Spreading holiday cheer

At the culmination of the rigorous fasting period of Lent, Ethiopian Orthodox Christians, like 190 million other members of global Orthodoxy, are today celebrating the most important holiday in Christianity. We wish all Ethiopians home and abroad as well as our co-believers in Eastern Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Syria, Egypt, Greece and other countries, a peaceful and joyful Easter.
In the spirit of this holiday of holidays, Capital sought to gather Easter messages from the widest possible spectrum of the public. High ranking officials of state, notable personalities of the opposition, Ambassadors, business leaders, students, children and men and women from all walks of life extend their warmest wishes.

“This is a time of peace and forgiveness. As Easter is a holiday of compassion where God and his people reunite again, we should make ourselves ready to accept God’s forgiveness. We should also be ready to forgive one another, for if we think well of others, it becomes truly a holiday of compassion.
All of Ethiopia children, be peaceful wherever you are, especially seek peace for your mother country. Wish all the good things and God will make all of your wishes come true.
Forgiveness shouldn’t be only received and sought from God but also from all of us to all of us. It shouldn’t also be restricted to those in Ethiopia rather for all Ethiopians found in all parts of the world.
This main spiritual holiday should be dedicated to the elderly without support, children without parents, and to patients suffering from HIV/AIDS. We should visit and help them with Christian compassion and think of them in God’s name.
May this holiday be a joyful and peaceful one!
God bless you all!!!”
His Holiness Abune Paulos, Patriarch of Axum and Echegue of the See of St. Tekle Haimanot and President of the World Council of Churches and Honarary President of World Religion for Peace

“This great Easter holiday, where Jesus Christ defeated death, brings hope to all in this new Ethiopian millennium. We should all be ready in spirit to score victory in all aspects is challenging the nation.
Being Christian is being honest to the good of the country as corruption creates a vicious circle of poverty in our country. It should be our concern to eradicate it from Ethiopia. The coming period should be a time when we strive for national unity and forgiveness. It should also be a period where we take control of our destiny and be victorious over poverty.
To all Christians home and abroad, to all in prisons, hospital beds, in pain and suffering of any kind, may this holiday bring joy, comfort and God’s spirit.
May the holiday be a peaceful and joyful one!
God bless Ethiopia! “

His Holiness Abune Berhaneeyesus Surafel, Archbishop of the Ethiopian Catholic churches

“In this time of healing and hope, we look to the resurrection as the sign of a more blessed and better tomorrow which we must all work together to achieve.  For all Ethiopians from every part of the country and of all faiths and beliefs, we all commit our selves together to make the world more prosperous for all future generations.  The United States shares in the aspirations of the Ethiopian people and supports our common commitment with national and local leaders and with the ministers and leadership in bringing health care and educational opportunities to every corner of Ethiopia , to advancing development and job creation, and to meeting the needs of the people.  When Ethiopia called for support or made an appeal for help, the United States has always been there for the people of Ethiopia, answering the call whether it is drought or natural disaster.  We will always be there because what happens in Ethiopia matters to all of us.  For a people and a nation who have given so much and made important sacrifices for all of us through peacekeeping in Burundi, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire and now Darfur, we can do no less than to contribute to Ethiopia’s economic future and respond to humanitarian needs. In this millennium year, let it be the basis for Ethiopia’s future of hope and aspirations, for its people to realize a more prosperous tomorrow, and let the United States be a part of this process. ”  Honorable Donald Yamamoto, U.S Ambassador to Ethiopia.

“In a time such as this where the whole world is faced with uncertainty, instability and fear in one way or other, the message of Easter is still shining the light of hope, life and Salvation for whoever receives it. Jesus Christ, is the Son of God, who, 2000 years ago, was born and became man to reveal God’s unconditional love through his sacrificial death on the cross of Calvary. Paying the ultimate price for the sin of mankind, Jesus defeated the power of death and rose triumphantly so that those who believed and received Him could have remession of sin and life after death. Moreover, delivering them from the fear of death and from everything that oppresses them, He has opened a door for salvation. He speaks today to all the problems that surround us: to inner conflicts He speaks peace, to those who are in sin, fornication and different addictions He declares freedom, to those who are scattered and have lost all hope, He promises restoration and prosperity. For everything that causes depression and destruction to the people of our nation, Jesus’ resurrection speaks solutions. Therefore, whoever allows Jesus to enter his heart and reign over His life will receive a peaceful life on earth and after death everlasting life. “

Pastor Binyam Temesgen

“To all faithful Ethiopian Christians home and across the world, I wish you a wonderful and peaceful Easter. May the holiday bring joy to all of your family and friends! May this holiday be a time of compassion and peace where all the brothers and sisters of Ethiopia live in peace and work together to raise their country out of poverty!
Happy Easter!! “
Honorable Professor Beyene Petros, Member of Parliament

“For all faithful Ethiopian Christians, who fasted Lent or didn’t I wish you a happy Easter Holiday. I wish a wonderful holiday to all of your family!”
Honorable Bulcha Demkisa, Member of Parliament

“I want Fasika to be very nice for every body but especially for little children. I wish they get new clothes and lots and lots of chocolate!”
Checolia (Lili) Samuel
5 ½ year old bundle of joy.

“Happy Easter to all faithful Christians! May the coming period be a time where we see our country free from poverty and regain its national honor. May a country on which peace, democracy, equality and justice prevail become reality! I wish the coming time to be the time where we fulfill our responsibilities as citizens and put it in practice.”

Honorable Temesgen Zewdie, Member of Parliament

“Oh well, if you insist, then I’ll say that I wish all Ethiopians a very happy Easter… but I’m afraid that would be expecting too much. It’s not for myself and my loved ones I’m worried about. Thank God my late husband built this house. I get good money renting out rooms. I am rather concerned for those that do not have what I do what kind of Easter can they celebrate when they can’t make ends meet on any other day?”
Werkenesh Ambawe
60, single mother of 6