Addis Ababa: A wave of grief has swept through Ethiopia after the collapse of scaffolding inside a historic Orthodox church killed at least 36 worshippers and left more than 200 injured during a sacred Marian feast. The Catholic Church in Ethiopia has joined hands with the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in mourning the victims, offering prayers, and pledging solidarity in the face of the disaster.
The accident occurred on Wednesday morning at Ararti Debre Genet St. Mary’s Church, located in the North Shewa Diocese of Minjar Shenkor. The faithful had gathered in large numbers to mark the annual celebration dedicated to the Virgin Mary when the wooden scaffolding, erected as part of ongoing construction works, suddenly gave way.
Cardinal Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel, Metropolitan Archbishop of Addis Ababa and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia (CBCE), issued a heartfelt statement of condolence soon after the tragedy.
“We are deeply saddened to learn that wooden scaffolding used in the construction of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has collapsed, resulting in the loss of many lives and injuries to many others,” the Cardinal said, in a message relayed by Bezawit Assefa, head of Communications, Public Relations, and IT for the CBCE.
He added that the Catholic community shares the pain of their Orthodox brothers and sisters:
“The Ethiopian Catholic Bishops’ Conference expresses its profound sorrow over this tragic event and offers heartfelt prayers for the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, especially the ministers of Ararti Debre Genet St. Mary’s Church, as well as for the families of those who lost their lives in the disaster.”
Local authorities confirmed the scale of the tragedy. Ahmed Gebeyehu, chief of police in Minjar Shenkor, told Reuters that the death toll could climb further, as several of the injured remain in critical condition. Emergency workers and volunteers continued their rescue efforts for hours, while local hospitals struggled to cope with the surge of patients.
The annual Marian feast at Ararti Debre Genet is one of the most significant in the North Shewa Diocese, attracting thousands of worshippers from surrounding regions. What was meant to be a day of devotion and celebration turned into a scene of chaos and heartbreak.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, one of the world’s oldest Christian traditions, has faced tragedies before, but the rare show of solidarity from the Catholic Church underlines the deep spiritual bonds between the two communities. Religious leaders have called for a nationwide moment of prayer and reflection, urging Ethiopians to support the bereaved families and the injured.
As investigations begin into the cause of the collapse, questions are being raised about the safety of church construction projects and crowd management during large religious festivals. Authorities have promised a full inquiry, while both Orthodox and Catholic leaders are calling on the faithful to focus on compassion and unity.
For now, Ethiopia grieves together two ancient Christian traditions united in prayer for the souls lost, the wounded struggling to recover, and the families shattered by this unexpected tragedy.