About the annual feast of #Meskel: The finding of the #Cross
Beloved, let us turn our hearts and minds to the contemplation of the cross— that symbol of paradox, weakness to some, but for us, the great power of God, as revealed in 1 Corinthians 1:18. The Feast of Meskel, celebrated in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, reminds us of the discovery of this life-giving cross and the mystery it holds for our salvation.
The Cross in the Angelic Realm: A Sign of Victory
The origins of the cross are not of this earth, but of the highest heavens. According to the ancient writings of St. Epiphanius, the creation of angels itself was tied to a heavenly battle. When the devil, full of arrogance, claimed that he had created the angels, a rebellion ensued. Many angels, seduced by his lie, followed him, while others—those who trusted in the true Creator—remained steadfast.
In the midst of this conflict, the angels turned to God, asking, “Is it your will that the devil overcomes us?” God's answer revealed the mystery of the cross: “It is not my will that you are defeated, but that you might know the power by which you will conquer.” At this, He carved the sign of the cross in light upon their wings and placed a cross of light in their hands. Empowered by this divine sign, the angels prevailed over Satan, as foretold in Revelation 12:7, showing us that from the very beginning, the cross was the power of God’s victory over evil.
The Cross as a Sign of Blessing: From Jacob to the Priests
The cross also has deep roots in the history of blessings. When Jacob, the patriarch, was dying, he blessed the sons of Joseph by laying his hands on them in the shape of a cross, as recorded in Genesis 48:11. This action foreshadowed the blessing of the cross that was to come in full through Christ. As Hebrews 11:22 recounts, the crossing of Jacob’s hands over Ephraim and Manasseh was a sacred symbol of the future grace that the cross would bestow.
Even today, the priests of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church extend their hands in the sign of the cross when they give blessings. This act reflects that the very foundation of the Church is the cross— a continuation of the blessings first seen in Jacob, extending from the Old Covenant to the New.
The Cross in the Old Testament: Judgment and Deliverance
In the Old Testament, the cross appears in many forms, often as a symbol of both judgment and deliverance. It was used as a method of execution, a sign of punishment for the worst crimes, as seen in Persia, and later adopted by the Romans. Deuteronomy 21:21-23 speaks of the punishment by hanging, but this too is infused with the mystery of the cross. The crucifixion of criminals, though seen as a curse, would one day become the means of our redemption when Christ himself would be unjustly hung on a tree.
But the cross was not only for punishment; it was also a symbol of God’s deliverance. Moses’ rod, which parted the Red Sea, was itself a prefiguration of the cross. With that rod, Moses:
- Parted the sea, just as Christ opened the way for our salvation.
- Defeated the enemies of God’s people, just as the cross defeats Satan and his hosts.
- Brought manna from heaven and water from the rock, foreshadowing the Eucharist, the true body and blood of Christ, and the living water of salvation that pours from His side.
Thus, in Moses’ rod, we see the power of the cross at work, pointing to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, which would drown our sins and bring us into the baptismal waters of new life.
The Cross in the New Testament: The Fulfillment of Salvation
When Christ came into the world, born of the Holy Virgin Mary, He fulfilled the promise made to Adam. In His incarnation, He took on the weakness of our human nature, and by His crucifixion, He offered us salvation. The cross of Christ was not just an instrument of death, but the means by which He reconciled all things:
Man with God, restoring our broken relationship.
Angels with man, for now the angels minister to us through the mystery of salvation.
About the annual feast of #Gishen #Mariam - the arrival of the #cross to Ethiopia
The celebration of the annual feast of Gishen Mariam, centered around the arrival of a portion of the True Cross to Ethiopia, is a profound and richly significant event in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC). This sacred occasion, deeply tied to the historical, spiritual, and cultural identity of the Ethiopian Orthodox faithful, holds an unmatched reverence, both for its connection to the Cross of Christ and its embodiment of Ethiopia's sacred covenant with God. Let us delve deeply into the meaning of this event and the grace it holds for those who partake in it.
The Sacred Narrative: The Arrival of the True Cross
The story begins during the reign of Emperor Dawit II, a devout king of Ethiopia, who sought something far greater than material riches for his people. Rather than requesting gold, jewels, or treasures, the emperor wrote to the ruler of Egypt, asking for the most sacred of relics—the Cross of Christ itself, along with the relics of saints. This request, reflecting a heart tuned to the eternal and holy rather than the fleeting wealth of the earth, shows the profound spiritual character of the Ethiopian kingdom at that time.
In response, Egypt sent the Cross on which our Lord's right hand rested, along with the bones of saints and other sacred relics. This sacred procession journeyed through Egypt toward Ethiopia, and Emperor Dawit, accompanied by his army and people, received them with deep reverence. It was more than a physical journey; it was a spiritual procession that symbolized the deep union between Ethiopia and the holy relics of the Christian faith.
The Cross Finds Its Home on the Gishen Plateau
Upon their return to Ethiopia, the relics were initially placed in the city of Debre Berhan. However, this was not to be their final resting place. Emperor Dawit’s successor, Emperor Zara Yaqob, received repeated divine messages, a vision from the Spirit of God, revealing that the Cross was destined to rest elsewhere—a place specially prepared by God. In a recurring message, the voice of God commanded, "Place the Cross in a crossy place."
Seeking to fulfill the divine will, the emperor and his court searched diligently for the location destined to hold the holy relics. After exploring other mountains such as Nagesha, Erer, and Atacha, Emperor Zara Yaqob entered into a seven-day period of intense fasting and prayer. At the conclusion of this period, a pillar of divine light appeared before him, guiding him toward the mountain of Gishen. The light stopped at a location shaped in the form of a cross, and there the king knew that he had found the place God had chosen for the Cross to rest.
Gishen Mariam: The Second Jerusalem
The plateau of Gishen Mariam, also known as Debre Kerbe, was thus consecrated as the final resting place of this precious relic of the Cross. The mountain, resembling the form of a cross, became a spiritual beacon for all Ethiopian Christians, and it was crowned with divine honor. Over time, Gishen Mariam came to be called the “Second Jerusalem.” Just as the city of Jerusalem holds the Cross where Christ was crucified, so too does Gishen Mariam hold a portion of that same Cross, sanctifying the land of Ethiopia with the promise of salvation.
The Promise and Blessing of Gishen Mariam
The spiritual promise associated with Gishen Mariam is vast and deeply rooted in the history of Ethiopian Orthodoxy. The Virgin Mary, who stood beneath the Cross of Christ on Calvary, is believed to have a unique connection to this sacred site.