In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit One God Amen. 

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"O! our Lady Mary, the shield of many, the multitude;

you are the helper of those who are at the sea and precipices;

May you help me at the time of falling, and rise me by your wing;

For me, your servant ... loving you from bottom of my heart, ...not in my mouth" 

 

In Tewahdo Orthodox Church Holy Tradition, every feast is preceded by fasting and prayer. Fasting plays an important role as a moral and spiritual discipline. Fasting is an offering, a voluntary refraining from that which one is allowed, springs from the love and respect which one feels for God. This period of fasting which lasts for the first two weeks of Nehassie /August 7-22/ is canonized as a remembrance of the fast the Apostles held in zeal of witnessing St. Mary's resurrection and Ascension. The Assumption of the Virgin Mary is the most highly honored feast among all the feasts of the saints. It ranked second only to the feast of  the Lord.  The feast of the Assumption is based on the conviction that the Lord didn’t permit the body in which He Himself dwelt to fall prey to corruption and dissolution. The Tewhado believers assured of their resurrection first and foremost by the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; and are being further assured by the Assumption of St. Mary. But why do we fast - according to the Fetha Negest/authoritative collection of canon law and civil law of the Church/ fasting is

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1. To show our obedience, love and trust in God [Gen 2] 

2. To attain forgiveness of sins [Exodus 34:28; John 3:5-10].

3. To get reward/ blessing Angels, Saints. [Mat 10]

 

How do we benefit from this Fast- 

• We are fasting to receive the forgiveness of sin through intercession,  blessing and prayer of St. Mary

• We are fasting to see St. Mary Miracle in our life as the disciples saw her after fasting twice for 16 days;. 

• For God to grant us our wish that is consistent with His will through the intercession of St. Mary 

 

Challenge

• To fast from meat, diary and all animal product for the coming 2 weeks [from 08/07-23/2021. Even if you see this message pass 08/07 - start the challenge right away.  

• Pray at least three times Abune Zebesemayat - Our Father In Heaven and be-selam Qidus Gabriel Melak – In the Peace of the Arch Angel Gabriel at any convenient time 

• Pray at least once the whole prayer preferably early in the morning [before you go to school or work] -- link below -- https://english.eritreantewahdo.org/?page_id=1461

• Remember to pray for the peace of OUR CHURCH, and for God to raise a shepherd that gathers all of us and especially focused on those who grew up in diaspora.  

• Pray for others daily - family, friends, for your priest 

• Whenever you are tempted to say, Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner X 12 followed by Through the intercession of St Mary, Lord have mercy X 12. 

• Read the Bible every day

 

 

O Virgin, you are the ideal and the prophecy of the prophets, the favour of the apostles, the mother of martyrs; the sister of angels ; the boast of the young men and virgins and the monks who are  watchful  day and night at your gates.

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God Bless

TYOM.org

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