Ettu Nombu
 | This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. The specific problem is: punctuation, spacing and capitalisation. (May 2017) |
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2018) |
| 8 Day Lent | |
|---|---|
| 250PX | |
| Also called | Ettu Noyambu |
| Begins | 1 September |
| Ends | 8 September |
| Frequency | Annual |
Ettu Noyambu or the Eight Day Lent of Saint Mary the mother of Jesus, is a solemn remembrance of her for Syrian Christians.
Belivers participate in fasting and praying for the eight days. During this time churches celebrate the feast in the remembrance of the birth of St. Mary (Nativity of Mary)[1] and the eight days lent is rigorously observed from 1st to 8th day of September with charitable activities, Evangelical conventions and special prayers to honor St. Mary. Praying Rosary in groups is an important custom these days. The eight day lent period is not a canonical one for the Church but is observed by the Syrian Christians in India and also in the Arabian countries.
Histories of Origin
There are different versions about the origin of the lent.
The narration by Bar Ebroyo
In the sixth century, there was a town called Heera near Basra, which was predominantly a Christian township. The Caliph of Baghdad captured this town and appointed a fanatic Muslim governor, who implemented the Caliph’s every dictum with fervor. The Caliph was known to be cruel and had a weakness for beautiful women. He was enamored by the beauty and charm of the women of Heera and decided to reach there in three days.The chastity and modesty of the women of Heera were at stake.They found refuge in Mother Mary and rushed to the church of St. Mary. The priest declared an uncompromising lent for 3 days invoking the intercession of Mother Mary. On the 3rd day, in the middle of the Holy Qurbana, a golden beam of light flashed down from above, illuminated and then spread to the whole church.It is said that the priest had a vision of Mother Mary and also heard her saying, “Do not be afraid; peace be to you – Rejoice. The Caliph is no more. Tribulations are over”. The priest then turned to the people and they could see an aura around the priests face as he pronounced the message of the Mother. The whole congregation praised the Lord and thanked Mother for her intercessory prayers.
The women then decided to observe a lent for 8 days (i.e. from the 1st to the 8th of September in commemoration of this event). They believed that Mother Mary helped safeguard their chastity, modesty and dignity.[2]
Establishment at Kerala
By 3rd Century St. David an Episcoppa came to India from Basra and Evangelized people and followed by Knanaya Migration From Şanlıurfa at 4th Century and Iraqi Migrants at 8th Century has brought this tradition.As it is not a canonical for the Church has gained less popularity and Later It Helped The Women Of Kerala. St. Mary's Cathedral, Manarcaud[3] under Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church is believed to be the first church who reestablished the lent in a wide manner and It is the largest church where the 8-Day lent is popular tradition. The stone inscriptions found at the church reveal that the church was built more than a 1000 years ago. Archeologists have found out that these stone inscriptions were memorial stones set up at the tombs in 910 A.D. and 920 A.D. and the writing on them are in Malayalam and Tamil scripts prevalent 600 years ago.[2][4] St. Mary's Church, Meenangadi is the first church to adopt the 8 day lent in Malabar region. Many churches in the name of St. Mary started the 8 day lent. The Holy Girdle is taken out for the public at the eighth day.
References
- ^ "Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary". Franciscanmedia.org. 8 September 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
- ^ a b "History of 8 Days Lent (Ettu Nombu) by Archbishop Mor Chrisostomos, St. Mary - Theotokos - Mother of God, Virgin Mary, Syrian Orthodox Church, Baselios Church Digital Library, Jacobite Church Ohio". Malankaraworld.com. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
- ^ "Manarcad church festival on September 1". Thehindu.com. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
- ^ "Birthday of Mother Mary – September 8". Summitlighthouse.org. 28 August 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2017.