ETHIOPIA: Orthodox Ethiopians celebrate the annual Meskel festival, commemorating the ancient discovery of a cross believed to be the one that Jesus was crucified on

Record ID: 740494

  • Title: ETHIOPIA: Orthodox Ethiopians celebrate the annual Meskel festival, commemorating the ancient discovery of a cross believed to be the one that Jesus was crucified on
  • Date: 28th September 2011
  • Summary: ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA (SEPTEMBER 27, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CHOIR SINGING VARIOUS OF CROWD SINGING/MAN DRUMMING CROWD OF PEOPLE DRESSED IN TRADITIONAL CLOTHES PROCESSING DOWN STREET SINGING VARIOUS OF PRIESTS SINGING AND PLAYING AN ANCIENT MUSICAL INSTRUMENT CALLED TSENATSIL PRIEST ABA KIDANE MARIAM SPEAKING WITH OTHER PRIESTS PRIESTS LINED UP SINGING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ABA KIDANE MARIAM, A PRIEST FOR LIDETA CHURCH SAYING: "[Queen Helena] went to Jerusalem to find where the part of the cross was buried and hidden. So as you will see during our ceremony later, she set up a Demera (bonfire) on on 17 September [Ethiopian Calendar] and the smoke from the fire went up and bent down indicating the area on the mountain where of the true cross was buried." VARIOUS OF PRIESTS SEATED SINGING AND READING FROM KOLO STUDENT READING VERSES FROM THE BIBLE VARIOUS OF DUTCH TOURISTS FILMING PROCESSION NUMS SINGING TOGETHER AND READING FROM THE BIBLE (SOUNDBITE) (English) GWYN, DUTCH TOURIST SAYING: "Yes we are very surprised about Ethiopia. People have to come to see it on their own." MORE OF CHOIR SINGING AND BEATING DRUMS
  • Embargoed: 13th October 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ethiopia, Ethiopia
  • Country: Ethiopia
  • Topics: Entertainment,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA1IFFQ3PJ120J7TXGH6UM8W92S
  • Story Text: The Ethiopian orthodox calendar is full of festivals and celebrations that involve singing and dancing in traditional clothes and the ceremonial procession of the country's elaborately dressed priests.
    The Meskel festival held every year around September is no exception. Celebrated for hundreds of years by followers of the Ethiopian orthodox tradition, Meskel, which means cross in the ancient language Ge'ez, is a commemoration of the cross of Jesus.
    Legend has it that the 'true cross' on which Jesus was killed was found by Queen Helena in the fourth century.
    "[Queen Helena] went to Jerusalem to find where the part of the cross was buried and hidden. So as you will see during our ceremony later, she set up a Demera (bonfire) on 17 September [Ethiopian Calendar] and the smoke from the fire went up and bent down indicating the area on the mountain where of the true cross was buried," said Aba Kidane Mariam, a priest.
    He was speaking during Meskel celebrations in the capital Addis Ababa where hundreds of worshippers gathered as dusk fell on Tuesday (September 27) to sing and join a procession through the streets.
    In Ethiopia it's believed a part of the cross was bought from Jerusalem to Ethiopia via Egypt, giving the event a special significance in the country bound by rich and ancient orthodox Christian traditions.
    The festival is also a big tourist attraction.
    "We are very surprised about Ethiopia. People have to come to see it on their own," said Gwyn, a tourist from Holland on her first trip to Ethiopia.
    For Orthodox Ethiopians the celebration of the cross is about enlightenment and hope.
    "Meskel brings me hope in life. It symbolises coming from the darkness into the light. It is also a way to remember the cross that Christ died on and saved us from the darkness. So Meskel brings me hope. It is also the day on which we think of Christ. Generally Meskel means light and hope for Ethiopians," said one worshipper, Fikirte Wolde.
    After dark the crowds gather around a huge bonfire meant to symbolise the same Demera fire built by Queen Helena when she was searching for Jesus' cross.
    The fire, built several stories high is lit by priests carrying effigies of Christ and crosses on sticks. Its flames send sparks high into the night sky as the crowd sing and dance to the sound of traditional drums below.
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