THE FESTIVAL OF KETERA IN GONDAR

On the eve of Epiphany Day every year on Tirr 18th (January 18th) in Gondar, believers spend the day restricting the water for baptism , so the day has been named as Ketera.
The water will be saved because the day after January 18th (Ethiopian calendar) is the day of Epiphany. The place where this water will be poured is called “Sea Baptism” or “Ark’s place”.

On this holy day, the priests honoured the ark of the law and went to the sea to be baptized is to remind that our Lord Jesus Christ went from Galilee to the river Jordan to be baptised by John.

When the ark of the covenant goes out to the sea of baptism, the saying “Werede Son, into the heavens” is sung to express this truth.
In addition, on the journey, “Egziu Merha, Hore Eyesus, Mesa Kal Emmedena Zeibel” and other hymns will be sung.

Joram Jojo