+ PRAYER & FASTING +

According to the EOTC traditions, prayer is speaking to God. To glorify Him, thank Him for the past, and ask for His blessings in the future. It is also an opportunity to ask God for the forgiveness of sins that we have committed.
The principles of prayer according to the EOTC traditions are:

• One should be standing
• Gird yourself (Concentration of mind)  
• Face East
• Make the sign of the cross
• Recite prayers with a concentrated heart and mind in unity
• Prostrations (One may begin and end prayer by prostrating)
• While praying, hands should be stretched upward

All church members must pray seven times a day at the following hours:  

• Upon rising from bed
• Third hour - 9:00 AM
• Sixth hour - 12:00 PM
• Ninth hour - 3:00 PM
• Evening - 6:00 PM
• Night - 9:00 PM
• Midnight - 12:00 AM

Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us and rescue us from all evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. AMEN.

O Holy Virgin Mary, in the peace of the Archangel Gabriel, peace be unto thee. Thou art virgin in spirit as well as in body. O thou Mother of Perfect God, peace be unto thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Rejoice, O thou who art full of grace; the Lord is with thee. Ask and pray for us to thy beloved son, Jesus Christ, that he may have mercy upon our souls and forgive us our sins. AMEN. 

According to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC), fasting is the abstinence from food and drink to attain forgiveness of sins and reward. It serves to weaken the body, so that it may obey the will of the soul. It is strictly observed by all baptized members of the church. During the Great Lent Fast, all animal products are prohibited. 

There are seven official fasting periods every year.

1. All Wednesday & Friday, except for the Fifty days after easter
2. Tsome Nebiyat | Fast of the Prophets
3. Gahad of Christmas and Epiphany (The Vigils)
4. Tsome Nenewe | Fast of Nineveh
5. Abiy Tsome | The Great Lent Fast
6. Tsome Hawariat | Fast of the Apostles
7. Tsome Filseta | Fast of the Assumption of St. Mary

Wednesday and Friday fasts are observed by all faithful except for the fifty days after Easter, and also if the Feast of Christmas and Epiphany falls on these days. We fast on Wednesdays in remembrance of the betrayal of our Lord, and on Fridays in the remembrance of his crucifixion for our salvation.

 Basic Requirements for Ethiopian Orthodox Church MembersMembers must know and understand:

• The Seven Sacraments
• The Five Pillars of Mystery
• The Creed and Prayer of Faith
• The Lord’s Prayer and the Prayer of the Virgin Mary
• The Ten Commandments
• The Six Words of the Gospel (or Parables of Jesus Christ)