ጥልን 
በመስቀሉ
ገደለ
ኤፌ. ፪፥፲፮
The
History of “Meskel”
(The
Finding of the True Cross)
According to Ethiopian Orthodoxy, after the
ascension of Jesus, the Cross on which he was crucified began performing
extraordinary miracles. This raised the ire of the people who crucified Jesus, who then ordered
the cross to be removed and buried in the outskirts of town. Residents living
in the surrounding areas were commanded to dump their garbage on the site, and
for the next three centuries the area turned into wasteland.
Three hundred years
later, in 4th century, Constantine the Great was ruling the Roman Empire. His
mother, St. Elleni, was concerned about the plight of Christians, beseeched her
son to allow the free practice of Christendom in her son’s empire. The Emperor
consented, and St. Elleni traveled from Constantinople to Jerusalem to look for
the buried Cross. Once in
Jerusalem, however, no one could tell her the exact spot where it lay. It is
said that she went into seclusion and prayed for God’s guidance.
As a result of her
prayer, St. Michael the Archangel appeared unto her and gave her certain
instructions. She ordered her
soldiers and the local residents to gather a pile of firewood. After a prayer,
a fire was set ablaze the wood. Clergymen doused incense on the flame and the
smoke of the incense rose up towards the sky then arched down to the earth,
pointing out the exact spot where the Holy Cross was buried.
Following
this miraculous sign, digging began and commenced for six months until the True
Cross was discovered.
This
has been the premise of the celebration of “Mesqel” in the Ethiopian Orthodox
Church. Since then, clergy and parishioners have dressed in traditional,
colorful clothing to sing ancient hymnals dating back to the sixth century. A
bonfire is lit up to memorialize the finding of the True Cross.
“Christ
brought us together through his death on the Cross. The Cross got us to
embrace, and that was the end of the hostility.” Ep.
2:16
Come
and Celebrate!
Where: : Clarkston Community
Center Activity Field
When: : September 27, 2014
From 4:00pm to 8:00pm
With
Whom?
Ethiopian Orthodox Churches in Metropolitan Atlanta of:
1. Holy Trinity
2. Mekane Selam St. Michael
3. Miskaye Hizunan Medhanealem
