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Timkat (Ethiopian Epiphany)
ጥምቀት
ユネスコ無形文化遺産（人類の無形文化遺産の代表的な一覧表）に記載
写真：Jean Rebiffé from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia、CC BY 2.0、ウィキメディア・コモンズより
Ethiopia’s Orthodox Epiphany celebrates the baptism of Christ — on the eve, priests carry each church’s tabot, a replica of the Ark of the Covenant, to a river or pool; at dawn the water is blessed and sprinkled over hundreds of thousands, before the arks return home in dancing processions.
The eve and the dawn
Timkat commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan. On the eve, Ketera — a word meaning the blocking of the flow of water for the blessing — each parish escorts its tabot to a river, pool or reservoir with great ceremony. The tabot, a model of the Ark of the Covenant kept on every Ethiopian altar and otherwise rarely seen, is wrapped in rich cloth and carried on the head of a priest.
The celebrations on Timkat day start before sunrise. The Divine Liturgy is sung by the water in the early hours, and towards dawn the water is blessed and sprinkled on the congregation; some people enter the water, renewing their baptismal vows. Hundreds of thousands take part. UNESCO inscribed the Ethiopian Epiphany on its Representative List in 2019.
Back to the church
Later in the day the arks are escorted back to their churches in colourful processions. An account from the 1960s describes clergy in robes of many colours under bright umbrellas singing hymns, elders marching solemnly, children running about, women in their finest clothes, and young men leaping in spirited dances and songs. When the tabot is safely back in its church, everyone goes home to feast. In Addis Ababa, Timkat is celebrated at Jan Meda among other places.
開催時期
Timkat falls on 11 Ter in the Ethiopian calendar — 19 January, or 20 January in Gregorian leap years. The celebrations begin on the eve, called Ketera.
- 2027/01/18～2027/01/19AM2019年5月10日算出
- 2028/01/19～2028/01/20AM2020年5月10日算出
- 2029/01/18～2029/01/19AM2021年5月10日算出
- 2030/01/18～2030/01/19AM2022年5月10日算出
敬意をもって訪れる
知っておきたいこと
- The tabot is sacred and rarely seen by lay people. Give way to the processions and follow the directions of the clergy and organisers.
安全のために
- Very large crowds gather on Timkat. Keep valuables secure and agree on a meeting point with your group.
- The UK advises against all travel to the Amhara and Tigray regions and to parts of Oromia and Afar. Check current advice before planning to attend celebrations outside Addis Ababa.
出典
この項目は次の資料をもとに書かれています。
- Ethiopian epiphanyUNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage · 2026年9月17日 閲覧
- TimkatWikipedia · 2026年9月17日 閲覧
- Ethiopian calendarWikipedia · 2026年9月17日 閲覧
- Ethiopia travel advice: safety and securityUK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office · 2026年9月17日 閲覧
- Ethiopia travel advice: warnings and insuranceUK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office · 2026年9月17日 閲覧
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