👉🏾👉🏾👉🏾 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 miracles and divine graces associated with Gishen Mariam are innumerable. A sea upon the mountain, which never dries up, and a venerable olive tree serve as living reminders of the presence of God and His continued work among the faithful. Moreover, the presence of the Cross itself, along with other holy relics, calls to mind the passion and suffering of Christ, drawing pilgrims into a deep reflection on the mystery 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.
Continues👇🏾