ADDIS ABABA – Alexandrian Coptic Orthodox Church urged Ethiopia to further promote the unique, popular and nowhere to find Meskel holiday celebrated in Ethiopia once in a year.
In an exclusive interview with The Ethiopian Herald Representative of the Church in Ethiopia Father Angelos Elnagady, Official said that as Meskel is being marked throughout Ethiopia both inside and outside the church, he called on tourists to be part of Meskel festival.
He also said Ethiopia is a grand country endowed with numerous traditions. The Holy Cross is celebrated warmly and uniquely here in Ethiopia while in Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandrian Meskel (The Finding of the Holy Cross) is celebrated in the premises of churches.
He further stated that the two churches have many things in common. There is no difference in terms of holiday, calendar and prayer. The only exception is Ethiopia celebrate Meskel in both inside and outside the church.
“The Ethiopian Meskel Celebration is so colorful that, the onlookers mesmerized at. Traditional wearing styles, spiritual songs and prayers eye are catching and found nowhere else, he underlined.”
However, there is no sufficient promotion done to attract tourists. Thus, relevant authorities need to devise guide maps, brochures, CDs to motivate and direct tourists towards various cultures in every corner of the country, he suggested.
“I need to visit every village of Ethiopia because there are original and interesting traditional and spiritual values that have been preserved for centuries. Ethiopia is an ancient country having ancient Rock-Hewn Churches,” he said.
Ethiopian Orthodox Church and Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandrian began to celebrate the finding of the true cross in the 4th century or 326 AD.
The Ethiopian Herald September 26, 2019
BY MULATU BELACHEW
