Flight to Egypt

Flight to Egypt

        The New Testament teaches us that following the Birth of Jesus, Herod wanted to "destroy" the Child. Directed by an angel, Joseph took Mary and Jesus and left Israel, seeking refuge in Egypt. Once again we realize the fulfillment of Old Testament prophesies when in Hosea 11:1 we read: "Out of Egypt I called My Son." In this passage the Son of God is Israel and Jesus is the true Israel. He reenacts in His own life the history of Israel, without falling into sin. The icon depicting this event in the life of our Lord reminds us that we must permanently preserve our precious faith in Him.
The safe flight of our Lord into Egypt occurred in the midst of terrible sacrifice. Herod was furious when he realized that the Magi had not returned to tell him where the newborn King might be found. In retaliation, he ordered that all the male children in the area of Bethlehem, two years old or under, be killed. We remember the 14,000 children slain by Herod and acknowledge the sacrifice of their families to protect the Christ Child.


    According to the law and order of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the 40 days starting from Meskerem 26th to Hidar 6th is known as Warha Tsige(Zemene Tsege) which commemorates the persecution of Our Lady and her son during the flight to Egypt. Since it is the season of flowers and fruits, our lady is symbolized by flowers and our Lord by the fruit that comes out of the flowers throughout the services of the church such as Mahilete Tsege and Meknay ze Solomon(Song of Songs).


    The great Saint Yared, who arose in the sixth century, wrote the five volumes of chants, while Aba Giyorgis, who arose in the 14th century, produced the prayer of hours. Similarly, Aba Tsige, who had a deep spiritual love for Aba Giorgis, wrote a composition called Mahilete Tsige. Mahlete Tsige is a wonderful Ethiopian composition with poetic elements. This composition can be prayed at any time, but it is mainly used in church service during the period Tsege.  It is also a prayer of thanksgiving and prayer delivered by the scholars every Saturday night, during this season, remembering the migration and wandering of our Lady with her son to the desert of Egypt. This writing is written in the form of a poem, and it usually has five verses, and altogether it is about 158 pieces. Just as Our Lady revealed her praise and Anaphora to Saint Ephraim and Aba Hriyakos, who were yearning for her love and gratitude, she also revealed this mystery to Aba Tsige Dingil, who was yearning for her love, so that he could write this Mahlete Tsige composition.


In the holy land of God, Ethiopia, September, and October are the months of flowers. This is the time when the mountains are decorated with flowers and are attractive to the eyes. As our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said in the gospel, “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Mathew 6:28-33) At this time of the year, the flowers remind us that we should be concerned about entering the kingdom of heaven rather than matters of this world, thinking that God who clothed the mountains with flowers, who created us in his own image and likeness, will not deprive us of the food and clothing we need to live.



When our Lady, the Holy Virgin Mary, our Lord Jesus Christ, Joseph, and Salome came from Egypt to Ethiopia in a cloud, they arrived from a place called Nagran. While they were in Nagran, the Lord said, “My blood that flows from my right side will be taken by St. Urail, the chief of lights, and will be shed or sprinkled first in this country.” And He said to his mother, "Many holy people will be born in this country, those who believe that you conceived while still a virgin and gave birth to me" Our Lady and her Son have traveled to different parts of Ethiopia. Some of the places they have visited are Debre Damo, Axum, Waldeba, Debre Abay, and the islands of Tana. Unlike other places the Ethiopian people were hospitable to them during their time in the holy land. They entered Ethiopia under the leadership of Saint Uriel. The full story of the travel from Egypt to Ethiopia has been recorded in the Homily of Urail.