SUNDAY - ("Ze'worede" or "Hirkal")

The 1st Week (The first Sunday) of lent observed by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church is known as "Ze'worede" or "Hirkal". This is the starting week of penance, a time when we focus on our need for God's mercy. We seek to prepare to celebrate the great mystery of our redemption. The preparation and penance takes the threefold form of ALMSGIVING, PRAYER, FASTING.

"And when you fast, do not put on a sad face as the hypocrites do. They go around with a hungry look so that everyone will see that they are fasting. Remember This! They have already been paid in full. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you." Mt 6:16-18

Fasting is a form of penance. It is a way of showing our sorrow for our sins. The Ethiopian Church, in her earliest days, recognized the necessity for her children to "chastise the body and bring it under subjection", as St. Paul advises. The body is ever striving for mastery over the spirit; besides the external sources of temptation "the world, we have always another source with us which is a part of our nature. This is the reason for mortification. Self-denial in lawful things enables us to turn with great earnestness to spiritual things.

Please read - John 3:10-25

TEACHING ABOUT ALMSGIVING (CHARITY) Mt 6:1-4

TEACHING ABOUT PRAYER Mt 6:5:15

TEACHING ABOUT FASTING Mt 6:16-18