Thousands of Ethiopian orthodox worshippers gathered across the East African nation on Friday (January 19), to celebrate the Epiphany. A festival that commemorates the baptism of Jesus Christ according to the ancient Orthodox calendar. The colourful festival, also known as Timket is one of the oldest and most important observed religious festivals in Ethiopia. Local tour operators last year expressed feared that the political unrest would scare away visitors, who usually come in great numbers during the festival. Despite the growing influence of Islam and evangelical churches in the country, the traditional Orthodox Church remains strong.

Source: Ethiopian News January 20, 2018 03:56 UTC