Just as She Bore Witness

Continued ☝️ Just as she bore witness to Christ’s suffering and received from His lips the promise of motherhood to all of humanity, so too does she stand at Gishen Mariam as a figure of hope, suffering, and grace. The faithful who make pilgrimage to this place are assured of her intercession, particularly in times of suffering, for she is inseparably linked to the Cross. It is said that all who make the journey to Gishen Mariam to pray, to bless the Cross, to receive the sacraments of baptism and the Eucharist, and to offer their hearts in worship, will find divine favor. Earthly blessings for the body and heavenly blessings for the soul are promised to all who set foot upon this holy ground. For Ethiopian Orthodox Christians, the act of visiting Gishen Mariam is akin to making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem itself, for the blessings received there are believed to be just as powerful. The Feast of Gishen Mariam: A Day of Divine Encounter Each year on Meskerem 21, more than half a million Orthodox Christians ascend the heights of Gishen to celebrate this holy feast. Pilgrims bring offerings, prayers, and devotion to the Holy Virgin Mary and the Cross, hoping to receive divine blessings. The feast commemorates not only the arrival of the Cross in Ethiopia but also the profound covenant between God and His people. For the faithful, the pilgrimage is a moment of profound spiritual renewal, an opportunity to partake in the mystery of God’s salvation, and a reaffirmation of their commitment to the Christian faith. The preparation for this feast begins days in advance, as pilgrims gather from all corners of the country, beginning their journey as early as Meskerem 16. During this period, many seek to renew their souls by receiving the Eucharist—the very Body and Blood of Christ—and through holy matrimony, symbolizing the sacred covenant between God and His people. The Covenant of the Cross The celebration of the Cross at Gishen Mariam is not merely an act of historical remembrance, but a living testament to Ethiopia’s covenant with God. This covenant is exemplified in the Cross itself, which Christ invites all His followers to carry: “If anyone loves me, let him take up his cross and follow me.” The faithful who make the journey to Gishen Mariam recognize that to carry the cross, as Christ commanded, is to embrace both suffering and salvation, both death and resurrection. For those who cannot undertake the arduous physical journey, modern developments have made it easier to reach Gishen Mariam by vehicle. A road now exists, allowing even the elderly and infirm to visit the mountain and receive the blessings it offers. However, the true pilgrimage is one of the heart and soul, a journey toward the mystery of God’s love revealed in the Cross. Conclusion: The Glory of the Cross in Ethiopia The story of the Cross of Christ arriving in Ethiopia, and its final resting place on the Gishen Plateau, reflects the profound spiritual heritage of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The annual feast of Gishen Mariam is a time when the faithful remember this heritage, renew their covenant with God, and receive His grace through the intercession of the Virgin Mary and the sanctity of the Cross. The blessings of this holy place, bestowed on all who visit it, serve as a reminder of the eternal promises of God, offered freely to those who seek Him in faith and love. May we all, through the intercession of the Holy Virgin and the power of the Cross, find both earthly and heavenly blessings, and may we always remember that to carry the Cross is to walk the path of Christ—one that leads to eternal life. May the name of the Holy God be praised forever and ever in every tongue that He has created, today and always. May the blessings of God's mother, the virgin, and the cross be upon us. Amen. © John's Repentance Reach out to us on our social media platforms and share it with your friends: https://linktr.ee/johnsrepentance