Ethiopia’s Orthodox Christians celebrated Timket – a holiday marking the baptism of Jesus – in the capital Addis Ababa on Saturday.
The UNESCO World Heritage Feast of the Epiphany began on Friday with each church ritual carrying a Tabot – a sacred replica of the Ark of the Covenant.
In the ritual, the Tabot is covered with a cloth and carried by the priests to a nearby water source. Hundreds of thousands of people dressed in white robes gather to sing spiritual songs and chants.
Pre-sunrise rituals began early Saturday at Jan Meda, where thousands gathered for prayers and liturgical services.
Priests sprinkled holy water on the assembled congregation to commemorate the baptism of Christ.
The Feast of Epiphany in Ethiopia is one of the highest and holiest holidays in the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian calendar and is celebrated on January 19 each year.
Timket was very famous in Gondar, a town in the northern Amhara region. However, due to the ongoing conflict between government forces and rebels in the region, many people now prefer to celebrate in Addis Ababa.
