Kidane Mehret, the "Covenant of Mercy of Mary"

Marian vocation in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Kidane Mehret means in ge'ez "Covenant of Mercy" or "Covenant of Mercy." In the tradition of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Tewahedo, this advocation refers to the promise given to Jesus Christ to grant special mercy to sinners through the intercession of their Mother; it is therefore a question of a devotional tradition and not a documented historical data in a critical sense.

Main data

Origin and history

Kidane Mehret means in ge'ez "Covenant of Mercy" or "Covenant of Mercy." In the tradition of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Tewahedo, this advocation refers to the promise given to Jesus Christ to grant special mercy to sinners through the intercession of their Mother; it is therefore a question of a devotional tradition and not a documented historical data in a critical sense.

The party of Our Lady of the Mercy Pact se celebra el 16 de Yäkkatit, equivalente al 24 February in the Gregorian calendar, or 25 February in leap years. Among the Ethiopian churches dedicated to this advocation, the available documentation mentions temples in Jerusalem and in other regions of Ethiopia; however, for the headquarters of Adís Abeba The sources consulted do not contain a precise foundation chronology or a sufficiently documented institutional history.

The image and the sanctuary

A safe description of a specific image of Kidane Mehret in Addis Ababa, nor of his iconographic material or typology. In the Ethiopian liturgical tradition, veneration often focuses on the Devotional mystery of the advocation and in the sacred presence of the temple, rather than in a standardized Western iconography; therefore, without verifiable local documentation, it is appropriate to state: no consta a detailed description of the image.

With regard to the sanctuary, the available sources confirm the existence of the iglesia de Entototo Kidane Mehreton an elevated plateau on the outskirts of the north of Addis Ababa, but do not provide sufficient data on its full official name, canonical category or possible status as a minor basilica, national sanctuary or diocesan. Therefore, with limited documentary security, it should be indicated: temple of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Tewahedo in the area of Entoto, Addis Ababa; there is no documented higher canonical rating.

Sponsorship and coronation

The patronage of this advocation in Ethiopia is wide and widespread in monasteries and homonymous churches; in the specific case of Adís Abeba, the sources consulted do not allow for certain affirmation of a civil or ecclesiastical patronage specific to the city, the diocese or the country. It should therefore be stated that: The document consulted does not contain the exact pattern.

It also does not contain a documented canonical coronation for the advocation of Kidane Mehret in Addis Ababa, neither year nor pontiff or celebrating delegate. If a rigorous tab is desired, the correct formula is: does not contain a documented canonical coronation.

Party and devotion

The main party is held 16 de Yäkkatit of the Ethiopian calendar, approximately 24 February. In leap years, Gregorian correspondence can be moved to 25 February.

The devotion to Kidane Mehret is deeply rooted in the piety of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Tewahedo, with the presence of numerous churches and homonymous monasteries in the country. The sources consulted do not provide reliable data on the influx of pilgrims, attendance figures or specific popular traditions in Addis Ababa; these ends should therefore be left in no consta.

Link to the Rosary

There is no direct and specific historical relationship between Kidane Mehret y el prayer of the Rosary in the sources consulted. Even so, from a general Marian perspective, the Rosary and this advocation converge into the same spiritual horizon: trust in the intercession of Mary and in the mercy of Christ granted by her maternal mediation, although that connection must be presented as devotional affinity, as documented institutional bond.