Greetings in the name of His & Her Imperial Majesties Qedamawi Haile Sellassie I & Itege Menen Asfaw,

I welcome you all to a new regeneration of cycle Torah readings!  This is another one of the many interpretations of the Scriptures from the light of Ras Tafari by, I, Lidj Yefdi (or Yefdeyah).

Ras Tafari Renaissance Revelations is here wishing you all a VERY HAPPY ETHIOPIAN EPIPHANY/MESQEL!!!

This celebration is attributed to the Ethiopian account of the “Finding of the True Cross.”  The celebration of MäsQäl is observed on the 17th day of the Ethiopian month of Meskerem.

The legend speaks of Queen Eleni finding the cross by a revelation with the use of a bonfire, in the 4th century AD, (about the time Ethiopia, officially became the first Christian nation).

[other legend has it account with Queen Helena of Constantinople]

The fire that was lit would lead to the Cross, so the Queen ordered the people of Jerusalem to bring wood for a large pile.  In Ethiopia, the custom of the bonfire, once completed the ashes from the bonfire are used for the Passion Week’s Ash Wednesday.

The fire, by which way it leads (N,S,E, or W) can sometimes, by tradition predict what kind of year will be to come. [good or bad]

During the celebration, there is singing, chanting, and many beautiful colors all around.  MesQel is always to take place after the Ethiopian New Year, a seasonal holiday after the rains, for the coming of the Sun.

The celebration of MesQel, is also known as the Exaltation of the True Cross.

Ras Tafari Renaissance Revelations again, wishes ALL a joyful Epiphany!!!

NOTES:

Exodus 40: 30-38

– Legendary difference between the account of Queen(Nigist) Eleni’s “Finding of the True Cross” & the Byzantine Queen Helena’s “Finding of the True Cross”