Easter celebrations are underway in Ethiopia, where the Orthodox population is the largest outside of Europe. For 55 days prior to the holiday, Orthodox Christians abstain from meat and animal products as they fast. On the night before Easter, worshippers don traditional white clothing and attend church services that last into the early hours of the morning.
At Kidus Gebreil Church in Addis Ababa, priests, deacons, and worshippers gathered to celebrate this special day together on Sunday. The head of the church, Megabi Hadis Leake Mariam, explained their reasons for celebrating. “We are commemorating the date our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ rose from the dead,” he said. “When we say this, we are not only observing but also bearing witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ during this service.”
During Easter time, families and friends come from far away places to be with their loved ones. While most Western churches observed Easter on March 31st, Eastern Orthodox churches follow a different calendar – the older Julian calendar – marking the holiday on Sunday worldwide.