Gizret - ግዝረት [Circumcision]
In Accordance with the cannon of the Church, there are 9 major feast days and another 9 minor feast days of Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos.
The 9 major feast days are:
1. Tsinset (Annunciation Feast of Incarnation) Megabit 29 / April 7
2. Lidet (Christmas) - Tahisas 29 [28] / January 7
3. Timket (Epiphany) Terr 11 / January 19
4. Debre Tabor (Transfiguration) - Nahase 13 / August 19
5. Hosanna (Palm Sunday)
6. Siqlete (Crucifixion)
7. Tensae (Easter)
8. Ereget (Ascension)
9. Paracletos (Paraclete)
The 9 minor feast days are:
1. Sibket - Tahisas 5 – 11 ( December16-22)
2. Birhan - Tahisas 12- 18 (December 23-29).
3. Nolawi - Tahisas 19-26 (December 30 - January 4)
4. Genna (Lidet Eve) - Tahisas 29 / January 7
5. Gizret (Circumcision) - Terr 6 / January 14
6. Lidete Simeon (Presentation of the Lord) - Yakatit 8 /February 15
7. Kana Ze Gelila (Feast of Canan of Galilee) - Terr 12 /January 20
8. Debere Zeit (the Mount of Olives)
9. Mesekel (Finding of the True Cross) - Maskaram 17 /September 27
Gizret (Circumcision)
‘Gizret’ is a Ge’ez word meaning Circumcision. Gizret (Circumcision) feast is one of the nine minor feast days of Our Lord Eyesus Kristos observed on Tir 6 E.C. January 14, as written in the Laws of Moses.
Lev. 12:3
“And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.”
In Commemoration of Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos circumcision or the presentation of the baby, Eyesus Kristos was brought into the temple on the eighth day of His birth (Lk. 2:21). His mother, Holy Virgin Saint Mariyam and Saint Joseph, brought Eyesus Kristos to be circumcised. But, when they were ready to circumcise Him, He was found to be previously circumcised by the Holy Spirit. This is because his blood wasn’t meant to be shed until the day of His crucifixion. The Divine Liturgy of our Ethiopian Orthodox Church says, "Let us not be circumcised like the Jews, for He who has fulfilled the Law has already come." Baptism is the fulfillment of the old testament circumcision with regard to those who become God's people.
According to a tradition in the Ethiopian church, when the man who carried out circumcisions approached the baby Eyesus Kristos, his knife almost melted down and so he was afraid. Then Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos opened His mouth and said, “My blood shall not be shed on earth except on [Good] Friday”. Later baby Eyesus Kristos was found circumcised Divinely.
Prophet Elijah [ Elias]
On Terr 6 E.C. (January 14), the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church also celebrates the date that the Prophet Elijah was taken away from the earth to "Behere Heyawane” which means the “City of the Living”.
2 Kings 2: 9- 11
“When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”, “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.” As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. ”
Eyesus Kristos disciples asked about Elijah saying:
Math 17:10-13
“‘And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”, Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first[b] and will restore all things. But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist”.
Saint Estifanos [ Stephen] the first Martyr :
On Terr 1 E.C. (January 10), the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church also celebrates the date Saint Estifanos [ Stephen] was stoned in the name of Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos. Saint Saint Estifanos [ Stephen] the first Martyr was one of the first seven deacons ordained by the Apostles to serve the Church in Jerusalem. The name Estifanos came from the Greek language meaning crown. Saint Estifanos was the first to be Martyred for the Gospel. Acts 7:54-59
Saint Yohanes [John ], Apostle and Evangelist "sons of thunder’ :
On Terr 4 E.C. (January 13), the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church also celebrates that Saint Yohanes [John ], Apostle and Evangelist is taken away from this world with out testing death as written on book of John 21:20-24. The word Yohanes means ‘The Grace of God’.
John 21:22-23
22 Jesus answered, “What is it to you, if I want him to live until I return? You must follow me.” 23 So the rumor spread among the other disciples that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say he would not die. He simply said, “What is it to you, if I want him to live until I return?”
Glory be to Our Lord and Savior Eyesus Kristos for our salvation came down from heaven, amen.