Capturing the moment in the colorful Timkat festival in Ethiopia. Priest walk in the parade wearing colorful robes.
Timkat is the most important festival in the Ethiopian calendar. Crowds of revelers, all dressed in white, dance and sing in the streets to the beating of drums. Priests, decked out in jewel encrusted velvet and satin robes, carry a replica of Arc of the Covenant known as a talbot in a grand procession through the streets. The procession arrives at a water source and events culminate at 2am, when the priests perform mass and bless the water. A communal baptism follows, with the most fervent Christians throwing themselves fully clothed into the water. On 20th January a dancing, singing throng surrounds the church, celebrating the big day of Ethiopia's favorite Saint. What's the history of the festival? Epiphany is the 12th day of Christmas, when the three kings were said to have bestowed their gifts upon the baby Jesus. This day falls on 6th January in the western calendar. Christianity came to Ethiopia long before it spread to Europe. Missionaries came here within 40 years of the birth of Jesus
Size: 5232px × 3480px
Location: Nazarath,Ethiopia
Photo credit: © Boaz Rottem / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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