Ethiopians celebrate Meskel holiday with pomp, despite recent fighting in Tigray

Millions of Christians in Ethiopia gathered to celebrate Meskel, a religious holiday that commemorates the discovery of the True Cross by the Roman empress Helena in the 4th century, even as fighting continued in the troubled northern region of Tigray.

Ethiopians celebrate Meskel holiday with pomp, despite recent fighting in Tigray

TL;DR

  • Millions of Christians in Ethiopia celebrated the Meskel holiday.
  • Meskel commemorates the discovery of the True Cross by Roman empress Helena in the 4th century.
  • Celebrations occurred despite ongoing fighting in the northern Tigray region.