FUNERAL RITES (KEBIR) FOR THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK

[Dr. Faheem Judah-EL - Kemnebi]

FUNERAL RITES (KEBIR) FOR THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK
PREPARATION FOR THE NEXT LIFEWe use the Amharic words to describe each step.

Main points for the preparation of a Child of The Most High's body for burial;

The tselot (prayer) to Amlak/Igzeeabiher (God The Most High) for the deceased Child Of The Most High is a common collective duty (giddadj/obligation). This means that some Children Of The Most High should offer this tselot, and when it is offered by some of the Children Of The Most High present at the time it is sufficient, and the other Children Of The Most High become exempt from responsibility.
When one dies, the whole body, beginning with the expose parts, (ablution) must be washed a few times with soap or some other detergent or disinfectant, and cleansed of all visible impurities; this is called "nitsuh", "to clean or cleanse". A man's body should be washed by men and a woman's body by women, but a child's body can be washed by either sex. A husband may wash his wife's body and vice versa if the need arises. When the body is thoroughly clean, it is wrapped in one or more white cotton sheets (ansola) covering all the parts of the body.
The dead body is then placed in a coffin and carried to the place of tselot, a mosque, a temple, or a church (outside in the courtyard) or any other clean premises, a masjid. The body is put in a position with the face toward the direction of Ka/ba (The holy inner house), or east which represents the direction of righteousness.
All participants in the tselot must perform an ablution unless they are keeping an earlier one. The Zodok Priest of The Most High EL stands beside the body facing the direction of righteousness (east), with the followers behind him in lines.
The Zodok raises his hands to the ears declaring the intention in a low voice to pray to Amlak (God) for the particular deceased one, and saying " Amlak Igzeeabiher" (God - The Most High). The worshippers follow the Zodok's lead and after him place their right hands over the left ones under the navel as in other tselot.
Then the Zodok recites in a low voice what is usually recited in other tselot, i.e. the "Mefcha", or "Key/Opening" verses of the Koran, The Torah, The Injeel, Ye'geta Tselot, or any other Holy Scripture.
At this stage he says "Amlak Igzeeabiher" without raising his hands and recites another Holy Scripture.
Then he says again "Amlak Igzeeabiher" without raising the hands and offer his supplication (supplication in Amharic) in any suitable words he knows: Translation: "YEGETA TSELOT
"ABATACHIN HOY, BESEMAY YEMITNOR SIMIH YEKEDES, MENGIST TIMTA, FEKADH BESEMAY INDEHONE, INDIHUM BE MIDIR YIHUM, YELLET INDJERACHIN BE YEKENU SITEN, INGNA YEBEDELUN YIKIR INDEMINIL, BEDELACHIN YIKIR BELLIN, WEDE FETENA ATAGBAN KEKIFU ADEN INDIJEE MENGIST HAIL KIBIR LEZELALEM YANTE NEW AMEN.
"OUR FATHER & MOTHER, WHICH ART IN ZION, HOLY BE THY NAME, THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE, ON QI, AS IT IS IN ZION, GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DALIY MANNA, AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS, AND KEEP US FROM TEMPTATION AND DELIVER US FROM EVIL, FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, THE POWER, AND THE GLORY FOREVER AMEN."
Then the Zodok says: " Amlak Igzeeabiher 4 times, without raising the hands is made followed by the concluding peace greetings right and left as in other tselots. It should be remembered that the worshippers behind in lines follow the lead of Zodok step by step and recite privately the same utterances in a low voice.
After completing the tselot, the coffin will be taken to the cemetary; mourners should walk in front or beside the bier, those who are riding or driving should follow it. During this process silence is recommended. The grave should be deep. The body is lowered for burial with the face resting in the direction of righteousness (east). When lowering the body down, these words are said: ABATACHIN HOY, BESEMAY YEMITNOR, SIMIH YEKEDES.
Translation: OUR FATHER WHICH ART IN ZION, HOLY BE THY NAME.
Beside these, any other fit tselot may be offered.
It is not recommended to use a casket unless there is a need for it .,e.g the soil is wet or loose. A stone or bricks or soil should be placed under the deceased's head to raise it up. After placing the body in the grave, fill the pit with soil, and raise the level of the grave a little less than one foot in a sloping way.

The grave should be built and marked in a simple way. The dead body should be covered with white cotton sheets of standard material. Any extravagance in building the grave or dressing up the body in fine suits. It is false vanity and a waste of assets that can be used in many useful ways. The deceased should wear seamless white cloth, which represents humility, purity, and being a part of the heavenly family forever.

This burial tradition is one of our first tradions dating back to Adam.

This burial is still used by Ethiopians, Coptic Christians, and Muslims all over the world.

Peace be unto you,

Faheem Judah-el