“The Cross Shines in Exile” Meskel Radiance at London Debretsion

Ethiopian Tribune editor — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 07:25:58 +0000

Read Time:3 Minute, 26 Second

Last night, London Debretsion Church became a beacon of light and unity as the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo community gathered to celebrate Meskel, the Finding of the True Cross. Though far from the highlands of Ethiopia, the spirit of Meskel burned brightly in the heart of the diaspora, illuminating the courtyard with reverence, memory, and joy.

Due to strict regulations on open flames imposed by local authorities, the Demera was reimagined as a simulation of small fireworks. Yet the rising smoke of frankincense and the soft glow of wax candles conjured a moment so vivid, it felt as though we were standing in Meskel Square itself. The air was thick with prayer, longing, and ancestral grace. The celebration was not only a ritual remembrance of Empress Helena’s divine vision, it was a declaration of continuity, of faith unbroken, and of a community flourishing in exile without forgetting its sacred roots. Meskel Abrha le Hulu! the Ge’ez hymn proclaiming the glory of the Cross rang out with celestial beauty, as the Mezemiran sang like angels, their voices shining for all.

Clergy led the faithful in solemn procession, their vestments catching candlelight as they offered blessings for the Ethiopian New Year. “May this New Year bring justice, unity, and spiritual renewal to all Ethiopians, wherever they may be,” one priest declared. Another, a lecturer at a higher educational institution, reminded congregants that “the Cross is not merely a relic, it is a compass for our conscience, a call to live truthfully and serve humbly.” Among the clergy were professionals in law enforcement, civil service, and ICT, a testament to the Church’s enduring role in shaping moral leadership across disciplines.

This year’s celebration was marked by a remarkable presence of youth, especially the deacons and Mezmur leaders whose credentials speak volumes. Among them were graduates from Britain’s top universities, many with honours and distinctions. One deacon holds a PhD in Nuclear Science; others are civil servants in law enforcement, lecturers at higher educational institutions, and professionals in the field of Information and Communication Technology. The Mezemiran, the liturgical singers, were themselves recent graduates, representing a range of academic disciplines and institutions. Their participation was not merely ceremonial; it was a living testament to the values instilled by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church: discipline, humility, and service. This was not just a gathering of believers, but a showcase of moral clarity and intellectual rigour, harmonised in devotion and guided by the Church’s enduring standards.

Meskel’s origins trace back to the fourth century, when Empress Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, embarked on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in search of the True Cross upon which Christ was crucified. Guided by divine revelation, she ordered a bonfire to be lit, and the rising smoke led her to the sacred site. According to Ethiopian Orthodox tradition, a portion of that very Cross, known as Gimade Meskel, was later brought to Ethiopia and interred at Gishen Mariam, a monastery nestled in the highlands of North Wollo.

Gishen Mariam is more than a geographic location; it is a spiritual axis. Emperor Zera Yacob, Ethiopia’s philosopher-king of the 15th century, is said to have received divine instruction to locate a cross-shaped plateau on which to place the relic. His search led to Gishen, where the Church of Egziabhier Ab (God the Father) now stands, alongside the Church of the Virgin Mary. Every year, thousands of pilgrims journey to this sacred mountain, some walking over 80 kilometres from Dessie, to honour the Cross and seek healing, renewal, and divine grace.

For the diaspora gathered in London, the memory of Gishen Mariam infused the Meskel celebration with deeper meaning, a reminder that even in exile, the Cross remains close, both physically and spiritually. The evening closed with the Mezemiran singing like angels their voices soaring in harmony, weaving scripture and longing into melodies that lingered in the hearts of all present. It was a fitting end to a night of sacred fire, moral clarity, and communal grace.

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