The Largest Cross Tower Erects in Adigrat City
Infeatured news, October 20, 2016
By Kassa Nigus
Africa’s great cross tower inaugurated and displayed for public in Adigrat city in a specific place called Kenda’ero after the sanction of His Holiness Abune Mathias I, Patriarch of Ethiopia, Archbishop of Axum and Ichege of the See of Saint Taklehaimanot.
The Cross Tower made up of pure iron and aluminum at a cost of bir1.4mn covered by the Adigrat City administration, Tigray State Culture and Tourism Bureau and local believers. The Cross has 22m height, 15m width, and a weight of seven tons.
The new Cross tower is built at the hub of several church compound; Debre Tsehay Holy Trinity in the northwest, Debre Golgotha Keranyo Holy Savior Cathedral in the East, Debre Hail Mar George in the South, St Kirkos in the western part.
Alhough there were efforts of local believers to set up the project, it mainly accomplished by the initiation of a devoted Christian called Hagos Wolde Gabriel. Hagos made a great contribution along with their friends who have been living in the United States of America. He started the work being with the recognized committee after having obtained building permit from Adigrat city administration.
His Holiness patriarch Abune Mathias delivered his inaugural address to the crowds, “We shall feel a great sense of pride and happiness as we watched the cross tower on the top of this mountain on the feast day of the cross; Peace, love and unity are derived from the cross. Anyone who believes in Cross, he will not be suing each other and hasn’t a grievance against his brother too; Jesus Christ said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do’ to preach love; the Cross itself is love. We should pray for our country and preserve our faith and safeguard the holy cross which is the Savior of all”.
His Grace Abune Deyoskoros, Archbishop of the Diocese and General Manager of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church noted on the feast celebrated at Debre Menkirat St Kirkos and Holy Savior Church, “It is splendid to raise the cross on peak of this mountain as it is the seats of early holy places which may contain sacred materials. The cross is the savior of life, the logo of peace and unity".
Archbishops, senior government officials including Ato Abay Weldu, president of Tigray State, and more than fifty thousand pilgrims attended the inauguration ceremony.
Source: Sem’atsidk News Paper (from October 12-26, 2016), a bimonthly Newspaper published by Mahibere Kidusan.