Easter celebrations are in full swing across Ethiopia as Orthodox Christians mark the holiday with church services and fasting. With the largest Orthodox population outside of Europe, Ethiopian followers abstain from meat and animal products for 55 days leading up to Easter.
On the eve of Easter, worshippers don traditional white attire and participate in church services that last into the early hours of the morning. At Kidus Gebreil Church in Addis Ababa, priests, deacons, and worshippers gathered to commemorate the holiday on Sunday.
The head of the church, Megabi Hadis Leake Mariam, spoke about the significance of Easter to Christians, emphasizing the belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The celebration is a reminder that believers will also rise from death, similar to Christ.
During the Easter period, families reunite with their loved ones, coming from far distances to be together. While many Western churches celebrated Easter on March 31st, Eastern Orthodox churches, including those in Ethiopia, follow the Julian calendar and mark the holiday on a specified Sunday.
