Debre damo was built, in the sixth century ad, with curved wood panels, painted ceilings and walls dedicated to the legend of saint abune aregawi. Abuna aregawi was a sixthcentury monk, whom tradition holds founded the monastery debre. Debre damo is the name of a flattopped mountain, or amba, and a 6th century monastery in northern ethiopia. Traders from greece, rome, persia and egypt knew of the riches of what is now ethiopia, and by the first century ad, axum was the capital of a great empire. Ethiopian treasures debre damo monastery ethiopian. In the medieval account of his life preserved by the ethiopian orthodox tewahedo church abba aregawi is said to have been a son of a roman emperor. Mar 15, 2020 based on the history of kebra nagast book of kings menelik the first captured the area and the abyssinian empire was created. Abune aregawi of ethiopia church icon, orthodox icons, christian art, ethiopia. To create a foundation for children growing up in the eritrean orthodox tewahdo churches of the u. How abune aregawi ascended debra damo on the tail of a. Many books have been written there and distributed to churches throughout ethiopia. When saint yared saw this church he was overwhelmed by its magnificence and sang sweet and captivating hymns and stayed there teaching hymns for many.
For the first time in its threethousand histories, by so doing, all ethiopian citizens were made equal irrespective of their ethnic, class, religious affiliations, and any other forms of affiliations or grounds. Calendar unitarian universalist church of arlington. Abune aregawi ethiopian orthodox tewahdo church in arlington. You can contact us through this form, or directly through mobilewhatsapp.
Debra damo was built, in the sixth century ad, with curved wood panels, painted ceilings and walls dedicated to the legend of saint abune aregawi. Later, after the conquest of aksum by queen gudit, a period began which some scholars refer to as ethiopian dark ages. The feast of abune gebre menfes qidus news orthodoxy. The dangers of debre damo monastery ethiopia youtube. In the book of may ii sinksar lives of the saints is related the full story of how. May 21, 2016 debre damo was built, in the sixth century ad, with curved wood panels, painted ceilings and walls dedicated to the legend of saint abune aregawi. Abuna aregawi also called zamikael aragawi was a sixthcentury monk, whom tradition holds founded the monastery debre damo in tigray, said to have been commissioned by emperor gebre mesqel of axum. Ethiopias history might have been told this way before, but not any longer. Eotc tv holy books program metsihafe henok the book of enoch 31. The history of debre damo is centred on the nine saints who came to.
Abune gebre menfes qidus was entitled the star of the desert and the head of anchorites abune gebre menfes qidus means the salve of the holy spirit was born on tahisas 29 in 829 e. It is a small church only frequented by hermits living on the amba. Tradition claims the monastery was founded in the 6th century by abuna aregawi. Debre damo oldest existing intact church in 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. When saint yared saw this church he was overwhelmed by its magnificence and sang sweet and captivating hymns and stayed there teaching hymns for many days with abune aregawe before returning to aksum. As david buxton recounts the story, when abba aragawi, the founder of the monastery, came to the foot of the cliff a great serpent. The mountain is steeply rising plateau of trapezoidal shape, about by 400 meters. Ethiopia, the oldest independent nation in africa, has a heritage dating back to first century ad. Their encounters were, indeed, desperate, and though their forces were much reduced by smallpox, they were frequently victorious against overwhelming odds. Debre damo monastery is situated on an isolated mountain in. According to local tradition, that very site is the spot where abune aregawi had finally vanished unnoticed, hence misiwarom literally a place where he vanished from. The history of debre damo is centred on the nine saints who came to ethiopia from syria to spread christianity in the tigray region. Aregawi is one of the nine saints who came from constantinople studied monasticism in egypt. Rastafari groundation december 6, 2016 free pdf book the liturgy of the ethiopian orthodox tewahedo church 2002 20191112t08. Ancient manuscripts tell the history of abune aregawi and the establishment of the place. Abba zemikael aregawi was one of the nine saints credited in ethiopia with enculturating and spreading the orthodox faith in the country following its official conversion by st. Local tradition says that abune aregawi, one of the nine saints, built the church in the 16 th century.
Recent discoveries of stone structures in southern africa are argued to be the earliest humanmade buildings on the planet, dating back 75,000 years. Betkrestean abune aregawi tsadk ab kedst ketema eyerusalem israel. Abuna aregawi also called zamikael aragawi is a sixth century syrian monk, whom tradition holds founded the monastery debre damo, said to have been commissioned by emperor gebre mesqel. It is disappointing that african arguments fails to look at history critically, exploring all sides. Abune aregawi ethiopian orthodox tewahdo church inc. He even referred to hh pope shenouda in a very negaive light, calling him shrewd. Debre damo best tourist destination for hikers allafrica. Yaityopya ortodoks tawahedo betakrestyan is an oriental orthodox church in ethiopia that was part of the coptic church until 1959, when it was granted its own patriarch by coptic pope cyril vi.
Ambassador to ethiopia at the launch of a book ethiopia. The ethnic federalism is a new chapter in ethiopian history and this new approach introduced it carefully and experimentally. Some 55 km east of axum is the 5 th century bc temple of yeha. Abune aregawi of ethiopia church icon, orthodox icons, christian art. To develop resources such as an improved curriculum and translated materials that encompass the. Hirut woldemariam, your holiness abune matthias, patriarch of ethiopia. Yes, gebre menfes kidus or reynold wood, said many questionable things but then became very shady with me when i questioned him about his religious affiliation. One of the churches consecrated by yared is debre damo founded by abune aregawi, one of the nine saints.
Its massive walls house judaic relics and historic artefact. Abune aregawi ethiopian orthodox tewahdo church in arlington, va and around, arlington, virginia. Jan 15, 2015 the history of this holy monasterys establishment can be extensive, but anyway. The history of debra damo is centred on the nine saints who came to ethiopia from syria to spread christianity in the tigray region.
Legend has it that he chose the site at the top of an inaccessible cliff but was only able to gain access to it when, in answer to his prayers, at gods behest a giant snake lowered itself to pick him up and place him on top of the cliff. Painting on cotton showing saint aregawi ascending to debra. The painting depicts the story of saint aregawi, one of the. To bridge the gap between youth and the church by ministering the word of god in the diaspora through conferences, seminars and retreats. Your excellency the minister of culture and tourism, dr. Based on the history of kebra nagast book of kings menelik the first captured the area and the abyssinian empire was created.
Another turning point in the history of tserha sion st. It was built, in the sixth century ad, with curved wood panels, painted ceilings and walls dedicated to the legend of saint abune aregawi. Later they engaged with the iroquois, in league, in as furiously contested warfare as history ever chronicled or human passion and the glory of arms ever contrived. We will celebrate it interdependently, it is a higher level of consciousness. May 31, 2018 during the meeting, his holiness also raised the topic of theological dialogue between the orthodox church and the oriental churches and the bilateral relations between the moscow patriarchate and the ethiopian orthodox tewahedo church, such as churchsociety relations, social ministry, diaconia, and missionary activities. Aug 15, 2015 the amazing story of abune teklehaymanot part 3 ethiopian orthodox tewahedo church mezmur,zerfe kebede new mezmur 2015,mertnesh new mezmur 2015. Abune argawi was the founder of the first school of monasticism in ethiopia and it is from abune aregawi monastic school that most of the current monastic centers evolved. Qdste qdusan new orthodox tewahdo mezmur by abune aregawi maytemenay duration. The amazing story of abune teklehaymanot part 3 ethiopian orthodox tewahedo church mezmur,zerfe kebede new mezmur 2015,mertnesh new mezmur 2015. It can only be reached by climbing a rope, symbolic of the snake climbed by the saint, aided by toeholds in the side of the cliff. Of aregawi at debra damo is the oldest existing example of christian architecture in ethiopia, and traces of this influence can be seen in it. Jul 19, 2015 later they engaged with the iroquois, in league, in as furiously contested warfare as history ever chronicled or human passion and the glory of arms ever contrived.
Ethiopia is a diverse country, where every marginalized group in the past is working harder than ever to tell the world its untold history. Local tradition says that abune aregawi, one of the nine saints, built the church in the 16th century. The tabia centre is in dengolo village, located approximately 12 km to the southwest of the woreda town hagere selam. The monastery of debre damo can only be reached by rope pulley. Ethiopian amazing debre damo abune aregawi gedam monastery. The history of this holy monasterys establishment can be extensive, but anyway.
History get youtube premium get youtube tv best of youtube. The countrys history, yet, survived with palaces, temples and everyday artifacts. The second church is built on the eastern verge of the amba. Free pdf book the liturgy of the ethiopian orthodox. Abba aregawi is commemorated on 14 tiqemt october 24.
Archmandrite abba aregawi wolde gabriel who later came to be known as abuna yohannes may god rest his soul was appointed as priest incharge of st. Having lived in ethiopia i have a bit of knowledge about her beautiful history and about haile selassie. Abune aregawi ethiopian orthodox tewahdo church inc quick facts. History of ethiopia christian monasteries established in the 6th century ethiopian orthodox. He is one of the nine saints of the ethiopian orthodox church who claims he came from various parts of the roman empire to escape persecution after the. African architecture is as diverse as the cultures of africa. Nov 24, 2015 the history of this holy monasterys establishment can be extensive, but anyway. The tabia centre is in dengolo village, located approximately 12 km to. History some 76 kilometers from axum is the monastery of debre damo closed to women, which is said to have the oldest existing intact church in ethiopia. Simret is a tabia or municipality in the dogua tembien district of the tigray region of ethiopia, which comprises the longest cave of tigray in zeyi, as well as ras alulas birthplace in mennewe. Abune aregawi is said to have climbed to the top of the massif on the back of the serpent and laid the foundations of the church that is still there. Abune aregawi was an early ethiopian christian saint who founded the ancient monastery of debra damo.
Debre damo monastery is situated on an isolated mountain in northern part of tigray. Some 76 kilometers from axum is the monastery of debre damo closed to women, which is said to have the oldest existing intact church in ethiopia. Prospects of a bilateral commission between the russian. Aiga forum, an ethiopian forum for news and views that. Embassy, addis ababa january 22, 2018 as prepared for delivery good evening, and welcome. The feast of saint abune aregawi is celebrated on october 14 ethiopian. Local tradition says that abune aregawi, one of the nine saints, built the. Debra damo feast of saint aregawi orthodox tewahedo christians celebrate the feast of saint abune aregawi, on october 14 ethiopian calendar october 24 gregorian calendar which culminates in a pilgrimage to. During the meeting, his holiness also raised the topic of theological dialogue between the orthodox church and the oriental churches and the bilateral relations between the moscow patriarchate and the ethiopian orthodox tewahedo church, such as churchsociety relations, social ministry, diaconia, and missionary activities. It is unique compared with most ethiopian monasteries. Church organization after the expansion of christianity there was at least four dioceses in ethiopia, each headed by a bishop. Jan 23, 2011 debre damo is the name of a flattopped mountain, or amba, and a 6th century monastery in northern ethiopia.
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