Meskel: The Feast of the Finding of the True Cross

Meskel meaning "cross" in Ge'ez is one of the most cherished celebrations in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Also known as the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, it centers on Demera, the ceremonial bonfire that symbolizes faith, light, renewal, and divine guidance.

Observed every September, the feast commemorates three pivotal moments: Saint Helena's discovery of the True Cross in Jerusalem in 326 AD; Emperor Constantine's dedication of churches at the Holy Sepulchre and Mount Calvary; and Emperor Heraclius's restoration of the True Cross to Constantinople in 629 AD, after it had been seized by the Persian Empire.

In Ethiopian Orthodox tradition, Christ's crucifixion is more than history, it's a living spiritual reality. The Synaxarion, read on this day, recounts the finding of the True Cross and its miracles, calling believers toward faith and righteousness. Scripture frames the crucifixion as the ultimate sacrifice: Christ, the blameless Lamb of God, bore the punishment for humanity's sins so that all who believe might find forgiveness (Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18; Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34).

Meskel teaches surrender, forgiveness, vigilance, and love, echoing the Church's themes of *Berhan* (Light), *Tesfaye* (Hope), and *Selam* (Peace). As Luke 9:23 puts it: "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."

Rituals of the Day

Morning prayers and liturgy: Services open with the Synaxarion reading of Queen Helena's discovery, while monastic communities chant hymns like *Tezeta* and *Mekdes*.

- Procession of the chebo: Bundles of wood are gathered, blessed with frankincense, and carried in processions through homes, neighborhoods, and church courtyards.

- Lighting the Demera: The chebo is stacked into a towering bonfire and set alight. Worshippers watch the direction of the smoke and, later, which way the central pole falls as it collapses, a traditional omen for the harvest and year ahead.

- Ash blessing: Ash from the fire is used to mark foreheads with a cross, symbolizing purification and renewed faith.

- Feasting and community : Families gather for shared meals, music, and dance.

- Reflection and charity:  Many meditate on humility and forgiveness, extending generosity to those in need.

Meskel holds special significance in Ethiopia, where tradition holds that a fragment of the True Cross was brought from Egypt and preserved at Amba Geshen, a site shaped like a cross itself. The day connects believers to history, faith, and communal life, offering a moment of spiritual renewal.

Beyond ritual, Meskel calls us to release anger, fear, and doubt, and to embrace love, forgiveness, and peace, extending those virtues to family, community, and the wider world. As always, the national celebration centers on Meskel Square in Addis Ababa, where tens of thousands gather for the lighting of the Demera, alongside major observances in Gurage Zone, Gondar, Axum, and Lalibela.

The festival remains recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, a status it has held since 2013, and continues to draw international visitors alongside domestic pilgrims for the torchlight processions and lighting of the giant bonfire.

In recent years, the holiday has also taken on added resonance as a moment for national reflection: Ethiopia has navigated regional tensions in the Horn of Africa, including disputes with Somalia over Red Sea access and with Egypt over the Nile dam, alongside internal conflicts in the Amhara region. Against that backdrop, worshippers and clergy have repeatedly framed Meskel as a call to peace and unity, a theme likely to carry into this year's observances as well.

May we all take up our cross, surrendering in light, hope, and peace, so that the love within teaches us to walk faithfully through this world we share.

Enkuan Le Birhane Meskel Beselam Aderesachu! 

By Dutches @deldeyoch