Ethiopia Celebrates Epiphany - Timket

Timket (Ge'ez: ጥምቀት T’imk’et) is the Ge’ez expression for the traditional celebration of Epiphany, commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ in the hands of John the Baptist at River Jordan. It was celebrated starting the eve of Timket “Ketera” (January 18 - 19) and Timket day.

Timket is celebrated most prominently in Gondar, Ethiopia because the city holds significant historical and spiritual importance, particularly due to the presence of "Fasilides' Pool," a large pool where the central ritual reenacting Jesus' baptism takes place, making Gondar a focal point for the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian celebration of Timket (Epiphany). Timket 2025 was celebrated peacefully and more vibrantly this year. See below as water is chanted upon and blessed by high priests to then serve as baptizing holy water for all.

In 2019, UNESCO placed Timket on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

During Ketera “ the Eve”, the Tabot is taken from each church and borne aloft by high priests to the nearest river, lake or pond where the communal baptism will occur the next day. The Tabots (and most of the attendees) stay overnight near the water.

Timket celebration starts the next morning with pre-sunrise rituals, followed by blessing and sprinkling of blessed water on the large crowd of the assembled congregation.

Photo credit: Kirubel Demsash