The Impact of Timket in Barbados, Ethiopia and Jordan

Watch and Listen to Video

Timket is a Holy Day of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church of Barbados being observed on January 19. This Holy day highlights the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River.

The picture below by (Carl de Souza, Getty images) shows Orthodox Christians in Ethiopia observing the festival of Timket.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            


TimKet and the Jordan River

The Jordan River runs through the land and history of the Bible, giving its waters a spiritual significance that sets it aside from other rivers.

It is significant for Orthrodox Christians because John the Baptist baptised Jesus in the waters of the Jordan River. The place where Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist is believed to be in Jordan, on the east bank of a large loop in the river opposite Jericho.

A site less than 2km east of the river's present course, at Wadi Al-Kharrar, has been identified as Bethany Beyond the Jordan. This is where John lived and baptised, and where Jesus fled for safety after being threatened with stoning in Jerusalem.

Until the 1994 peace treaty between Jordan and Israel, the area was a Jordanian military zone. After clearing nearby minefields, the Jordanian government has made the place accessible to archaeologists, pilgrims and tourists.

In the Bible (JKV):
Israelites cross the Jordan River on dry ground - Joshua 3:14-17
Elijah crosses the Jordan on dry ground - 2 Kings:2-8
John baptises Jesus - Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:29-34
Naaman's leprosy is cured in the Jordan - 2 Kings 5:1-14
(Source: www.seetheholyland.net/jordan-river/

Watch the Video



Ethiopia 

Ethiopia is in the Horn of Africa and is a rugged, landlocked country split by the Great Rift Valley. With archaeological finds dating back more than 3 million years, it’s a place of ancient culture.

The Map of Ethiopia 

Among its important sites are Lalibela with its rock-cut Christian churches from the 12th–13th centuries. Aksum is the ruins of an ancient city with obelisks, tombs, castles and Our Lady Mary of Zion church. Its Capital is Addis Ababa. The population as at 2013 by the World Bank stands at 94.1 million. Its currency is the Ethiopian birr. The President of this country is Mulatu Teshome. The official language of Ethiopia is Amharic.

The Flag of Ethiopia

According to wikipedia.org prior to 1996 (and to some extent even today) the 'plain' flag was commonly seen across the nation and the world. Previously, especially during the Derg regime, a number of different emblems were experimented with. However, the basic colour schematic has remained constant. Even after declaring itself a Communist regime, the Derg did not dare to tamper with the colours' layout, but simply removed and changed the imperial emblem after Haile Selassie's overthrow. An alternative emblem featuring a five pointed star and rays over a cogwheel surrounded by a wreath of leaves is now the featured emblem

The Emblem of Ethiopia

The star is yellow on a blue disc which overlaps the green and red stripes. The star testifies to Ethiopia's bright future and possibly echoes the connection with the House of King Solomon, while the yellow rays which it emits are equidistant and are said to represent the equality of all Ethiopians regardless of race, creed, or sex. In recent years, the government of Ethiopia has taken a conscious effort to increase the usage of the flag with the emblem, which had been seen far less than the plain tricolour. As the plain tricolour was used and seen far more often than either the flag of the Derg or the Lion of Judah flag, this was considered unusual.

In 2009, the Parliament of Ethiopia passed Proclamation 654/2009 (The Federal Flag Proclamation), which prohibited firstly amongst 23 other provisions "use [of] the Flag without its Emblem", as well as "to deface the Flag by writing or displaying sings, [sic] symbols, emblems or picture [sic]", or "to prepare or use the Flag without the proper order of its colors and size or its Emblem." While most offences were punishable by a fine of "3000 birr or rigorous imprisonment up to one year," the first offense, mandating the usage of the emblem, received an increased penalty of "5000 birr or rigorous imprisonment up to one year and six months. This replaced the 1996 Flag Proclamation, which made no mention of offenses or penalties.
(Source:wikipedia.org)

Jordan

The "land of seven hills" sits in the northwestern corner of the Arabian Peninsula, in southwestern Asia. It is bounded by Syria on the north, Saudi Arabia on the south, Iraq and Saudi Arabia on the east, and Israel on the west. The country has a 24-km coastline on the Gulf of Aqaba, an arm of the Red Sea. Jordan is known officially as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Hashem was the name of the great grandfather of the Prophet Mohammed, the founder of Islam. The royal family of Jordan is called Hashemite, which means descended from Hashem.

This territory of Jordan was part of the Ottoman Turkish Empire, which was dismantled after World War I and replaced, in this part of the Middle East, by British and French mandates. Transjordan was the territory east of the Jordan River, extending from a point 3-km west of the town of Aqaba northward to the Syrian frontier; its boundaries with Saudi Arabia and Iraq in the east were not defined clearly until 1925. Although officially a British mandate, Transjordan always enjoyed greater autonomy than the Palestine mandate; it had local rulers with British advisers. The territory's independence and its status as a kingdom were recognized in 1946; its name was officially changed to Jordan in 1947, although internationally it was called Transjordan until 1949. After the 1947 UN vote to partition Palestine into a Jewish and an Arab state and the Arab-Israeli War that followed, the kingdom expanded to include Arab Palestine west of the Jordan. In November 1949, Jordan was admitted into the United Nations. In the Arab-Israeli war of 1967, Israeli forces occupied the west bank of the Jordan.

Jordan has three major geographic regions: Eastern Jordan, Central Jordan and Western Jordan. In Biblical times the area east of the Jordan River included the lands of Edom, Moab, Ammon, and part of Gilead. The Israelites, or Jews, lived west of Jordan in the region known as Palestine.

(Source:Merit Students Encyclopedia, Volume 10)

The National Anthem of Jordan

In Arabic the National Anthem of Jordan is“as-Salam al-Malaki al-‘Urdunī” meaning the “Royal Anthem of Jordan”. It was adopted in 1946. The lyrics were written by Abdul Monem Rifai and the music was composed by Abdul Qader al-Taneer are follows:

The National Anthem of Jordan (as-Salam al-Malaki al-‘Urdunī)
Arabic	Pronunciation	English
عاش المليك عاش المليك سامياً مقامهُ خافقاتٍ في المعالي أعلامه نحن أحرزنا المنى يوم أحييت لنا نهضة تحفزنا تتسامى فوق هامِ الشهب يا مليك العرب لك من خير نبي شرف في النسب حدثت عنه بطون الكتب الشباب الأمجد جندك المجند عزمه لا يخمد فيه من معناك رمز الدأب يا مليك العرب لك من خير نبي شرف في النسب حدثت عنه بطون الكتب دمت نوراً وهدى في البرايا سيدا هانئا ممجدا تحت أعلامك مجد العرب يا مليك العرب لك من خير نبي شرف في النسب حدثت عنه بطون الكتب	A-Sha-al Malīk A-Sha-al Malīk Sa-Mi-yan-ma-qa mu-ho Kha-fi-qa-tin fil ma-ali a-lam m-hu Nahnu ahrazna al muna Yawma ahyayta lana Nahdaton tahfizona Tatasama fawqa hami ash-shohobi Ya malika al-arabi Laka min khayri nabi Sharafon fil nasabi Haddathat anhubutuno al-kotobi Ash-shababul amjadu Junduka al-mujannadu Azmuhu la yakhmadu Fehee min ma'naka ramzu al-da'abi Ya malika al-arabi Laka min khayri nabi Sharafon fil nasabi Haddathat anhubutuno al-kotobi Domta nooran wa huda Fil baraya sayyida Hani'an mumajjada Tahta a'lamuka majdol arabi Ya malika al-arabi Laka min khayri nabi Sharafon fil nasabi Haddathat anhubutuno al-kotobi	Long live the King! Long live the King! His position is sublime, His banners waving in glory supreme. We achieved our goal, On the day you revived for us, A revolution gives us our motivation! Flying over the shoulders of the highest comets. Oh! You king of Arabs, From the best prophet you have.. The honour of dynasty, Talked about in the depths of books! All the youthful men, Are your armed armies His determination never dies out! Getting from your meaning a symbol of well-being! (meaning) Getting from you the manners you have Oh! You king of Arabs, From the best prophet you have.. The honour of dynasty, Talked about in the depths of books! May you stay the light and the guide, A master in being away of all sins and wrong-doing, Living your life happily and well-respected! Under your flying flag rests the glory of all Arabs. Oh! You king of Arabs, From the best prophet you have.. The honour of dynasty, Talked about in the depths of books!

The Flag of Jordan

The flag of Jordan appeared on 18 April 1928. It highlights the Arab Rvolt against the Ottaman Empire during World War I. This flag consists of horizontal black, white and green bands. These bands are connected by a red chevron.


Coat of Arms of Jordan

The Coat of Arms of this country as shown below was designed in 1921 on the direction of His Highness Emir Abdullah as the official emblem of Jordan.

His Highness Emir Abdullah further declared what each symbol represents as follows:

The Royal Hashemite Crown:

Symbolizing the monarchy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the golden crown is composed of five arches with beaded design, fanning out from beneath its pinnacle and attached to the base with a relief design recalling rubies and emeralds. On top of the base rest five lotus flowers, denoting purity. The Royal Hashemite Crown is adorned at the top by the tip of a spear that represents the Hashemite banner.

The Sash:

Resting on the Royal Hashemite Crown is the Sash that represents the Royal Hashemite Throne. The crimson velvet sash, lined with white silk, signifiees sacrifice and purity. the sash is trimmed in a fringe of golden threads and gathered on either side with golden tasselled cords to reveal a white silk lining.

The Two flags:

Each flag represents the flag of the Great Arab Revolt. The length of each is double its width and each is divided horizontally into three equal parts: the upper black panel, the middle green panel and the lower white panel. The crimson triangle occupies the front. Its base is equal to the width of the flag while its length is equal to half that of the flag.

The Eagle:

This emblem symbolises power, fortitude and loftiness. Its colours signify the banner and turban of the Islamic prophet, Mohammad. The eagle stands on the globe, its wings touching the flags on both ends. The eagle's head faces its right.

The Globe:

Blue in colour, the globe signifies the emergence of Islamic civillisation.

Arab Weaponry:

A brone shield is decorated with a chrysanthemum, a common motif in Arab art and architecture. The shield is placed in fron of the globe, symbolising the defence of the right. Golden swords and spears, bows and arrows protrude from either side of the shield and the globe

Gold Wheat Ears and Palm Frond:

Encircling the shield from its base are thrree ears of wheat on the right and a palm frond to the left. They are attached to the ribbon of the Al Nahda First Order Medal.

Al Nahda First Order Medal:

The medal is suspended from the centre of the ribbon.

Yellow Ribbon:

A yellow ribbon placed across the ribbon of the Al Nahda First Order Medal, is composed of three parts inscribed with phrases, as follows:

On the right: "Abdullah I ibn Al Hussein Bin Aoun (Aoun, the great-grandfather of Sharif Al Hussein Bin Ali)"

In the middle: "King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan"

On the left: "Who seeks support and guidance from God"

(Source: wikipedia .org)