Fasting is abstinence from all things a body needs, and one has to fast from animal products and from any kind of food for a limited time until the period of fasting is over. (Fetha Negest 15, Mt. 6:16). In general, one has to abstain from any thing which the body desires.

The Ethiopian Church is known to fast more than they feast and have more holy days throughout the year that most faiths! Ethiopia is known as the New Jerusalem, the Mother of Christianity, predates Rome and Vatican false teachings. Fasting is a time for prayer, alms giving and giving time to the sacred works of the Almighty. It is also a time to abstain from worldly delights and to condition the soul to reconnect with the Holy Spirit.

The aim of fasting is to make the desire of the body to obey the will of the soul, to seek forgiveness of guilt and to increase the reward of the soul.

The Fast of Nineveh (ጾመ ነነዌ)

This is a three days fast, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. It falls at one time in January and at another in February. Thus it is one of the rotating fasts.

The reason behind the decision of our Church Fathers, that this fast be observed is that as the people of Nineveh were saved from the wrath of God through prayer and fasting, so also the faithful will receive mercy and blessings through this fast. (Jon. 3:5-9; Mt. 12:39).

During the fast of Nineveh, Read the book of Yonas/Jonah in its entirety. It is only four chapters. Interpret the Old Testament scriptures in light of Christ, the light of light. The storm relates to when the Apostles were nervous and Christ was asleep…the belly of the sea monster relates to the death and burial of Christ…the call to repent foreshadows John the forerunner and Christ’s message regarding the proximity of the Kingdom of the Heavens.

To Learn More Read The Order of Fasts in
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church
(ሥርዓተ ጾም ዘኦርቶዶክስ ተዋህዶ)