英语听力：自然百科 Timkat：埃塞俄比亚的主显节

 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 celebrated¹ throughout the Christian² world, the Ethiopian Timkat ceremony is different. It features sacred replicas³ of the Ark of the Covenant⁴. 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 revolves⁵ 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 scriptures⁶ 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 devout⁷ Christians⁸, who would give whatever they can in exchange for a blessing⁹.

 

There are few sights more impressive than the city of Lalibela. Kibcob's church is one of 11 churches, each cut straight into the volcanic¹⁰ 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 auspicious¹¹ landmark¹² 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 labyrinth¹³ 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.

1 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• 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。

2 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• 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。

3 replicas   

n.复制品( replica的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• 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

4 covenant   

n.盟约，契约；v.订盟约

参考例句：

• 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。

5 revolves   

v.（使）旋转( revolve的第三人称单数 )；细想

参考例句：

• 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》

6 scriptures   

经文，圣典( scripture的名词复数 )； 经典

参考例句：

• 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。

7 devout   

adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness)

参考例句：

• 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。

8 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• 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。

9 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• 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。

10 volcanic   

adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的

参考例句：

• 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。

11 auspicious   

adj.吉利的；幸运的，吉兆的

参考例句：

• 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。

12 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

13 labyrinth   

n.迷宫；难解的事物；迷路

参考例句：

• He wandered through the labyrinth of the alleyways.他在迷宫似的小巷中闲逛。
• The human mind is a labyrinth.人的心灵是一座迷宫。