A couple of weeks ago, I found myself at Mass at one of the Ethiopian Orthodox Churches here in Toronto, celebrating the Nativity of Mary. My legs were aching from the four-hour standing service, and my netella (traditional white headscarf) kept slipping off my head. While most Ethiopians have the stamina and dedication to stay standing still for many hours at a time, I joined the seated old ladies fairly early on. I had to crane my neck a little to follow the powerpoint presentation that translated the words of the priests and deacons from Ge’ez (the equivalent of Latin) into Amharic and English.

Here’s a brief clip of women praising Saint Mary during the procession after the service (please excuse my unsteady hand!):

My time in Ethiopia last year was a development-oriented trip, focused on the work of two dedicated NGOs in the field. But what I left the country with was a strong sense of Ethiopian culture, alongside the experience of poverty, and an interest in learning more. More specifically, my interest in Saints and their role in the lives of Ethiopian Christians is what brought me to this early morning service in the name of Mary. I’ve written about it from Ethiopia here and here.

In January, I began a research project with the help of Dr. Gervers in the History department to get a feel for the Ethiopian Saints, including their history, their doctrinal import, and most interestingly, their role in devotion and daily lives. The research has brought me into the Ethiopian community here, allowing me to participate in monthly meetings of Saints clubs, interview Archbishops and ordinary Ethiopians, and attend the celebration of feast days associated with a particular Saint.

Each time I attend one of these events or visit with someone from the community, I’m left with more questions than were answered and actively anticipate the next event. So, I’ve decided that the end of term won’t cut my project short. Which means I hope to see everyone at Meskel celebrations in September!

(sorry that I don’t have a steadier hand for filming, but hopefully this gives you a sense of the experience)