Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

22nd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Celebrating St. Mary's Day in Addis Ababa

Ethiopia is home to numerous religious festivals. For example, every year, a celebration is held in honour of various saints. One of the most significant festivals is St. Mary's Day. In January of this year, I was granted the privilege of participating in the St. Mary's Day ceremony at St. Mary's Church in Addis Ababa, where I joined thousands of Ethiopian Orthodox believers in prayer. I observed the church clergy walking along the street with donation boxes, and I also observed the believers kneeling down to worship devoutly.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 01.2023
Date Uploaded: 11.2024
Photo Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Camera: vivo X60 Pro+
Copyright: © Chuang Chen