Guide · Updated October 2026
Timket 2027 in Canada
Timket (ጥምቀት), the Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox celebration of Epiphany, is on Tuesday, January 19, 2027. It commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River.
Tuesday, January 19, 2027
Tir 11 in the Ethiopian calendar. In Gregorian leap years it moves to January 20, as it will in 2028.
The eve: Monday, January 18
Known as Ketera in Ethiopia, when the tabots are carried out in procession.
ጥምቀት · Timket
The same name in Amharic and Tigrinya.
Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox
Both Orthodox Tewahedo churches celebrate Timket on the same day.
What happens at Timket
On the eve, each church's tabot, a consecrated replica of the tablets of the Ark of the Covenant, is carried in procession to a pool or river. An overnight vigil and liturgy follow.
At dawn the water is blessed and sprinkled on the faithful, and the tabots are carried back to their churches.
UNESCO lists Ethiopian Epiphany as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Timket in Canada
Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox communities in Canada mark Timket too. How and where varies by parish, so check with your church for its plans.
Churches and shops near you
Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo churches listed on HabeshaBiz, by city. Service times for Timket vary by parish, so confirm with your church.
Toronto, Ontario
- Debre Selam St. Michael Tigrayan Orthodox Tewahedo Church · 125 Broadview Ave
- Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church Debre Mhret Medhanie-Alem (Toronto) · 1 Ramsden Rd
- Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church - St. Mary Cathedral Toronto · 80 Tycos Dr
- Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church In Canada Medhane Alem · 23 Denison Rd E
- Eyesus Kristos Wekidus Urael Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church · 325 Weston Rd unit 6c
- Felege Hiwot St. Gabriel Monastery Ethiopian Orthodox Church · 10 Howarth Ave
- Merso Ahmar St. Michael Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church · 702 Jane St
Calgary, Alberta
- Calgary Debre Metmak Tsadkane St. Mary Ethiopian Orthodox Church · 2013 39 Ave NE
- Calgary Hamere Nohe St. Kidanemihret Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church · 2020 27 Ave NE
- Calgary Medhane Alem & St. Michael Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church · 1432 19 St NE
- Calgary Medhane Alem Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church · 2236 35 St SE
- Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo St Michael Church Calgary · 235 8 St NE
- St Gabriel Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church Calgary · 263 25 Avenue NE
Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Halifax St Mary Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church · 797 Prospect Rd
- St. Gebriel Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church · 1608 Hammonds Plains Rd
New Westminster, British Columbia
Ajax, Ontario
- Ethiopian Orthodox Church · 196 Wright Crescent
Breslau, Ontario
- Debre Sina Kidanemihret Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church · 1248 Kramp Rd
Burnaby, British Columbia
- St.Gabriel Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church in Vancouver · 3895 Albert St
East York, Ontario
- Felege Hiwot Saint Gebriel Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church · 2723 St Clair Ave E
Edmonton, Alberta
- Debre Selam Medhanealem Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church · 11403 124 St
Gatineau, Quebec
- Debre Zihon St. Mary Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church · 144 Rue Jean-René-Monette
Guelph, Ontario
- Qdst Slase Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church (Guelph) · 249 Edinburgh Rd N
Kitchener, Ontario
- St Mary Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church · 214 Highland Rd E
Montreal, Quebec
- Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Medhanealem Church of Montreal · 6980 Av. Papineau
Richmond, British Columbia
- Gishen Debre Kerbe St. Mary Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church · 13780 Westminster Hwy
Scarborough, Ontario
- Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Qudus Mikael Church · 37 Marchington Cir
Victoria, British Columbia
- Greater Victoria Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido St. Gabriel Church · 1100 Colville Rd
Don't see your city? All Ethiopian and Eritrean churches in Canada
Ethiopian Christmas (Genna) is Thursday, January 7, 2027 →
Questions
When is Timket in 2027?+
Tuesday, January 19, 2027. The eve, when the tabots are carried in procession, is Monday, January 18.
Why is Timket sometimes on January 20?+
Timket is Tir 11 in the Ethiopian calendar. That is January 19, or January 20 in Gregorian leap years such as 2028.
Do Eritreans celebrate Timket on the same day?+
Yes. The Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church celebrates Timket on January 19, or January 20 in leap years.
What is a tabot?+
A consecrated replica of the tablets of the Ark of the Covenant, kept in each Orthodox Tewahedo church. At Timket it is carried in procession to water.
Sources
Updated October 2026. Spotted something wrong or missing? Tell us.