Hidar Tsion or Hidar Zion Festival joyously and colorfully celebrated in the historic city of Axum, Tigrai state

Tigrai Online, Dec. 1, 2018

Hidar Tsion or Hidar Zion Festival joyously and colorfully celebrated in the historic city of Axum, Tigrai state.

Hidar Tsion Festival joyously and colorfully celebrated in the historic city of Axum, Tigrai state in northern Ethiopia. The annual festival was attended by His Holiness Abune Mathias I, Sixth Patriarch and Catholicos of Ethiopia, Archbishop of Axum and Ichege of the See of Saint Taklehaimanot, the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and His Excellency Deputy President of Tigrai state, Dr. Debretsion Gebremichael, other government officials, religious leaders, dignitaries,  and tens of thousands of pilgrims from all over the country and the nation of Eritrea.

The presence of the Eritrean pilgrims after 20 years of separation because of a conflict between the two countries was refreshing and one of the especial highlights of Hidar Zaion religious festival. The Eritreans seemed delighted to be back at the sacred city of Axum as they did for hundreds of years.

The Hidar Zion festival is one of the biggest festivals in Tigrai in addition there are many festivals including the Ashenda festival and the annual religious Christian pilgrim to Debre Damo, another ancient monastery in Tigrai.

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The Virgin Mary most revered in Tigrai, Eritrea and in Ethiopia. The largest churches in Tigrai and Eritrea are dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Hidar Zion is associated with the presence of the Ark of the Covenant in city of Axum and it is celebrated November 30^th or Hidar 21 in the Ethiopian calendar which is different from the Western world calendar.

Hundreds of tourists were present to attend the annual Hidar Tsion festival in Axum.

Tigrai is dotted with hundreds of historical rock hewn churches, monasteries, and UNESCO registered archeological sites.

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