LALIBELA , Ethiopia, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- Members of Ethiopia's ancient Christian Orthodox Church have marked their calendar's transition into a second millennium.
Pilgrims gathered Tuesday night in the city of Lalibela to celebrate New Year's Eve 1999, almost eight years after the West's Gregorian calendar reached the year 2000, Britain's Daily Telegraph reported Wednesday.
"We thank God that we are alive at this important time, when we can honor our ancestors and our Church and pray for another 1,000 years of worship," said Aba Gebera Yesus, Archbishop of Lalibela. "This great day gives us the chance to reaffirm our religion and our devotion to keep the bright light of our culture protected and preserved."
Meanwhile, in the country's capital, Addis Ababa, multiple celebratory events were canceled when the up to 300,000 tourists expected by the government turned out to be closer to 25,000. Promised appearances from pop stars Beyonce and Michael Jackson were postponed, leaving only the Black Eyed Peas to headline a concert.
