Stock Photo - Ethiopia, Lalibela, Church of Bieta Giyorgis, Timkat festival, Departure of the Tabots Every year on january 19, Timkat marks the Ethiopian Orthodox celebration of the Epiphany The festival reenacts the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River Wrapped in rich cloth, the church Tabots replicas of the Ark of the Covenant are born in procession on the heads of the priests to a neary body of water on the afternoon of the eve of Timkat The following morning the crowds gather around the water, which is blessed, then splashed onto them The Tabots are then paraded back to their respective churches accompanied by much singing and dancing