December: Christians, Jews, Rastafarians, and coffee

Ethiopia has an important role in Christianity's history, as the sanctuary to which the Ark of the Covenant was taken for safe-keeping, after the destruction of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem.

Replicas of the Ark can be found in nearly every Ethiopian Orthodox Church. On January 6th each year, they celebrate their most important annual festival: Timket, meaning 'baptism' in Amharic, the language spoken by Christ. Eastern Orthodox Christians recognize this day as commemorating the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by John the Baptist, while in the West it signifies the recognition of the Christ child's divinity by the Magi, who were led to him by a star.

The Western interpretation may be the reason that many of us know the date as Epiphany, a concept that is beautiful in itself, describing an unexpected insight, an awakening, a realization. Suddenly, the hidden meaning behind something (a symbol, an event, a coincidence, a repeating life pattern) is revealed, and we're given the gift of clarity, in a blinding stoke of light.

Timket is observed with a procession of colorful, elaborately decorated parasols held by priests in ceremonial finery, who bear a representational Ark through the streets. The original artifact is guarded zealously, at St. Mary of Zion church in Aksum, by monks who have taken an oath unto death. Apparently needed structural repairs have prompted the construction of a new temple next door.

Lalibela, Ethiopia, can boast some of the most impressive churches in the world -- not for their gilt and ornamentation, but for the fact that they are carved out, straight downwards, into the earth.

There have been the difficult issues surrounding the Falafa, the Ethiopian Jews whom Israel finally began admitting in the 1970's, after many decades of declaring themselves the Lost Tribe of Israel. Sadly, they face ongoing discrimination challenges there. Middle East Eye.net



The Rastafarians make the same claim to Lost Tribe status. They revere Haile Selassie as their incarnate god, calling him the Conquering Lion of Judah, as his lineage is traced back to the union of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, reportedly 3,000 years ago. It was Menelik I, their son, who moved the Ark to safety.

 image by Stephen Fishwick

Synchronously (because there is no coincidence), the installation of this Emperor led to the crowning of an unexpected King, a bi-racial youth born into poverty in the West Indies.

His messages in music contain the prophetic voice of the indigenous, demonstrated by the fact that over time, his lyrics become more true, more relevant, rather than less so. Having captured the heart of the time, he is known everywhere, and his messages will forever endure. The image can be purchased here: Bob Marley poster.

I could not help admiring the defiant stance of the Hamar woman. The Hamar are an ancient tribal people, with their own traditions, who are adaptable enough to live harmoniously with their neighbors of diverse faiths. The women are especially tough - they can only be characterized as indomitable.

Lastly, my thanks to the Ethiopians, who were the first to roast coffee beans and grind them up, discovering the outstanding brew upon which I so depend. Today, they still observe long-standing ritual in its preparation. Thus, while floating over a sea of coffee beans, the Lion of St. Mark's book falls open to the Rastafarian claim to Ethiopian spiritual inheritance.

Coffee, the miraculous beverage, is at least guaranteed to wake you up, even if it does not provide a full-on Epiphany.