It was a special day yesterday for the Coptic Orthodox Ethiopians and Eritreans living in Malta who unite in prayer every Sunday even as their governments continue to fight over a disputed border.
The church where they meet, the Catholic church dedicated to St James in Merchants Street, Valletta, welcomed Abba Keshi Hayleab Keshi Kahsay who came especially from Italy to administer the first Holy Communion to the children in the community.
Holy Communion was received by 40 children aged between two months and 10 years.
Some of the children were dressed in a traditional white outfit worn in both countries for the occasion. While the older ones walked up to receive Holy Communion, the younger ones were carried by their mother or father.
The community, which is now packing the church for a whole morning every Sunday, started to form after two illegal immigrants were released from detention in 2006 and asked for a place of worship where they could hold Sunday Mass.
Arrangements were originally made for the congregation to use the Greek Church in Valletta but it moved to where it is today when the numbers grew.
A Bible school is also held on Mondays and Fridays after 5 p.m.
In spite of the tension between Ethiopia and Eritrea, nationals of these two countries meeting at St James' Church kiss each other in greeting and refer to one another as brothers and sisters. Their Mass, which starts at about 8.30 a.m. and goes on until about noon, is attended by 250 to 300 Ethiopians and Eritreans. Joining them are always curious passers-by who stop, remove their shoes and spend some minutes with the congregation after they are drawn by the beating of the drums in synchronisation with the voices of the believers singing in praise while they sway their bodies, clap and raise their arms in prayer to the Lord.
The service is held partly in Ethiopian and partly in Eritrean so that everyone feels included.
Yesterday's Mass was also special because it included the celebration of a wedding between Eritreans Almas Grimai and Bahlibbi Taklemeina who met in Eritrea but have been living in Malta for four years. The singing and dancing spilled out onto the street after the celebration had ended.