IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, ONE GOD AMEN!

The Ark of St. Mary’s Church of Biyu keraba

                                                                                                Hiruy Simie

Biyu Keraba district is located in eastern Harerge Zone. Fifty six years ago in 1946E.C. the Farmers of the area built the church of Holy Mary so that they can lead a Christian life. After accomplishing their dream they were able to pursue their way of life like all Christian men and women in the other parts of Ethiopia. The area however is dominated by people who follow the religion of Islam.

When the Ethio-Somali war broke out in 1969 E.C. the first to suffer and die were the farmers of Biyu keraba. The Somali army that had invaded Ethiopia attacked the Christians of Biyu keraba and took away with them the Ark of Holy Mary out of the Church. Ninety six Farmers of Biyu Keraba Stood against the army of the Infidels and were killed. They are still remembered as the martyrs of Biyu Keraba.

The History of this ark is quiet similar with the history of the ark of God which was given to Moses. The events that happened are quiet similar with the history of the ark of God during the time when the Palestinians took it because of the sins of the sons of Eli (Samuel 5:1-12; 6:1-21). Just as the Ark of God was put in the house of Dagon and made a fearful miracle on the Idol and the Infidels so did the Ark of holy Mary.

Therefore, the Ark of Holy Mary brought fearful miracles against the Somali who dared to take her away. Thus, when the Ark of Holy Mary was put in the house of one of the commanders of the Somali army this began to occur. At that time, his wife was pregnant and had come near the day to give birth to a baby. As the labors started she ordered the people around her to bring for her the Ark so that she can sit upon it.

As soon as she sat on the ark she was torn apart into two. The terrified Infidels took the ark out of that house and placed it in the forest. They were sure that the Ark of Holy Mary will destroy them all if it stayed with them any longer.

Ato Gashaw Wolde Mariam is 80 years old now. He narrates the most memorable event in his life. He was a Militia man in 1969 E.C. fighting the Somali in sergeants in Ethiopia. One day while in the forest the Holy Spirit compelled him to look in a certain direction. Advancing nearer he found the Holy Ark of St. Mary covered with many wrappings on the ground.

Ato Gashaw immediately abandoned his post and took the ark of Holy Mary to Hirna a district in western Harerge and gave it to the Holy trinity church their. Since, that time the ark had stayed in that Church.  In the mean time, the people of Biyu Keraba lived in sorrow and lamentations just like the ancient Israelites. They thought that the ark was lost for good.  

The infidels living on the area tried again and again to build their home on the grounds of the old church. Some even tried to build their dwellings right on the spot where the old church stood, but lightning repeatedly burnt it. For 32 years these flocks of Christ lived on, looking at the deadly miracles of God on the infidels who showed contempt for his church and its holy grounds. Finally, they prayed to Holy Mary so that she can reveal for them where the ark is.

Holy Mary took pity on them and they got the information they have been seeking all those years immediately. They then went to the Bishop of the diocese, his eminence Abune Markos so that he helps them by finding their ark and by checking the truth of the information they received. Bishop Markos went as far as Debre Ziyon Lideta Mariam Church which is found in western Harerge in search of the ark. He was crowned with success. He therfore told the good news to the farmers of Biyu keraba. Currently, happiness is flowing like a river in the life of these farmers as they once again prepare to build their church for the Ark of God.

Glory to God and Holy Mary

N.B. All the laity of the EOTC are hereby called on to donate for the building of this church.

Source: Semea Tsedek newspaper   no.7 /2oo1 edition 17 No.168. p.2

Abune Zena Markos

Hiruy Simie

This is the Gedle (hagiography) of our father Abune Zena Markos in minature. His father is called Yohannes or according to some Tewodros while his mother’s name was Mariam Zemeda or Deborah. They lived during the 11th century around the area of Medre selasish in Itissa.

For they didn’t have any children, they used to pray before the paintings of holy Maryto give them one. They also used to give a feast every month in the name of St.Markos praying that he intercedes for them before God. On a certain day, St. Mark appeared before them from heaven and he gave them the good tidings, that they will have a blessed son whose news of spiritual war and miracles fills the out stretches of the world. Accordingly, on the 25th Yekatit, our father Abba Zena Markos was conceived. The parents remembered what St. Mark told them and on the baby’s birth on the 24th of Hidar, they named him Zena Markos.

The very moment he was born, St. Uraele and St. Raphael came from heaven and clothed him with a mantle of light on top of covering him with their holy wings. In the mean time, Sega Zeab, the father of Aba Takle Haymanot, told the parents that he saw great angles of God who were bright with heavenly light getting in and out of their house. On the third day of his birth, St. Zena Markos prostrated before God and immediately declared thus: I will prostrate before God the Father; I will prostrate before God the Son; and, I will prostrate before God the Holy Spirit. All standing around the baby, as a result, knew that they were beholding a great Saint chosen by God.

In that instance, St. Uraele and St. Raphael took him away from the onlookers to the tomb of St. Mark and he received the apostle’s blessings. St. Mark’s power reigned on the baby.

On his baptismal event, the baby professed clearly: I believe in the Holy Father; I believe in the Holy Son; and, I believe in the Holy sprit. Amen. He then prayed/said the creed, the testament of our faith. Priests and all others who witnessed this were filled with wonder. A great fear seized them and they questioned: who is this baby filled with such power? They knew that the power of the Holy Sprit resides in the baby. When our father was one year old, the angels presented him before God in heaven, in the presence of the 24 heavenly clerics, Holy Mary and the apostles. Our lord told them, on the occasion, that the baby will be   the new St.Mark. After he got the required church education, he was ordained a deacon by Abune Gerlos, the Coptic Archbishop of Ethiopia, at the age of eight.

As he grew older, our father started to preach Christianity all over Ethiopia.  It is our father who preached Christianity to the Gurage people. He is the apostle of the land of the Gurage nation in particular. Our father used to perform miracles and many sick people came to a place known as ‘wifat’ to be healed by him. Many years later St. Raphael told him the will of the Holy Spirit in making him the apostle to the Gurages. The distance between Muhir and Wifat was very long. St. Raphaele transported Aba Zena Markos on a bright cloud like the apostles.

In Muhir there was an idol, known as Macos, which the people worshiped. There dwelled an evil spirit in the idol which led people astray. As soon as our father reached the place, he went into the temple of the idol and made the sign of the holy cross before it. As the devil tried to escape, it shattered the graven image into thousands of pieces. Then, our father preached Christianity in that land. Though the followers of the idol rose in hostility and tried to kill the saint, God destroyed them. Our father baptized all the people into Christianity.

God Christ made a testament with the saint: “who so ever, that prayed in thy church and believed in thy faith /miaphysite orthodox/ I will take it as a pilgrimage to Jerusalem the place of my death and as a prayer in my tomb. I will make a person who came to thy church repent before his death and enter heaven.” One can not fully state the spiritual war fought by the saint since, it is so vast. Therefore, dear readers pray for me, the sinner who dared to write it but gave up under the strain of the labors. Pray so that the holy face of God of Zena Markos will not turn against me. I say unto you read the hagiography of the saint so that the blessing of the saint be with us all.

May the prayers and blessing of the saint be with us!

 Glory to God and his mother holy Mary Amen

May God Bless us. Amen!!