Order of the Church

  The Boboshanti Tabernacle (Church) in Trinidad is located in St.Joseph, Wharf Trace. Anyone is welcome to the Tabernacle once you are willing to abide by their rules and order, for instance if an Empress would like to come to the camp she would have to be clean to enter, meaning she must be clean for 7 days after her menstrual flow, if she was to come into contact or near to someone else she would make them unclean. Most of the laws concerning the Tabernacle are found in the bible in the book of Leviticus. Also when you come to the camp you can't wear white over black or have your hair in a rubber band or anything like that.

When one enters the camp he or she must face East and say a pray out loud, all Boboshanti pray towards the East at 6am in the morning, 12 in the afternoon and at 6 again in the evening everyday. At the tabernacle the praying starts 30mins earlier since it includes drumming and chanting, you cannot enter into the tabernacle without removing all material things from your pockets, like money, jewelry, etc. The tabernacle is situated within a camp, which houses Bredrens & Sistrens, their is also a kitchen and an eating shed. The camp is situated further away from the tabernacle and the house in which the Empress live is separated from where the Kings live. This is so because of the Empress menstrual flow. On the camp food is prepared everyday to feed those living on the camp and those visiting, everything on the camp is free. Their is also the making, preparing and distribution of peanuts which are sent out with Bredrens from the camp for sale, this is one of the sources of income for the camp, another source is selling pendants, badges, necklaces things like that the profit made on it is split up and the Bredrens are paid equally and rightfully.

The Sabbath is on Saturdays but starts on Friday 6pm and ends on Saturday 6pm, the reason it starts from Friday is because you have to prepare yourself spiritually for it and also because we follow Ethiopian calendars which says the Sabbath is on Saturdays. During the Sabbath no work is to be done or money to be spent. On a first Sabbath all Boboshanti fast from 12am Saturday till 6pm Saturday, the first Sabbath is the first Sabbath of each month. When we fast we fast from eating or drinking even though you can break the Sabbath at 12 midday drink some water say a prayer and then start back fasting. We don't go out on any Sabbath or use any material things like the radio or car, this is because we cannot let anything break our meditation we must keep the Sabbath Holy, NO work a day of rest and Prayer.

On a Sabbath we dress in all white, from our turban to robe. The turban and robe also comes from the old testament, the Boboshanti order is an order of Priesthood and this is how it was in the old testament, the Priests wore turbans and robes, most Boboshanti only wear the robe or all white clothes on the Sabbath, if someone was new and was learning about the culture for him to earn his turban and become part of the church, he/she would have to show the Priests that he/she has gained the respect and honour, the understanding, knowledge and wisdom of the Boboshanti culture so that he/she would be granted to wear the turban. Empresses don't wear turbans though, they wear a long scarf over their locks to cover them from the public. To become a Priest in the church you have to prove to the High Priests that you are dedicated to the church and are willing to serve the church forever, if you are not a Priest you are a Prophet, the difference is that, the Priest carry out the duties around the altar, and the prays at the time, the Prophets are the ones who would reason and talk with you, the Priest also does this, you can become a Priest anytime once you can dedicate yourself to the church.

On celebrations, we do not fast, but celebrate in the name of God, Haile Selassie I, Jah Rastafari.

Celebrations : January 7th - Christmas Day

                      July 23rd - Haile Selassie Earth Day

                      November 25th - Coronation of King Selassie (Dress in gold robe and turban)

                      August 1st - Emancipation Day                  

                      August 12th - Marcus Garvey Earth Day               (Their is more to add to the list, coming soon).

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