Ethiopian Christians Celebrate Christmas with Faith, Unity and Compassion

Addis Ababa, January 7, 2026 (ENA)—Christians across Ethiopia are marking Christmas with prayers, worship services, and acts of generosity that highlight compassion, unity, and care for the vulnerable.

The celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ is taking place through church gatherings, traditional religious ceremonies, and community-based support initiatives.

Across the country, families and neighbors are coming together to share meals and strengthen social ties, while extending assistance to people facing shortages of food, clothing, and shelter.

The holiday is being observed as a time of spiritual reflection, mutual support, and renewed commitment to helping those in need.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, in his Christmas message, described the occasion as a season of renewal and hope.

The Premier stated that this year’s celebration comes with faith that the “promised word” of peace and the “light of change” are beginning to emerge.

Prime Minister Abiy further noted that Ethiopia is moving away from a period of hardship toward national renewal, despite ongoing challenges.

Drawing a comparison between the birth of Christ and the nation’s journey, he emphasized that a great history holds little value if the present remains divided.

He cautioned that many great civilizations faded because they failed to remain relevant in their own time, urging the current generation to restore Ethiopia’s legacy through hard work and by overcoming poverty and underdevelopment.

 PM Abiy stressed that progress will come not through wishes, but through collective effort and action.

Religious leaders also delivered Christmas messages, encouraging believers to dedicate the day to prayer for lasting peace and to express their faith through practical support for the needy.

Leaders of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the Ethiopian Catholic Church, and the Ethiopian Council of Gospel Believers’ Churches extended Christmas greetings to Christians nationwide, emphasizing compassion, solidarity, and mutual care as central values of the celebration.

His Holiness Abune Mathias, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, described Christmas as a “practical expression of God’s profound love for humanity.”

He called on believers to combine prayer and thanksgiving with tangible assistance for those lacking basic necessities and to support initiatives that promote sustainable livelihoods.

Cardinal Berhaneyesus Souraphiel of the Ethiopian Catholic Church highlighted the importance of reaching out to the sick, the elderly, and the helpless during the holiday, urging Christians to share what they have as a true reflection of the meaning of Christ’s birth.