Easter celebrations in Ethiopia have been underway as Orthodox Christians across the country mark the occasion at churches nationwide. This is a particularly significant holiday for Ethiopia, given that it has the largest Orthodox population outside Europe. In preparation for the holiday, worshippers abstain from meat and animal products for 55 days prior to Easter.
On Sunday, worshippers at Kidus Gebreil Church in Addis Ababa came together to celebrate this important religious holiday. The church’s priests, deacons and congregation all joined in to mark the occasion with traditional white clothing and church services that lasted late into the night.
The head of the church, Megabi Hadis Leake Mariam, spoke about the significance of the day: “Today we are celebrating the date our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ rose from the dead. When we say this, we are witnessing the resurrection of Jesus Christ in this service and emphasizing that just as He rose from death, we believers will also rise.”
During Easter week, families and friends travel from far away places to be with their loved ones. Despite most Western churches observing Easter on March 31st, Eastern Orthodox churches follow a different calendar and mark the holiday on Sunday worldwide.
