Siklet 2027: April 30

What is Siklet?

Siklet (ስቅለት, “crucifixion”) is Good Friday in the Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo churches. It remembers the crucifixion and death of Jesus and is a public holiday in Ethiopia. It falls two days before Fasika, so its date changes every year.

A day in church

Siklet is the most solemn day of the year. The faithful spend most of the day at church, dressed in white, for a long service of readings, chants and prayers. A central part is sigdet: repeated prostrations, bowing down to the ground again and again in repentance. Many people fast completely until the service ends in the afternoon, and some continue a strict fast until the Easter vigil.

Forgiveness

Siklet is also a day of reconciliation. Priests call on the congregation to forgive one another, and families try to settle quarrels before Easter. Customs differ from parish to parish and region to region.

Holy Week

Siklet is the climax of Himamat, Holy Week, which begins on Hosanna. On Saturday night the long Easter vigil begins, and at about 3 a.m. on Sunday the resurrection is announced and the 55-day fast of Abiy Tsom ends.