The Mystery of Baptism: Part 5

 

Baptism is not merely the beginning of a Christian’s life in Christ, but the beginning of a lifelong journey of faith within the Church. Through this sacred mystery, the newly baptized enters into spiritual relationships and receives visible signs of Christian identity. The Christian father and mother and the ma’ateb beautifully reflect these spiritual responsibilities and bonds.

Christian Father and Mother (የክርስትና አባት እና እናት)
In the 4th century, Abba Selama Kesate Berhan, the first bishop of our Church, established the practice of appointing a Christian father and mother for children baptized on their 40th and 80th days. These spiritual parents take responsibility for the child’s spiritual education and growth in faith, thereby strengthening spiritual bonds within the Church. Accordingly, those united (የተዛመዱ) through a Christian father or mother are not permitted to marry one another. While those related by blood may marry after the seventh degree of kinship, those bound by this spiritual relationship are not permitted to marry at all. This demonstrates the Church’s profound respect for spiritual relationships, which are regarded as even more sacred than physical relationships.

Certain conditions disqualify a person from serving as a Christian father or mother. These include being related by blood or marriage, lacking the maturity to teach and guide the child, being unable to provide proper religious instruction, or having a faith different from that of the person being baptized. Regarding gender, a man serves as the Christian father of a male child, while a woman serves as the Christian mother of a female child; a man may not serve for a female child, nor a woman for a male child. The Christian father and mother promise to teach and guide the child as they would their own, providing basic religious instruction when the child reaches school age. They are therefore responsible for faithfully fulfilling this sacred commitment.

Tying a thread (ክር), or “ma’ateb.”

The word “ma’ateb” comes from the Ge’ez verb “ዐተበ” (“atebe”), which means to mark (አመለከተ). Thus, “ma’ateb” means a sign (ምልክት)—a visible mark or seal given to those who believe in the Christian faith and are baptized. The Holy Scripture also presents such signs of faith; for example, circumcision was given to Abraham (Romans 4:12–13; Genesis 17:9–14). In the same way, the “ma’ateb” signifies identity and belonging to the faith. At the same time, it serves as a reminder of Christ’s suffering, recalling how He was bound and dragged away with a rope (በገመድ መታሰሩንና መጎተቱን የሚያስታውስ ምልክትም ነው፡፡), as it is written, “ክርስቶስ ደግሞ ፍለጋውን እንድትከተሉ ምሳሌ ትቶላችሁ ስለ እናንተ መከራን ተቀብሎአልና።” (1 Peter 2:21), through it, we remember His suffering.

The three colors of the ma’eteb signify the Holy Trinity, while the weaving of its three threads in one reflects the oneness of the Holy Trinity. By wearing the ma’eteb, a Christian openly and unashamedly testifies to his faith and is strengthened against demonic influences. As it is prayed over and blessed in the Church, it also becomes a means of blessing. It is recorded that Jacob Baradaeus (ቅዱስ ያዕቆብ ዘእልበረዳኢ) (c. 500–578 AD), a Syriac Orthodox Bishop of Edessa who preserved the non-Chalcedonian Miaphysite Christian tradition, began the practice of tying the ma’eteb to distinguish Christians from heretics in his time.

Conclusion

The Christian father and mother and the ma’ateb therefore carry profound spiritual meaning in the life of the baptized. They remind Christians of their identity, responsibilities, and belonging to the Church. Above all, they call us to remain faithful to Christ and to grow continually in faith and spiritual life.