Meskel in Ethiopia: Faith Amidst the Threat of a New Conflict

Thousands of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians gathered in Addis Ababa to celebrate Meskel with chants, prayers, and processions before lighting the Demera fire. The celebration, which commemorates the discovery of the cross of Christ, was overshadowed this year by renewed fighting between federal forces and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), threatening the peace agreement signed in 2022. The renewed conflict in northern Ethiopia endangers stability after two years of war that caused many casualties and the collapse of essential services.