Holy tablet still doing miracles

Translated by Derib

The Holy Tablet of St. Mary in Sefere Genet area of Akaki Kality Subcity of the Addis Ababa Diocese ,which was taken out for the annual Epiphany celebration,  is still doing miracles. Since the Tablet refused to return to the St. Michael’s Church which it was housed, a lot of patients suffering from different diseases have been cured, and the miracles of St.  Mary are being told to the laity who come to see its miracles.

One of the ministers, Aba Gebre Sellasie Melese,  reported that many patients are being cured without the help   of any priest . “The patients  cry,  ‘ Let us hear your history and your miracles. This place was ours. Now we are going away’. They shout, shake, and finally get cured  and go back to their homes.   So far one hundred people have been cured of various diseases .  Thirty eight individuals who were members of other denominations have come to the Holy Tablet through St. Mary’s call and have confessed that they had chosen a wrong way, but have returned to their true faith.

“ Currently a temporary shelter is being built for the Holy Tablet. If it is the will of St. Mary to take the shelter, the construction of a church building will  start with the blessings of the bishops. And the laity who have  been allowed to do the job by St. Matry have started giving construction materials,” Aba Gebre Sellasie reported.

The Holy Water of St. Michael is also curing many people from blindness, paralysis, other intestinal diseases and  spirits of the dark.  Ketsela Mariam, a resident of Addis Ababa, had visited various health care stations but could not get cure for her disease. Later, she  heard the miracles of St. Mary and came to visit the place. After immersing herself in the Holy Water of St. Michael for four days, she has been cured from paralysis and stress caused by a spirit that dwelled on her. Aba Gebre Sellasie Tarko, who came from Shagula Mariam of Bugna Woreda in Amhara National Regional State, has been cured of 20- year -old blindness which was caused by thorns which pierced his eyes. Aba Gebre Sellasie stated that he will stay at St. Mary’s place and does not go away from the place where he got cured.

His Grace Abune Yishak, General Manager of the Central Administration of the EOTC and Bishop of the Bale Diocese stated that “St. Mary has done great miracles in various times, and will continue to do so. God has revealed his power to help man save himself from sin. The history of the Holy Tablet of St, Mary does show the same thing.”

The reporter of this news has seen with his eyes people being cured by St. Mary without a prayer by any priest or the touch with a cross.

St. Yared Theological School in danger due to old age

Translated by Derib

St. Yared Theological School found in the Axum Tsion Church in Central Diocese of the  Tigray  Regional State  is about to stop its service due to old age and lack of maintenance.

His Grace Abune Selama, Bishop of the Central Diocese in the  Tigray  Regional State, stated to Sim’a Tsidk Newspaper that the students and teachers of the school are in danger because the school does not have a permanent budget as a means of income.  Currently, the school has faced shortage of food for students and shelter and salary for teachers’. 

His Grance mentioned that the school has not been maintained for a long time and the buildings have started to fall due to old age.  A committee has been established to maintain the school. To curb the problem permanently, the Diocese is conducting a study  to make the school become self sufficient by getting its own source of income.  After the problems are curbed, His Grace mentioned that there is a plan to upgrade the school to a Priests and Teachers raining Center.

“A lot of people come to pay visit to Axum Tsion’, said His Grace and urged every laity to contribute his own share to save the school, which has produced several Church scholars. He urged the laity to participate in the dinner prepared at Crown Hotel on April 4, 2009 to raise money for the maintenance of the school.

St, Yared Theological School was established mare that 50 years ago by the former Bishop of the Tigray Diocese, His Grace Abune Yohannes.

The picture of Jesus Christ and St. Mary  revealed on a tree in South Ethiopia

Translated by Derib

The miracles of the picture of Jesus Christ and St. Mary has been revealed on a tree in Burkrino Seleta Kebele of the Hiadyya and Silte Diocese in South Ethiopia. The story unfolds as follows.

Ato Achamo Bofe, resident of the same Kebele, wanted to get his trees in his farmland cut and donate some of them to a nearby school being built by the support of the Evangelical Church. He showed the trees to be cut to Ato Chafamo Wotero, who cuts trees for living. On the first day, Ato Chafamo cut as many trees he could without any problem. On the second day, on February 26, 2009, after cutting some trees, he was about to start cutting the big tree which he thought could be a little stronger and could tire him. When he started to raise his axe to hit the tree, he could not do it. His muscles became lame and the axe seemed to be pulled by some force. His body refused to respond. He thought that he was tired and sat down in front of the tree to take some rest.

Ato Chafamo said, “ I was completely tired, and my body became very weak.  I sat down in front of the tree and raised my head to drink water that I had in a plastic bottle.  Then I saw something strange. I thought it was my eyes, and that I was just tired. I rubbed my eyes and stared at the tree. It was the same. I saw the picture of Jesus Christ, that of St. Mary’s holding her Son, and that of Jesus Christ knocking at a door. At that time I cried for help and became unconscious. 

When the owner, Ato Achamo came to help Ato Chafamo, he found him lying on the ground, and thus  cried for help.  Ato Achamo reported, “When Ato Chafamo woke up, he started to say, pointing at the tree, ‘Look there. Look there.’  We all saw the pictures on the tree: the picture of the Crucifixion  of Jesus Christ, the picture of St. Mary’s holding her Son,   that of Jesus Christ knocking at a door and that of St. George. I know that these pictures are the ones used by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, but I was confused why that happened to me because I was a follower of the Evangelical denomination. Now I know that there is some thing that God has wanted to teach me. I have several questions in me. Who is it that I am worshipping? How could the pictures of saints and angels be seen on that tree?  From that time onwards, I have stopped participating in the congregation that I used to attend. I am wiling to give the land to the Orthodox Church if Orthodox fathers discuss with the Kebele and I get a replacement land. So far, no one has approached me with regards to this.”

Ato Erdelo Handiso, who is a Catholic and lives in the same Kebele, stated that he saw the pictures stating from  the day they were revealed revealed. Wro. Tadelech Alemu, who is a Protestant and resident of Horna Shole Kebele, stated that when she heard the news, she thought that it was a fabrication, But, she saw the pictures of St. Mary and Jesus Christ herself. “ I thought that fathers from the Orthdox Church would come and tell us about it, but no one came,” she said. Mr. Henz Fritz, a Bible teacher at the Bobicho Kale Hiwot  Bible School, told the reporters that, “The incident is very surprising. I am obliged to learn about the Orthodox faith starting from the roots.”  Aba Binyam Minchero, a 4th year student at the Hoy Trinity Theological College, mentioned that “The phenomenon is really incredible. This type of miracle is common around the church. God must have thought of blessing the area and teaching the people here. This is the time that the Church has to save the lost lambs from the mouth of the wolf.”

His Grace Abune Melke Tsedek, Bishop of the Diocese, stated that he sent a committee led by the General Manager of the diocese, and established two committees. 

The reporters of this news have seen the pictures on the tree clearly, and have seen people from Hossana and surrounding areas coming and seeing them.

The Laity have to distinguish between Church and non-Church paintings

Translated by Derib

The laity should not use the pictures that have not been allowed by the Church. At the exhibition organized by the Finote Hiwot Sunday School of the Kechene Debre Selam Medhanealem Chuch, it was mentioned that some pictures look like that of the holy pictures used by the Church, but they miss the tradition, cannons and history of the Church, and hence the laity should pay attention to this fact.

 Melake Mihret Alemayehu Tibebu, Administrator of the Church, on the opening of the exhibition, stated that some of the pictures in the exhibition are not allowed by the church, but they are presented in the exhibition to teach and show the laity which pictures are allowed and which ones are not. He mentioned that especially those that are imported from abroad are non-Church pictures and should not be used. He praised the efforts of the Sunday School in organizing such an exhibition without any help to help the laity learn about Church pictures.  Melake Mihret Alemayehu mentioned that the pictures show the miracles and spiritual fights that our fathers had. The exhibition also showed the importance of preserving the pictures and the things that the church should do to preserve these pictures. He mentioned that it is necessary to build museums in churches and monasteries to keep the holy pictures safe.

Yared Tesfaye, coordinator of the exhibition and chairman of the Art Department of the Finote Hiwot Sunday School, stated that  the exhibition was organized to show the laity the importance, types, uses,  interpretations and current forms of the holy pictures. He thanked the Main Center of Mahibere Kidusan and Temiro Mastemar Sunday School of the Miskaye Hizunan Monastery for lending them the pictures and giving them advice.

Ato Kasahun Hail, Secretary of the Addis Ababa Center of Mahibere Kidusan stated that the exhibition was educational since it has showed the main problems related to and contents of holy pictures, and the coordination and cooperation of the members of the Sunday School has to be recognized.

 The exhibition was open for public from February 26-March 2, 2009.

      Praise be to God. Amen!!