ethiopia timket 2 of 4

Ethiopians took a break from the tension that has gripped their country since controversial national elections to celebrate the ancient Ethiopian Orthodox Christian festival of Timket. Federal police carrying batons watched over the crowds as thousands of priests and worshippers walked to Jan Meda, a large piece of open ground in the middle of the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. There the crowds looked on, chanting and dancing, as brightly-robed bishops and priests paraded with their Tabots – symbolic representations of the Ark of the Covenant that lie at the heart of every Ethiopian Orthodox church. Similar celebrations took places in cities and towns across the country. More than 80 people were killed in voilent clashes between protesters and armed police in Addis Ababa following contested national elections in May 2005. Tension in the capital has increased in recent weeks following the arrest of opposition politicians, journalists and alledged rioters. Timket is the Ethiopian Orthodox festival of Epiphany which marks the appearance of Jesus Christ in the world, covering everything from his birth to his baptism by John the Baptist. Andrew Heavens, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 19 January 2006.