Gishen Mariam:

Is located 483 kilometers north of Addis Ababa in Wollo Region. Gishen Mariam Church is situated in a marvelous landscape. A fragment from the original True Cross is buried underneath this church. Because of this, this shrine is one of the most sacred churches in the country.

According to tradition, Empress Helena lit incense and prayed for assistance to guide her. The smoke drifted towards the direction of the buried cross. She dug and found three crosses; one of them was the True Cross used to crucify Jesus Christ. Empress Helena then gave a piece of the True Cross to all churches. This piece was then brought to Gishen Mariam, Ethiopia. The monastery of Gishen Mariam holds a volume of a book which records the story of the True Cross of Christ and how it was acquired. The Eve of the festival falls on every Sept. 30 with the main celebration on the following day.