Drums, chants and celebrations as Ethiopians mark the baptism of Jesus

Ethiopian Orthodox Christians have been celebrating the festival of Timket, or Epiphany, which commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan.

In the town of Batu, on the shores of Lake Dambal in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, priests from the local churches escort replicas of the Ark of Covenant – also known as tabots – which, according to tradition, contain the Biblical Ten Commandments.

Drummers from the churches sing spiritual songs as they accompany their community’s tabot.

The churches’ processional crucifixes are also brought along.

Once the tabots are gathered in one place, the priests lead a prayer ceremony.

Worshippers watch on as the ceremony unfolds.

In the capital, Addis Ababa, a priest conducted a symbolic baptism.

Hundreds of thousands of people across the country turned out to mark Timket.

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