Ethiopians celebrate Meskel holiday with pomp, despite recent fighting in Tigray
Worshippers lit bonfires and prayed for peace as the 2022 Tigray war left more than 1 million people displaced, officials said.
- On Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, millions of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians gathered to celebrate Meskel, commemorating the discovery of the True Cross by Roman Empress Helena in the 4th century, even as conflict continues in Tigray.
- Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Meskel marks the end of the rainy season; this year's celebration occurs amid renewed fighting in Tigray that has spread to Amhara and Afar, raising fears of Eritrean involvement.
- Thousands gathered in Addis Ababa's Meskel Square to pray before lighting a huge bonfire. Toronto-based lawyer Teklemariam Sahlemariam described festivities in Welkite as filled with "pomp and pageantry."
- Kibrom Yohannes, who traveled from Denmark to Adigrat, found his flight canceled due to clashes between government troops and the Tigray People's Liberation Front. Having not seen his family for five years, he celebrated in Welkite while worrying about his mother.
- Many Ethiopians are offering prayers for peace amid renewed fears of war. Deacon Fikreab Lebeza of the Orthodox Church noted peace is essential for dialogue, while Sara Dinkayehu said she came to ask God for peace to reign over the nation.
22 Articles
22 Articles
On Saturday evening in Ethiopia, the Orthodox community celebrated the Meskel festival. Thousands of people were gathered in the huge square of the same name, in Addis Ababa, where they sang religious songs for several hours, around a spectacular stake. A suspended moment marked by the resumption of conflicts in the north of the country.
With white costumes, traditional hymns and the lighting of the traditional fire, the great celebration for the finding of the Holy Cross was revived in the heart of the city.
Associated Press News
Ethiopians celebrate Meskel holiday with pomp, despite recent fighting in Tigray
Millions of Christians in Ethiopia have gathered to celebrate Meskel, a religious holiday that commemorates the discovery of the True Cross by the Roman empress Helena in the fourth century.
Ethiopians celebrate Meskel holiday with pomp, despite recent fighting in Tigray - THE LOCAL REPORT ARTICLES
WELKITE, Ethiopia — Millions of Christians in Ethiopia gathered to celebrate Meskel, a religious holiday that commemorates the discovery of the True Cross by the Roman empress Helena in the 4th century, even as fighting continued in the troubled northern region of Tigray. Ethiopians celebrate Meskel holiday with pomp, despite recent fighting in Tigray Meskel ...
Addis Ababa, 26 Sep (Latin Press) Followers of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church today celebrate Meskel, considered one of the most important religious events in the country, commemorating the discovery of the true cross on which Jesus was crucified. The post Ethiopia celebrates Meskel festival, one of the largest in the country first appeared on News Prensa Latina.
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