abune Gororiyos Primary School under the Development Institutions Administration of the Mahibere Kidusan  graduated 53 students that it trained in traditional education and Church musical instruments for 3 an 6 months on March 29, 2009(Megabit 20, 2001 E.C.).  The students wee trained in harp, masinqo and in Geez language.

Ato Alemu Aga, the well known harp player and Ato Alemayehu Fanta, the well known masinqo player were among the guests of honour at the graduation. Ato Alemu Aga stated that in the Holy Bible, one of the seven gifts that God gave to King David avid was the ability to play harp, and the name harp is associated with King David. He stated that the modern harp education started at the Entoto Amha Desta school by a person called Aleqa Tesemma Wolde Amanuel, but it discontinued during the former government.  Ato Alemayehu Fanta, who taught for 28 years at Yared Music School, stated that, “We Ethiopians are blessed with the instruments that are used to praise God.”

Melake Berhan Amde Selam, a member of the Scholars’ Council, after awarding the certificates and blessing the graduates, said that, “ The traditional education has a high value in our Church and the education should be given continuously so that it could serve Sunday Schools and the Church in general.”

A short article was presented about harp towards the end of the program. The study mentions that harp is a 3800 year - old musical instrument, and it is first mentioned in Gen 4:21. 

A Church is going to be constructed in the place where the miracles of the pictures of Jesus Christ and St. Mary have been revealed!

Translated by: Dn. Teklebirhan Ze Arsema

All Orthodox Christians are called to support this blessing activity!

His Holiness Abune Melketsedek, the bishop of Hadiya and Silte diocese, asserts that the diocese has started preliminary activities to build a church on the place where the miracles of the pictures of Jesus Christ and St. Mary have been revealed on a tree at Bukro and Seleta kebele.

As the bishop states , a committee was organized and sent to the place a few days later following the day of the miracle and the committee came back after settling the inhabitants of the area. Based on the report of the committee, a group of individuals led by the bishop went to the place and did a prayer and blessed the people.

After the bishop returned discussing the issue with elder Orthodox Christians of the area and forming a committee, as he said, the committee was dealing with the owner of the land. In the discussion, the committee reached at an agreement with the owner of the land and a church will be constructed in the near future. On top of that, the diocese is working on settling the people down and arranging different spiritual programs.

The miracle has become a point of discussion for the followers of other religions. Thus, the bishop appreciates what the police force is doing to keep peace in the area. The bishop also says that the administration of the area has been made cooperative on top of the willingness of the owner of the land. Even if there were trials to cut the trees by some anti- church elements, it was cancelled by some Protestant religion followers of the area.

As his holiness states, even if the diocese is doing its utmost best, since the diocese has no capacity to build the church, those who have seen and heard about the miracle living at home and abroad countries are called to support this blessing and rewarding activity.

Besides, the bishop said that, as he has heard from the inhabitants of the area, there was a church on that place before 600 years and it was collapsed due to ethnic conflict. Then after, it was given as a dwelling area for Protestants during Hailesellassie regime. To testify this, the diocese has a plan to deal this issue with all concerned bodies.

Remarks from the news reporter: We will notify the miracles done both at Bukro and Seleta kebele and Akaki Kaliti Kuskuam following recent miracles.

The parents of the person who identified himself ‘His holiness Abune Yared’ report that he is a layman person.

Translated by: Dn. Teklebirhan Ze Arsema

The person who identified himself “his holiness Abune Yared Tilahun” has been found to be a layperson. As his parents also mentioned, disclosing himself as an abbot and administrator of different monasteries and churches consecutively is blame worthy and he has no ordination and participated in no church services.
 
Yared Tilahun, as his parents unfold, has a bad behavior. Due to this, a long time has been elapsed since he started living on streets. Furthermore, emphasizing the position of the family, they said that our mother is a nun and she always does fasting. Consequently, what he has done makes them saddened.

As his parents also said, it is their suspicion that their brother has done such drama to get financial support from the “church”. They further underlined that disclosing such a drama as true is shameful to the “church” which calls itself “Full Gospel”. Above and beyond, what the church has done show us what the status of the “church” is.

By and large, his parents also state that, as to the best of their knowledge, it is when someone shows spiritual growth and good conduct that he can be promoted to higher spiritual positions. Even, there are various stages to pass to be nominated for bishop position. They further remark that doing such a drama knowing all the above mentioned facts is disgusting to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church.

According to the canon of the EOTC, as they said, a person has to be matured in his age to be a bishop on top of his spiritual service and good conduct. But, Yared is a 31 years old person. Accordingly, disclosing an adult and a layman person as a bishop who has served for 17 years is a false and an untrustworthy idea.

His parents further state that all Orthodox Christians have to be aware of such religious institutions always releasing such misleading information. Finally, they testify that Yared is currently living as a street boy around a place called ‘Kuteba sefer’ at Addis Ababa.

      Praise be to God. Amen!!