Kulubi (Day of St. Gabriel)

Solemn procession to the church of St. GabrielAlmost every Ethiopian Christian has a patron saint, and the most popular is the archangel Gabriel.

December 28 and July 26 in Ethiopia are dedicated to the annual colorful celebrations in honor of the Archangel Gabriel.

An Ethiopian cleric during a festive procession to St. Paul's Church. Gabriel

On the Day of Judgment there are many believers. Orthodox Tuahedo Christians celebrate the celebration with colorful processions and ceremonies. People of all ages, classes and religions congregate from all over Ethiopia, reaching 100,000 or more. Pilgrims come to church to fulfill a vow, ask for something, or in many cases thank for requests already fulfilled and bring offerings to the church. As offerings, Ethiopians usually use candles or umbrellas of all kinds and sizes. The Church collects these offerings and then sells them again to the faithful, and with the proceeds helps the poor. Some pilgrims for the last few kilometers carry heavy stones on their backs up the hill to the church.