👉🏾👉🏾👉🏾The Mystery of the Month of #Pagume, #Fasting, and #Baptism
Beloved in Christ, today we reflect on the deep meaning of the month of Pagume and the wisdom of the Church in teaching us to fast and to seek baptism during these holy days. May God’s grace, the prayers of the saints, and the protection of His holy angels guide and strengthen us.
The Mystery of Pagume
Pagume is unlike the other months. In the order of the Ethiopian calendar it stands as the thirteenth month, short in days but great in meaning. It has either five days or, in the years of St. John, six days. Pagume Three , in this time the seven heavens are opened and the prayers of the faithful ascend unhindered before the throne of God.
Though small in number of days, its greatness surpasses many months, for it symbolizes a transition. Just as the year passes from old into new, so Pagume proclaims the mystery of the end of the world: a passage from time to eternity, from the temporal life to the everlasting kingdom, from the darkness of winter to the dawn of unending day. Thus, it becomes for us an image of the Day of Judgment, when Christ shall appear in glory to judge the living and the dead.
Why Do We Fast in Pagume?
Because Pagume is a remembrance of the last day, the Church teaches us to pass through it with fasting, prayer, and supplication. Monks in monasteries spend these days as in a closed week of devotion, shutting out the noise of the world.
This fasting is not one of compulsion, for Pagume is not counted among the seven great fasts of the Church. Yet the faithful, desiring the blessings of God, willingly embrace it. For if we sanctify the eve of the New Year with prayer and humility, the year to come will be filled with blessings according to the will of God.
Our fathers have shown us the path: with fasting, they prayed for the good of the nation, for the peace of the Church, for the mercy of the Creator. And we, their children, must imitate them. If we spend Pagume not in feasting or drunkenness but in fasting, God will reconcile us, heal our wounds, destroy pestilence, and grant unity and peace to His Holy Church and to our land.
Why Are We Baptized in Pagume?
Many believers are baptized in Pagume because this month is connected to the Archangel Raphael, whose name means “God heals.”
During Pagume, the waters of the world rivers, seas, lakes, and even rain are blessed by angels.
Because of this, baptism in these waters brings healing from sickness and protection from evil.
Farmers also believe that even their crops are purified during Pagume, especially on Pagume 3rd, which is the feast day of Archangel Raphael.
The Bible confirms this mystery: “For at certain times an angel of the Lord went down into the pool and stirred the water; and whoever stepped in first was healed of whatever disease he had” (John 5:4). In the same way, during Pagume, the Archangel Raphael blesses the waters for healing and salvation.
On Pagume 3rd:
Rain that falls is collected and kept as holy water.
It is sprinkled in homes, soaked into grain, and given to the sick, because it drives away evil spirits and brings blessing.
Pregnant women may drink from this water, because Raphael is called the opener of the womb, and by God’s mercy he helps them give birth safely.
Continues 👇🏾