Ethiopian Orthodox Christians participating in a religious celebration called “Meskel” by marching and singing.
Thousands of Ethiopians congregated in Meskel Square, Addis Ababa.
According to Christian doctrine, the festival honors the cross that Jesus was crucified on and its retrieval by Saint Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine.
The holy day is recognized as a part of humanity’s Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
The celebrations will last until Friday, September 27, a national holiday on which believers attend church services and spend quality time with their families.
Around the nation, bonfires are set ablaze in observance of Meskel, which means “cross” in the native Amharic language.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church patriarch ignited a massive one at Meskel Square on Thursday, in front of hundreds of Christians dressed in white costumes.
Many people congregate in public squares and beside churches throughout Ethiopia to start bonfires resembling this out of heaps of logs, dry leaves, and grass.
Following religious rituals and prayers, there is a feast known as “kitfo,” which is a delicacy of minced meat that is enjoyed as part of Meskel celebrations and is much like steak tartare.
The event honors the cross that was used to crucify Jesus and its recovery by Saint Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, according to Christian doctrine.
According to legend, Saint Helena received revelation in a dream that told her to start a bonfire and follow the flames to find the cross buried in Jerusalem.
This year’s festival comes at a difficult time for Ethiopia, Africa’s second-most populous country and one of the largest landlocked nations in the world
(AP)
