The Brotherhood Choir of the Solovetsky Monastery performed at celebrations marking Meskel, one of Ethiopia’s major Christian holidays commemorating the finding of the True Cross.

The annual festival is celebrated across Ethiopia, with its main event centered on the lighting of a large ceremonial bonfire known as the Damera. In Addis Ababa, the bonfire is erected at Meskel Square. Clergy in festive vestments sing hymns, offer prayers and perform traditional dances before the Damera is ceremonially lit.

Meskel draws hundreds of thousands of people and is regarded as a time for family gatherings, reconciliation and unity. In 2013, UNESCO added the Meskel celebration to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

On September 26, the eve of the main celebrations, the Solovetsky choir took part in a musical procession at central Meskel Square. Performing before a large audience, the Russian singers presented Orthodox sacred music, including the troparion dedicated to the Cross of Christ.

Among the distinguished guests were Abune Mathias, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church; Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of India; representatives of the Ethiopian authorities and diplomatic corps; and Orthodox clergy. The choir’s performance was broadcast by Ethiopian television channels.

On September 27, the choir participated in a festive service at the Russian House in Addis Ababa. The service was attended by members of the Russian community living in Ethiopia and Abbess Elisabeth, head of Moscow’s Marfo-Mariinsky Convent of Mercy.

The choir also performed that day at a concert at the Russian Red Cross hospital in Addis Ababa. The audience included hospital staff and patients, members of the Russian community and Ethiopian guests.

The Solovetsky choir’s visit took place as part of the Days of Russian Spiritual Culture in Ethiopia. The program was supported by Russia’s Ministry of Culture, the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, the Russian Embassy and the Russian House in Addis Ababa.