Timket
Every year in order to celebrate the baptism of Jesus the Ethipian Orthodox Church celebrates Timket. They begin with early morning prayers and ablutions. Then later in the morning the members of one or more congregations will meet at a designated church and begin an hours long procession to another gathering point, often an open field or small stadium of some kind. This will culminate with a sermon, while the leaders of the churches look on from on stage, and end some time after sunset. The procession involves floats, as well as decoratively dressed individuals in large groups. Traditionally, each church has a replica of the Ark of the Covenant in their place of worship. On Timket they bring it out for the processions. For many members of the church, this is the only time they can even hope to see such spiritually powerful relics.
A group of Oromo members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church gather near the entrance of their local church. Their robes are as white as they can possibly can be, in all likelihood purchased/made recently for Timket.
The procession is about to begin, and people begin to head out of the front gate of the church yard.
One of the many Ethiopian Orthodox Churches that will host the beginning of the processions.
Younger members of the church are in charge of sweeping up the grass that has been sprinkled on the long red carpets so that the members of the procession need not polute their footwear.
Some of the young members of the church sprinkle grass on the red carpets that have been placed on the ground for the procession.
Once the procession has passed by completely members of the church will roll up the carpets and jog them up a ways in order to place them further in front of the procession. Thus, ensuring they will never be off of the red carpet.
At several points along the route the procession will stop, and the members will rest from walking. Although the songs and chants don't necessarily stop completely at these points.
One of the oldest women in Addis Ababa is pushed around in her wheelchair so she can participate as well.
At one of the pauses in the procession Oromo men still sing and clap.
A woman looking back at the group she has just walked away from in one of the procession's pauses.
Men blow their trumpets as the procession begins.
Church members praying as the procession begins. They will catch up when they are finished their prayers.
One of the elders of the church walking amongst the congregation.
A family paused to take photos of their child in front of a mural of a very European Jesus near the entrance of the procession's destination.
A group of women continue singing and clapping as they wait for the procession to begin again.
Afer a substantial wait, the procession begins to move again. The singing and chanting seem to get louder.
The field where the procession will stop for their sermon is surrounded by a large stone/brick wall. At the front (behind camera) there is the stage, and off to the left of this scene there is a tent selling religious items/artifacts.
Everyone moves to towards the stage, and the crowd gets denser and denser, to the point where one has a hard time moving.
Each church has a flag, more akin to the "standards" carried by armies in years past. They are carried by the standard bearers of that church.
The leaders of the churches make their way to the front of the church. In the past they would be carrying replicas of the Ark of the Covenant, some on their heads.
Members of the churches wait for the leaders to get to the stage so that the ceremony of Timket can be completed.
