What Does It Mean Ketera

👉🏾👉🏾👉🏾What Does It Mean #Ketera Dear followers of the Orthodox teachings on John's Repentance website .we greet you with the peace of the Lord.Today , based on the topic mentioned above, we present to you the following important lesson.We encourage everyone to read it carefully and learn from it. ✍🏾The word Ketera is derived from the Geʿez verb መከተር (meketer), which means to gather water, to restrain it, or to block its flow. ✍🏾On the eve of the Feast of Baptism, the Ark of the Covenant (Tabot) is taken out of the church and brought to a place where water is found, such as a river, spring, or prepared pool. The faithful of the area gather at that place and erect a tent (dass) near the water for the Ark to remain overnight. When no natural shelter exists, a tent is deliberately set up for this sacred purpose. 👉🏾Because spring water is often weak or limited, a well or pit is dug to collect the water. The water is then restricted and prevented from flowing away, so that it may be prepared and preserved for the baptismal celebration on the following day. 👉🏾Regarding the meaning of the word Ketera, Wazemaw Sergew (1981, p. 8) explains that Ketera comes from the Geʿez verb ketera, which carries the meaning of gathering, restraining, or enclosing, and is closely related to the sense of kebebe (to surround or enclose). ✍🏾Similarly, Kidane Wold Kifle (1948, p. 555) interprets the root “ketere” as meaning to block, stop, restrain, or forbid. Since the primary activity of the faithful on Tir 10 each year is the gathering and restriction of water for baptism, this day is appropriately named Ketera. ✍🏾The water is collected and prepared to be used as the baptismal font for the faithful, since the Feast of Baptism (Timket) is celebrated on Tir 11. ✍🏾The place where the Ark of the Covenant (Tabot) is kept overnight in a tent or temporary shelter, and where natural or gathered water is cleansed, preserved, or collected, whether from springs, rivers, or artificially prepared pools, is called the Bahire Tmket,Ark shelter . ✍🏾Sea (Bahir) The Sea (Bahir) refers to a place where water is gathered, such as a reservoir or collected body of water prepared for baptism. In this sense, it is a “land of water”, a sacred space set apart for worship, prayer, and the mystery of baptism. It represents a sanctified world of water(mekane may, aleme may), prepared for holy use. 👉🏾During the reign of Saint Lalibela, the righteous Abune Tekle Haymanot, who traveled widely throughout Ethiopia preaching salvation and evangelism, blessed and sanctified the baptismal fonts in places such as Aksum, Mekelle, and Melrtule Maryam, strengthening the tradition of Ketera and Timket. ✍🏾Later, during the reign of Emperor Yekuno Amlak (1260–1275 AD), the righteous Abune Tekle Haymanot (1203–1204 AD) formally affirmed and ordered the continuation of the celebration that had already been practiced by the faithful under their spiritual care. ✍🏾The Tabots (Arks of the Covenant) were placed under the protection and care of the community and were brought to the baptismal sites for the celebration. Over time, the observance of the Feast of Baptism expanded, growing from a local religious practice into a national spiritual celebration. ✍🏾Although the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord had been observed as a public celebration since the time of Emperor Gebre Meskel, it was firmly established and systematized in the 15th century by Emperor Zara Yaqob (1426–1460 AD). ✍🏾Emperor Zara Yaqob decreed that: ✍🏾The Tabot should descend to the baptismal site on the afternoon of Tir 10, the eve of the Feast.It should remain there overnight.It should not return by the same route, so that the land would be blessed by its passage. 👉🏾Following this decree, Emperor Naod (1486–1500 AD) further commanded that all Orthodox Tewahedo believers should accompany the Ark of the Covenant both during its descent to the baptismal site and its return to the church. Continues 👇🏾