WOW!! Such an amazing fire cleansing ritual to remind us that love, forgivness & surrendering to light, heals us all.
Ethiopia is unique in its respect to biblical traditions that has been preserved for centuries.
So many people turn up to join the Meskel celebration festivity in each household in Ethiopia. A bonfire is made to burn in the evening, making it such a unique moment of bliss for the family, community & society. The ritual, culture, tradition, festivity, historic significance & spiritually healing importance in society of Meskel Celebration, makes Ethiopia truly the cradle of mankind.
"Meskel" is Ge'ez for "cross". The Ethiopian & Eriterian orthodox church are the only churchs that celibrate the festival known as "Feast of the finding of the holy cross by Demera (burning of a large Bonfire)." Demera is based on the belief that Queen Eleni had a revelation in a dream to finding the cross that Jesus Christ was crucified on.
Christ came to pay for the sins of the world, as well as to show how humanity was meant to live. By being crucified on the cross, we are reminded that Christ is guiding us to live a life knowing we can not only carry our own suffering, but that of others as well, through surrender to love & light. Each of us needs to take total responsibility for our life in however we serve humanity. It starts with the willingness to live knowing we are more powerful than we think, to strive to be selfless & humble. In celebrating Meskel, we are reminded of the importance & significance of the cross to humanity, which is a symbol of surrender, forgivness, love & light.
"He was crucified as the ultimate, blameless sacrifice. He died as the Lamb of God, the atonement for all mankind. He bore the punishment of all our sins, and died, the just for the unjust." - (Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18).
"Not only did He die a physical death, but He even experienced separation from God while He was hanging on the cross. Through this sacrifice, all those who believe in Him are able to obtain forgiveness." -(Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34)
"Forgiveness is only the beginning. Jesus Himself indicated this very clearly: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” - Luke 9:23.
We celebrate demera by burning of chebo (wood), & going around our homes & the bonfirr with the lit chebo, chanting & singing gospel songs, & adding frankincense before lightening the bonfire. This is the process the Ethiopian Orthodox church follows to reinacts Queen Eleni's dream by looking at the direction of the smoke in the sky & seeing where the cross fell to determine the exactly spot where the Cross had been buried. Ash from the remains of the fire is collected & used by the faithful to mark their foreheads with the shape of a cross (Ash Wednesday), as a healing source.
Meskel Celibration holds a dear place in the heart of Ethiopians as it's believed that a part of the true Cross has been brought to Ethiopia from Egypt. It is said to be kept at Amba Geshen, which itself has a cross shape...
I am Grateful for this fire cleansing ritual, that reminds us to love & forgive ourselves & others, as well as know you are enough to purify & cleanse ourselves to heal, from negative emotions, anger, hate, vengeance, rage, fear, insecurity & doubt.
May we all have peace, love & joy in our hearts so as we can live in peace, forgivness, love & joy, as well as extend it to our family, community & society...
Enkuan Le Birhane Meskel Beselam Aderesachu!
Dutches Deldeyoch.com
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