THE ARK OF THE COVENANT (የእግዚአብሔር ቃል ኪዳን ታቦት)

THE ARK OF THE COVENANT (የእግዚአብሔር ቃል ኪዳን ታቦት)

The Ark of the Covenant (Tabot) is the repository of the Holy Plate (Tsilat) on which the Ten Commandments were written in and given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai. In our Church, the Holy Plate or Tsilat is called the Ark (Tabot). This indicates the Holy Plate which is kept in the Ark. . The Ark is a means for the manifestation of God. We bow and pray in front of the Ark because the name of God and the Ten Commandments are written on it and God shows His mercy through it. (Ex. 25: 20-25)

Tabot was not abandoned after the Old Testament. Since the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Ethiopia, our country had long before Christianity accepted the Old Testament and offered worship to God. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church had accepted and preserved the Old Testament and the rites contained therein As the Lord said in the Gospel “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law and the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who brakes one of the least of these Commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the Kingdom of heaven.” (Mt. 5:17-19). Accordingly, one of those that have been taken from the Old Testament and is practiced by the Church is the Ark (Tabot) which has God’s name on it. The Ark is the means by which the covenant made between God and man is kept. The ancient Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church combines and uses the tradition of the Old as well as the New Testaments in Christian spirit.

Several miracles have been performed for the Israelites whenever they embarked on voyages or stayed at dwellings having the Ark of the covenant with them. They emerged victorious in all battles where they had taken the Ark with them. When they sinned, they were defeated for the grace of God was not with them. (1Sam. 4:11). The Ark is also the source of victory and Divine help. Hence, whenever foreign enemies arose, the Church has always been in the forefront with the Ark and has helped in carrying the day and defending the country. Thus, those who failed to pay respects to it and
touched it without priestly ordination perished while those who believed in its laws and accepted and respected it were rewarded. (1Sam. 4:6; 2Sam 6)

In the New Testament in our Church, the Ark is used for the worship of God and the offering of the flesh and blood of Christ which is the real food. That is why we bow before it and honor it.

St. Paul, in 2Cor 6:15-16 teaches “what harmony is there between Christ and Belial. What does a believer have with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the Ark of the Covenant of God and idols?” Moreover, John the Evangelist says in Rev. 11:19 “Then God’s temple in Heaven was opened, and within His temple was seen the Ark of the Covenant.”

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewhedo Church, therefore, gives honor to the Ark of the covenant and bears witness publicly and openly in God’s name. The Ark (Tabot) is for our Church the main manifestation for its faith and order. Arks are made in the names of the Trinity, the Virgin Mary, Saints, Angels, Prophets; Apostles, Righteous and Martyrs. If an Ark falls into unseemly hands, it is reconsecrated  with the prayer and blessing of a bishop and is anointed with myron.
Arks are made from time to time as per the instructions given to Moses to make new ones in the mold of the originals (Ex. 34:1).
Worships are offered before the Ark for it has the name of God written on it. (Phil. 2:10).
According to the canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Arks are made from precious stone and from special wood resistant to pets and termites.
The name of God is written on the four sides of the Ark.
The pictures of Chirub, the Trinity, St. Mary and St. John the evangelist are made on it.
It is consecrated by a bishop’s prayer, and is honored being anointed with myron and rests in its place.
No liturgy can be conducted at a church where the Ark is absent and it is not called a church.
Those who have the authority to carry the Ark are bishops and priests.