Orthodox Christmas: a spiritual refuge for exiled Ethiopians Tens of thousands of Ethiopians, forced to flee from Tigray to neighboring Sudan since last November, found temporary solace with the Jan. 7th commemoration of Christ s Nativity
The refugees celebrated Christmas in the church built 42 years ago by Tigrayan migrants. (Photo by ABDULMONAM EASSA)
Dozens of white silhouettes advance in the night. After making the sign of the cross three times, they prostrate themselves, sometimes even kissing the ground, and then enter the gate leading to a church in Um Rakuba.
This Sudanese village lies some 70 kilometers from Ethiopia and is the main permanent reception camp for the nearly 57,000 Ethiopian refugees.