Kidane Mehret, the Mercy Pact

Ethiopia and Eritrea · Orthodox Tradition · Antiquial Atvocation

The most beautiful name of Mary in Africa

Kidane Mehret significa en ge’ez (la lengua litúrgica etíope) "Mercy Covenant" o ‘Promise of Misericordia’. It is the name by which the Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox tradition vents the Virgin Mary in her role as an intercessor. The name expresses the conviction that Mary, by her position as the Mother of God, has with humanity a covenant of compassion: she cannot fail to intercede for those who come to her.

The promise of Christ to Mary

The Ethiopian tradition contains a story - not canonical but very venerated in the Orthodox Church Tewahedo - in which Jesus makes his Mother a solemn promise: he will forgive the sins of everyone who invokes her with humility. This "covenant" is the foundation of the advocation Kidane Mehret. It is one of the deepest expressions of Mary's intercessor role in African Christian theology.

La iglesia de Kidane Mehret en Axum

En el complejo de la Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Sion en Axum (Tigray, norte de Etiopía) existe una pequeña iglesia dedicada específicamente a Kidane Mehret. Es uno de los lugares de peregrinación más antiguos del Cuerno de África. El 19 de febrero (según el calendario etíope: el mes de Yekatit), la fiesta de Kidane Mehret se celebra en toda Etiopía y Eritrea con misas, procesiones y cánticos en ge’ez.

Devotion in Eritrea

En Eritreathe advocation Kidane Mehret is especially popular: the monastery of Debre Bizen (founded in 1369) is one of the great centers of this devotion. Thousands of pilgrims make the climb on foot to the monastery, at 2,300 meters of altitude, especially at the February party. The monastery retains illuminated manuscripts of the 14th century that represent the "Covenant of Mercy."

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