I finally had a chance to visit an Orthodox Christian church on New Year's Day in Addis. I was moved by the stillness and the trance-like intensity of everyone present. (This post should replace all negative statements about angry bees I may have mentioned in an earlier post. . . although I have to say that from the outside the sound coming from the speakers is still really bad! But I digress, this is about the beauty of the prayer ceremony)
Selam and I didn't make the 6am start, but we did arrive near the end of the service. . . at 12 noon! We went to the largest, newest, shiniest, most humongous church in Addis. By the time we arrived many people had left, but those who remained were in either resting positions on the floor, kneeling or standing with palms raised to the sky. We ascended to the balcony so that I could take photos without feeling invasive. I was mezmerized by the massive scale and decadence of the church's interior. We waited for a while and another prayer service began. The priests, speaking in Gi'iz—the language of the church, led the audience through several prayers. The call and response rises and falls and sent chills down my back.
Listen to this clip of one of the prayers:
Selam and I didn't make the 6am start, but we did arrive near the end of the service. . . at 12 noon! We went to the largest, newest, shiniest, most humongous church in Addis. By the time we arrived many people had left, but those who remained were in either resting positions on the floor, kneeling or standing with palms raised to the sky. We ascended to the balcony so that I could take photos without feeling invasive. I was mezmerized by the massive scale and decadence of the church's interior. We waited for a while and another prayer service began. The priests, speaking in Gi'iz—the language of the church, led the audience through several prayers. The call and response rises and falls and sent chills down my back.
Listen to this clip of one of the prayers:
