Ethiocross Blog

APA:- Millions of Ethiopian Orthodox church followers are celebrating on Saturday the recovery of the cross (Demera) where Jesus Christ was crucified.

Demera, the recovery of the true cross, is being celebrated colorfully throughout Ethiopia. The celebrations are being observed here in Addis Ababa at the Meskel square where over 100,000 christians gathered to mark the day with a grand bonfire ceremony.

A big bonfire was lit by the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Abune Paolos while he also gave blessing to the gathering.

Abune-Paolos said that the national constitution had guaranteed freedom of worship in Ethiopia where religious and ethnic tolerance was also prevalent.

Hundreds of priests and deacons attired with Ethiopian white traditional clothes sang songs and hymns that gave color to the event.

Demera, also known as the Maskal (cross) festival is marking the recovery of the true cross on which Jesus Christ was said to have been crucified.

The festival is ancient, dating back to 1,600 years and it is celebrated with yellow Meskel daisies placed on top of huge bonfires that are lit in the evening in front of the throngs of celebrants.

Priests carrying silver Coptic crosses dance with their followers around the fires singing and chanting and carrying flaming torches.

The flowering of the cross-shaped Meskel daisies also marks the end of the 3-month long rainy season and the return of the sun.

Source:- APA