The Holy #Eucharist: A Reflection on the Crown of All Mysteries
In the vast expanse of Christian theology, few mysteries soar as profoundly or as pivotally as the Holy Eucharist, often simply termed Holy Communion. This sacred rite, central to the spiritual life of the Church, is a divine sacrament wherein the believers, united in the Body of Christ, partake of the Holy Body and Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Essence and Origin of the Sacrament
The Holy Eucharist, or the Lord's Supper, finds its genesis in the profound moments when Christ, on the eve of His Passion, shared bread and wine with His disciples, declaring them to be His body and blood, a testament to the new covenant forged for the forgiveness of sins. This sacramental meal, hence, is not merely a remembrance but an active and mystical participation in the redeeming sacrifice of Christ, once offered, forever efficacious.
The term 'Eucharist' itself springs from the Greek for 'thanksgiving', encapsulating the essence of this sacrament as an act of grateful acknowledgment of God’s grace poured out through Christ. In its deepest sense, the Eucharist is both a gift and a response: a divine gift of grace and a human response of thankful worship.
The Transformation: From Earthly to Divine
The notion of sacrifice has been ever-present in the religious consciousness of humanity, finding expression in the Old Testament through the offerings of lambs and bulls as symbols of atonement. Yet, these were but shadows and figures of the true sacrifice to come. Where once the blood of lambs was shed, now the Lamb of God offers Himself—eternally pure, eternally sufficient.
In this divine economy of salvation, what is offered is not brought from man to God but from God to man, thereby reversing the ordinaries of sacrifice. The earthly elements of bread and wine, through the sacred liturgy and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, become the very essence of Christ—His body and blood. This transubstantiation marks not just a symbolic, but a real change, thus lifting the faithful from the temporal to the eternal, from mortality to immortality.
The Continual Sacrifice and Its Power
The sacrifice of the Eucharist is not repeated, but made present. Each celebration of the Eucharist is a real participation in the one eternal sacrifice of Christ on the cross, where He triumphed over sin and death. This mystery, therefore, stands central to the Christian faith: it is the power of Christ’s resurrection made manifest, the victory over sin continuously won, and the promise of eternal life made tangible.
As the faithful receive the Eucharist, they are drawn into the divine life of Christ Himself. According to the Gospel of John, "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day" (John 6:54). Thus, the Eucharist is not only commemorative or symbolic but truly efficacious, bestowing the life of Christ upon the believer, ensuring their mystical union with Him and with each other in the Church.
The Eucharist: A Call to Holiness and Unity
The Eucharist calls the faithful not only to personal holiness but to communal unity. As St. Paul teaches, "For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread" (1 Corinthians 10:17). This mystical union challenges each participant to embody the virtues of Christ, to live out the grace received, and to witness to the transformative power of the Eucharist in a world fraught with division.
Conclusion: The Crown of All Mysteries
Thus, the Eucharist stands as the crown of all sacraments. It confirms and completes all other sacraments, culminating in a profound communion with Christ through His sacrificial offering. It is here, in this holy mystery, that the Church finds its truest expression, its deepest vocation, and its most profound calling—to be the Body of Christ, broken and shared for the life of the world.
The Use of #Kebero in Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Worship
✍️ Our Church's rich history, sacred scriptures, historical accounts, and ancient artifacts all bear witness to its observance of the Old Testament system even before the advent of Christianity. This historical continuity is one of the reasons Ethiopia is reverently referred to as a "land of antiquity."
Enduring Legacy and Official Recognition
✍️ The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has actively worked to legally register its ancient heritage, which has been in continuous use for over a millennium. This includes holy books, sacred artifacts, melodies, and musical instruments used for hymns, along with other properties essential for its spiritual services. We are pleased to share that the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Authority (EIPA) has recognized and affirmed the Church's rightful ownership of these intellectual properties.
✍️ Specifically, the EIPA has officially registered the kebero (drum), tsenatsel (sistrum), mekuamiya (prayer staff), and over ten sacred books as the intellectual property of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, effective April 11, 2024 (Miazia 3, 2017 Ethiopian Calendar). This governmental recognition further solidifies the long-standing and inherent place of these instruments in our tradition.
The Kebero's Deep Scriptural and Liturgical Roots
👉 Old Testament Witness: The kebero is a sacred instrument of praise to God in both the Old and New Testaments. A powerful example is found when the Israelites were delivered from Egyptian bondage. After God parted the Red Sea, the prophetess Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, took a drum in her hand to lead the people in praise and song to the Lord. As recorded in Exodus 15:20 (NKJV): "Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances."
👉 King David's Directives: David, the beloved King and Psalmist, repeatedly instructs believers to praise God with the kebero (timbrel):
-> Psalm 149:3 (NKJV): "Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp."
-> Psalm 150:4 (NKJV): "Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!"
👉 Liturgical Practice: Within the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the kebero is a fundamental instrument used during Mahlet (the nocturnal praise service) and Zemare (hymns). Along with the tsenatsel and mekuamiya, these are the primary sacred instruments recorded in the Bible and sanctioned by God for hymns and praise. During the Mahlet service, these instruments accompany singing, dancing (shibsheba), ululation (ellelta), and clapping. It's important to note that while other instruments like the masenko, begena, trumpet, krar, washint, enzira, and enbilta are used by congregants for general praise, they are not typically employed during the formal Mahlet service. Furthermore, in our sacred Qidase (Anaphora) service, before the reading of the Gospel, the tradition states, "Take up a psalm, and give the drum."