ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA (APA) – Millions of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians at the weekend celebrated the founding of the true cross where Jesus Christ was believed to be crucified.

The cross on which Jesus crucified is found in one of Ethiopian monastries while the other part is believed to be in Israel.

On Friday, the celebration was held in Addis Ababa at Meskel (cross) Square in the presence of around 100,000 people including the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Church.

Also in attendace, was the Ethiopian president Girma Woldegiorgisse, foreign diplomats and religious leaders from different countries.

The gathering people attending the ceremony wishes each other a happy new year.

Ethiopian patriarch, Abune Paulos, Patriarck of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and one of the presidents of the World Council of Churches told the gathering to keep the country’s history and culture alive as their fore-fathers’ did.

Ethiopia – which follows its own ancient Coptic calendar is celebrating the day on 26 September each year.