/countries/show/ethiopia/1.rss en-us Gondar, one of Ethiopia's largest cities, springs to life every January for Timkat, the Ethopian Orthodox celebration of Epiphany. Timkat, which is celebrated on January 19, commemorates Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River by reenacting the holy ceremony, and nowhere is the festival more stunning than in the 17th-century palaces of Gondar where the Ethiopian emperors once reigned. The main ceremony takes place in the Fasilides Castle, located just outside town in the Royal Enclosure. Travelers gather from all over the world to witness the Gondar's Epiphany ceremony, when a model of the Ark of the Covenant is reverently wrapped in cloth and the laity have a rare opportunity to observe its splendor. The Divine Liturgy is celebrated alongside the Fasilides bath in the morning. At dawn the royal bath is blessed and its waters are sprinkled on the participants, who are then invited to renew their baptismal vows by immersing themselves in the water. The festivities don’t end there. The remainder of the day is spent in celebration, which culminates in a colorful procession during which the holy ark is escorted back to its church. The many-hued robes and umbrellas of the clergy illuminate the cityscapes with unforgettable colors, which move about as the participants perform joyous dances and songs; children run about hollering and playing with sticks and games. Rhythmic songs shake the ground and surge endlessly from dawn to dusk, when the holy ark has been safely restored to its church home. Then its time for an epic Ethiopian feast visitors will not soon forget. Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:42:02 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/timkat http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/timkat