Ethiopians Pray for Peace During Religious Celebration, Call for an End to Ongoing Global Conflicts and a Humanitarian World

Ethiopians Pray for Peace During Religious Celebration, Call for an End to Ongoing Global Conflicts and a Humanitarian World

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Ethiopians celebrate Christmas, but their prayers are for peace, as the Horn of Africa country has faced continuous conflict in recent years.

Ethiopians follow the Julian calendar, which runs 13 days later than the Gregorian calendar used by Catholic and Protestant churches. Traditionally, they break their fast at midnight, slaughter animals, and gather with family members to celebrate.

The Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Abune Mathias, in his televised Christmas Eve message, called for unity and peace in the nation, where ethnic conflicts have often fueled violence. Recently, various parts of Ethiopia have experienced natural calamities, such as mudslides, and earthquakes in the remote regions of Afar, Amhara, and Oromia have displaced thousands.

Although a peace agreement was signed in 2022 to end the armed conflict in the Tigray region, ongoing conflicts in Amhara, Oromia, and other areas have continued, causing widespread suffering. According to UNICEF, 9 million children have been forced to drop out of school.

Almaz Zewdie, one of the thousands of Orthodox Christians attending ceremonies at Medhanyalem Church in Addis Ababa, said she was praying for peace. A merchant from the tourist town of Gondar, she had lost both friends and her livelihood due to the conflict in Amhara, where government troops have been fighting members of a local militia. "I lost my friends and my livelihood," she said, referring to the toll of the conflict.

Isaiah Seyoum, a priest at Selassie Church in Addis Ababa, stated that Christmas celebrations are not just about feasting and merrymaking. It is also a time to share meals with the needy and help those affected by conflict, including many who have sought refuge in Addis Ababa. "It is a time to assist many people sheltering in refugee camps, including those who have taken refuge in Addis Ababa," he said.