Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-26 · by Samuel Getachew The Associated Press
Ethiopian Christians gathered across the country on September 27 and 28 to celebrate Meskel, a holiday marking the discovery of the True Cross. Despite ongoing fighting in Tigray, millions participated in traditional rituals like bonfires and prayers. Kibrom Yohannes, unable to visit family in Tigray due to conflict, joined celebrations in Welkite instead, highlighting the holiday’s significance while expressing concern for relatives affected by the war. Celebrants emphasized the importance of peace during their festivities, reflecting on the impact of recent conflicts that have killed thousands and displaced more than a million people.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-26,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Millions of Ethiopian Christians gathered to celebrate Meskel, a religious holiday commemorating the discovery of the True Cross by Roman empress Helena, despite ongoing conflict in the northern region of Tigray. This year's celebration holds special significance as it marks the end of the rainy season and the beginning of spring. However, the festivities come at a time when fighting between Ethiopian government troops and forces loyal to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front has spilled over into neighboring regions like Amhara and Afar. Kibrom Yohannes, traveling from Denmark for the holiday, had his flight to Tigray canceled due to renewed conflict, leading him to celebrate in the southwestern town of Welkite instead. Worshippers are calling for peace as there are fears that the fighting could draw neighboring Eritrea into the conflict as a proxy actor.
Written for “Meskel Holiday In Ethiopia” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
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.
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fighting → gather → Tigray
Meskel holds added significance in Ethiopia, a largely agrarian society, as it marks, along with the Ethiopian New Year, the end of the rainy season and the beginning of spring.
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it → hold → spring
This year’s celebration comes as Ethiopia is once again facing conflict in its far northern and volatile region of Tigray, which has since spilled over into neighboring Amhara and Afar regions.
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which → come → regions
There are fears the fighting could draw in neighboring Eritrea as a proxy actor.
uncertain
fighting → be → actor
Kibrom Yohannes had traveled from Denmark to mark the holiday in Adigrat in Tigray and celebrate with his extended family.
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Yohannes → travel → family
But his flight to the troubled region was suddenly canceled after a conflict he had feared erupted between Ethiopian government troops and forces loyal to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front.
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he → cancel → Front
Instead, he came to the southwestern town of Welkite to celebrate with strangers while worrying about his family in Tigray.
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he → come → Tigray
“My elderly mother is in Tigray, along with my wife, who is visiting, and our extended family.
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who → visit → wife
I had not seen most of them for five years, and I had brought diabetes medication for my mother.
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I → see → mother
Now, with the interruption of flights, I am worried about her condition worsening,” he told The Associated Press as he celebrated Meskel around a bonfire.
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he → worsen → bonfire
Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Meskel is celebrated with added fervor in the south of the country, with hundreds of thousands returning to their home regions to observe the holiday with friends and family.
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thousands → recognize → friends
Teklemariam Sahlemariam, a Toronto-based lawyer visiting Welkite for the second year, said he had seen fewer visitors this year but was nevertheless overwhelmed by the celebrations, which were filled with pomp and pageantry.
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which → base → pomp
In Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, thousands of people gathered in Meskel Square, where they prayed before a huge bonfire was lit.
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bonfire → gather → Square
For many, Meskel remains a sacred annual holy day, celebrated on Sept. 27 and 28 as a deeply cherished feast for Ethiopian Orthodox Christians.
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Meskel → remain → Christians
The celebration is marked by traditional rituals, including the lighting of the bonfire and, in some communities, the slaughtering of animals.
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celebration → mark → animals
“The Holy Cross is the powerful instrument through which our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, conquered sin and death, triumphing through His resurrection,” the faithful say in prayers and religious observances marking the feast.
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faithful → conquer → feast
“Peace is essential for everything; without it, we can neither celebrate our holidays nor engage in meaningful dialogue,” said Fikreab Lebeza, 22, an Orthodox Church deacon.
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Lebeza → celebrate → dialogue
Many Ethiopians are offering prayers for peace this year amid renewed fears of war and conflict following the Tigray war, which ended in 2022 after killing thousands and displacing more than a million people.
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which → offer → people
As a people deeply rooted in faith and values, we Ethiopians should offer earnest prayers for peace during sacred celebrations such as Meskel.
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Ethiopians → root → Meskel
I, too, have come here today to pray and ask God for peace to reign over our nation,” said Sara Dinkayehu, 43, a merchant in Addis Ababa.
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Dinkayehu → come → Ababa
The Aporia
