Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Faithful Celebrate Ketera Across the Nation Ahead of Timket

Addis Ababa, January 18, 2026 (FMC) — Millions of Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo faithful commemorated Ketera, the solemn eve of the Timket (Epiphany) celebration, with deep devotion and vibrant public observances across the country today.

In the capital, thousands of worshippers assembled at Jan Meda and other prominent locations as sacred tabots—revered replicas of the Ark of the Covenant—were carried in processions from churches throughout Addis Ababa. The elaborate ceremony at Jan Meda was led by His Holiness Abune Mathias, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, along with archbishops, senior clergy, priests, deacons, and church choirs.

The faithful, dressed in traditional white garments and colorful ceremonial attire, infused the historic grounds with hymns, chants, and ritual songs, transforming the tabot processions into powerful public expressions of spiritual unity and devotion. Under the ceremonial guard, the tabots were placed at designated sites, where they will remain overnight in preparation for Monday’s main Timket celebration.

Timket, one of the most significant dates in the Ethiopian liturgical calendar, commemorates the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. The sacred festival, officially marked on Monday, is expected to draw millions nationwide for prayers, blessings, and the sprinkling of holy water.

Observances of Ketera were vibrant and wide-ranging in regions beyond the capital. In the Amhara region, celebrations took place in Bahir Dar, Gondar, Debre Birhan, Dessie, Woldiya, and Debre Markos, where priests and choirs led processions with traditional dances, accompanied by worshippers in culturally meaningful attire.

In Gondar, community members gathered around the ancient Fasilides Bath—a symbol of historic faith and tradition—where students of traditional church education performed ritual dances. Southern cities also saw enthusiastic participation, with Hawassa hosting a remarkable ceremony in which tabots from Loke Debre Medhane Meskele Christos Wa Abba Gerima Church were carried by boat across Lake Hawassa, accompanied by a ceremonial flotilla of elders, choirs, and worshippers.

Communities in Arbaminch welcomed processions led by priests in ceremonial vestments, while cities such as Axum, Lalibela, Jimma, and Harar also reported spirited Ketera observances.

The celebrations attracted not only devoted Orthodox Christians but also followers of other faiths and international visitors, who joined in or observed the rituals as reflections of Ethiopia’s deeply rooted spiritual heritage and longstanding tradition of religious coexistence.

Timket was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2019, underscoring its profound cultural and spiritual significance.

The main Timket celebrations are scheduled to unfold Monday morning, with millions of Ethiopians expected to take part in prayers and receive holy water in cities and communities nationwide.