英语听力:自然百科 Timkat:埃塞俄比亚的主显节
时间:2018-12-26 作者:英语课 分类:自然百科2010年
Kibcob will soon face his first great step on the road to priesthood. He hopes to take part in the most important ceremony of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church—Timkat, the feast of the Epiphany, celebrating the baptism of Christ. Although Epiphany is celebrated 1 throughout the Christian 2 world, the Ethiopian Timkat ceremony is different. It features sacred replicas 3 of the Ark of the Covenant 4. To be allowed to take part, Kibcob must convince the senior priests of his church that he has total commitment to his calling, complete faith. For six years Kibcob has not been ready to take part in Timkat. If the elders question his faith now, it may be many years before he'll be considered again. And this is not the only pressure on Kibcob. He's got a family tradition to live up to.
I'm one of three brothers. The other two have finished their religious education. They are already working in the church. I am the youngest, but I want to achieve the same as them.
Kibcob's practice is a form of Christianity that is both ancient and unique to Ethiopia. His life revolves 5 around worship and study at a church school in Lalibela. His teacher, his own father, will be one of those who have the final say as to whether he's ready to take part in the Timkat festival. There's little formal structure to Kibcob's education. There's no end-of-year exam and study is constant. Learning the scriptures 6 by heart is in itself a monumental task, but Kibcob has to learn them in Ge'ez, which died out as an everyday language around a thousand years ago.
Kibcob lives with ten other students. They earn their meals the traditional way—by begging for food. Enduring physical hardship is seen as a necessary step in K's spiritual development, so is learning to accept charity, especially from villagers who often have little food to spare. Fortunately the people around Lalibela are devout 7 Christians 8, who would give whatever they can in exchange for a blessing 9.
There are few sights more impressive than the city of Lalibela. Kibcob's church is one of 11 churches, each cut straight into the volcanic 10 rock. They were built by the 12th-century King Lalibela, who had a vision of the holy city of Jerusalem.
Kibcob's long months of prayer and study have been rewarded. He's been chosen to be a part of the Timkat ceremony. It is an auspicious 11 landmark 12 in his spiritual development. But it is also a deeply private moment, a moment of personal revelation.
Christians from all over Ethiopia come to the ancient city of Lalibela for the festival of Timkat, hoping for a glimpse of the replicas of the Ark of the Covenant, known as Tabots. To come close to the Tabot is to come close to the word of God itself. The Tabots of the 11 churches of Lalibela emerge, carried on the heads of the most senior priests. They are considered so sacred that no one is ever permitted to gaze upon them, and must remain completely covered. From the labyrinth 13 they form a procession and make their way to the baptism pool. Scenes like this were described in the Bible when the Israelites welcomed Moses' return from Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments. Celebrating the baptism of Christ, the faithful are themselves blessed by the holy water of Lalibela.
Kibcob has taken his first step on a great spiritual journey.
- He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
- The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。
- They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
- His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。
- His hobby is building replicas of cars. 他的爱好是制作汽车的复制品。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The replicas are made by using a thin film of fusible alloy on a stiffening platen. 复制是用附着在加强托板上的可熔合金薄膜实现的。 来自辞典例句
- They refused to covenant with my father for the property.他们不愿与我父亲订立财产契约。
- The money was given to us by deed of covenant.这笔钱是根据契约书付给我们的。
- The earth revolves both round the sun and on its own axis. 地球既公转又自转。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- Thus a wheel revolves on its axle. 于是,轮子在轴上旋转。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Here the apostle Peter affirms his belief that the Scriptures are 'inspired'. 使徒彼得在此表达了他相信《圣经》是通过默感写成的。
- You won't find this moral precept in the scriptures. 你在《圣经》中找不到这种道德规范。
- His devout Catholicism appeals to ordinary people.他对天主教的虔诚信仰感染了普通民众。
- The devout man prayed daily.那位虔诚的男士每天都祈祷。
- Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
- His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。
- The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
- A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。
- There have been several volcanic eruptions this year.今年火山爆发了好几次。
- Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。
- The publication of my first book was an auspicious beginning of my career.我的第一本书的出版是我事业吉祥的开始。
- With favorable weather conditions it was an auspicious moment to set sail.风和日丽,正是扬帆出海的黄道吉日。