Holy Cross in Eritrea

2026-09-27 Asmara

The annual event which falls on September 27 or September 28 in a leap year commemorates the fourth century discovery by Roman Empress Saint Helena (Queen Eleni) of the True Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. The festival is celebrated by Eritrean Orthodox churches. It is marked by the burning of a large bonfire and a procession (Demera) which witnesses tens of thousands of adherents and tourists gather at a common ground. The bonfire and procession commemorate the belief that Queen Eleni - as she is called by the Orthodox churches - was directed to the true cross through a dream in which she was told to start a bonfire and follow the smoke to where the cross was buried. The festive is held on the morning at 'Bahti Meskerem' street. Ashes from the remains of the bonfire is collected to mark the foreheads of faithful with the sign of the cross.