(5 May 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 3 May 2024
1. Abune Teklehaimanot Church as seen from a distance
2. Orthodox Christians heading to Abune Teklehaimanot church for Good Friday Church service
3. Wide of Abune Teklehaimanot church
4. Various of devotees participating in spiritual activities at the church to mark the death of Jesus
5. Aerial view of Addis Ababa from the church
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 4 May 2024
6. Kidus Gebriel Church in Addis Ababa before midnight (3/5), devotees marking the resurrection of Jesus and the end of a two-month fast
7. Various of worshippers attending the midnight service at the church
8. Megabi Hadis Leake Mariam, head of the Kidus Gebriel Church, wearing golden attire during the service
9. SOUNDBITE (Amharic) Megabi Hadis Leake Mariam, Head of the Kidus Gabriel Church:
"In 1 Corinthians 15:20, it is written: ‘But now Christ is risen from the dead, becoming the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.’ We are celebrating the date our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has risen from death. 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.”
10. Various of worshippers dancing
11. Electricity outage occurs during the service, but worshipers continue with candles
12. Various of clergy worshipping after an emergency generator is turned on resulting in electric lights
Megabi Hadis Leake Mariam, Head of Kidus Gebriel Church, carries a cross and turns toward the congregation
13. SOUNDBITE (Amharic) Megabi Hadis Leake Mariam, Head of the Kidus Gabriel Church:
"Easter signifies not only the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ but also our need to rise above various challenges. We must transcend illness, racism, sin, and hatred.”
14. Various of worshippers
STORYLINE:
Orthodox Christians in Ethiopia have been celebrating Easter at churches across the country.
Ethiopia has the largest Orthodox population outside Europe and scores of faithful traveled to the Abune Teklehaimanot Church on the outskirts of the capital on Good Friday.
The church, surrounded by lush forest, is regarded a a serene and sacred place by many.
The devotees immersed themselves in spiritual activities, offering reverence and devotion as they honored the solemn day.
On Saturday, a day later, worshippers gathered in churches across Addis Ababa to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and the end of a near two-month fast.
For 55 days leading up to Easter, Ethiopia’s Orthodox Christians fast in a period known as Hudade or Abye Tsome.
This fast involves abstaining from meat and dairy products, focusing instead on vegetables, cereals, lentils, peas, and fruit.
In some areas, the fast may also include abstaining from fish.
On Easter Eve, Ethiopian Christians participate in an hours-long church service that concludes around 3 a.m.
At Kidus Gebreil Church in Addis Ababa priests, deacons and worshippers celebrated together.
Megabi Hadis Leake Mariam, the head of the church led the service and emphasized the significance of Jesus’ resurrection as a promise of new life for believers.
An unexpected electricity outage disrupted the service at one point, a common occurrence in Addis Ababa, but the worshipers remained undeterred.
With candles in hand, they continued chanting and praying and the situation was resolved when an emergency generator was turned on.
AP Video by Amire Kiyaro
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