European Union Seventh Framework Programme

IDEAS
ERC Starting Grant

Ethio-SPaRe

Cultural Heritage of Christian Ethiopia:

Salvation, Preservation and Research

Second Mission

November-December 2010

Report

(by Denis Nosnitsin, PI)

Hamburg University
2010
 Ethio-Spare 2nd Field Research Trip (November – December 2010).
Public Report

Editorial note…..…………………………………………………………………… ................. 1

Introduction …………………………………………………………………………… ............. 2
1. ˀAgamyo Qǝddus Mikaˀel ............................................................................................. 2
2. Däbrä Qǝddusan ˀAbunä Mamas ˀAgärhǝse gädam ................................................... 4
3. ˀAraˁro Täklä Haymanot ............................................................................................... 6
4. ˁAddi Qolqwal Giyorgis ................................................................................................. 7
5. ˁƎmbäyto Täklä Haymanot ........................................................................................... 9
6. ˀAmbasät Kidanä Mǝḥrät ............................................................................................ 11
7. Däbrä Dammo gädam ................................................................................................ 11
8. ˀAḥzära Däbrä Mǝhrät Qǝddǝst Maryam ................................................................... 13
The area around the city of ˁAddigrat (sites 9-15) .......................................................... 14
9. Däbrä Sälam Qǝddus Mikaˀel Nǝḥbi gädam .............................................................. 14
10. Däbrä Gännät Qǝddǝst Maryam Gänaḥti................................................................. 15
11. Ṣǝrḥa Ṣǝyon Betä Ḥawaryat .................................................................................... 17
12. Däbrä Mǝḥrät Qǝddus Mikael Bäˁatti gädam ........................................................... 18
13. Mädḥane ˁAläm Ḉäḥat.............................................................................................. 19
14. Däbrä Mǝḥrät Kidanä Mǝḥrät Läqay ....................................................................... 19
15. Däbrä Gännät Qǝddǝst Maryam Siˁät ...................................................................... 21
16. Däbrä Ṣǝyon Qǝddǝst Maryam Qiˁat ....................................................................... 23
17. Däbrä Gännät Kidanä Mǝḥrät Mäḵodˁä gädam ....................................................... 24
18. Däbrä Sälam Qǝddus Mikaˀel Märgaḥǝya ............................................................... 26
19. Däbrä Bǝrhan Yoḥannǝs Mäṭmǝq Dǝbla ................................................................. 27
The area around Nägaš (sites 20-21) ............................................................................ 29
20. Däbrä Täwaḥədo Məḥrät Kädiḥ Maryam ................................................................. 29
21. Däbrä Gännät Qǝddus Mikaˀel Bäläsa..................................................................... 30
22. Dǝrba Däbrä ˀAbunä Yasay ..................................................................................... 31
Quoted bibliography ....................................................................................................... 32

Editorial note

A consequent transcription commonly applied to Ethio-Semitic languages is used for

Ethiopian terms and names in the text below. Since the report is meant for broader
public, the apparatus is limited essential information. For the indigenous terms or
persons left here without explanation, additional data and references can be easily
found in the Encyclopaedia Aethiopica (s. the bibliography below).

1
During the period 16.11.-17.12.2010 the team of the Ethio-SPaRe project continued the field
research work, focusing mostly on the wärädas of Gulä Mäḵäda and Ganta ˀAfäšum (Eastern
Tǝgray Zone); in addition a few sites in ˀƎndärta and Kələttä ˀAwləˁalo were visited. The team
included the members of the project from Hamburg University1, representatives of the Tǝgray
Culture and Tourism Agency (TCTA)2, officials from the Eastern Tigray Diocese and respective
wärädas’ church administration offices3. Within the five weeks of intensive work, the team was
able to visit 26 sites4, many of them completely unknown or difficult to access, benefitting from
the excellent cooperation between the TCTA, the local church administration and communities.
The team recorded a few hundreds of manuscripts, several dozens of objects, as well as a lot of
historical information about the sites. Below follow some brief observations about the sites visited,
accompanied by photos of some of the most remarkable manuscripts and objects. All dating and
descriptions are preliminary. The full-scale evaluation of the results will require substantial time
and is carried out at the Hiob Ludolf Center for Ethiopian Studies in Hamburg. The copies of the
material will be soon available also in the TCTA (Mäqälä) and the Eastern Tigray Diocese office
(ˁAddigrat).

1. ˀAgamyo Qǝddus Mikaˀel

The site of ˀAgamyo Mikaˀel can be reached via ˁAddigrat – Zäla ˀAmbäsa road, then through the
road from Zäla ˀAmbäsa to Säbäya. The tradition links the foundation of the church to the reign of
King "ḥaṣäy Gäbrä Mäsqäl"5, but recounts that it was founded by the local people only. The
church (s. figs. 1, 2) has the status of gäṭär6. Despite the phonetic discrepancy, the name
"ˀAgamyo" is locally explained as the old ("original") variant of the former province name ˁAgamä.
The church was in the area of influence the Gundä Gunde monastery, which is proved by the
representations of ˀabunä ˀƎsṭifanos and ˀabunä Mäzgäbä Sǝllase7 in the church, and the

1
Dr. Denis Nosnitsin (the principal investigator and head of the project); Dr. Stéphane Ancel and
Vitagrazia Pisani M.A. (research fellows).
2
The field coordinator Mäsärät Haylä Sǝllase and the field assistant Mǝḥrätä ˀAb ˀAfäwärqi; head of
the Agency Käbbädä ˀAmarä Bälay acting as project coordinator.
3
Fǝṣṣum Gäbru, the representative of the Eastern Tigray Diocese; liqä təguhan Baḥta Täklä
Haymanot, mälakä ḥəywät Bərhanä ˀArägawi from the church office of Gulo Mäkäda wäräda; mälakä
məḥrät Täḵlay Gäbrä ˀAb from the church office of Ganta ˀAfäsum wäräda; for a few days only, the
representatives of the church offices in Wəqro and Mäqälä. The field work was opened and concluded
by the coordinating meetings in the TCTA and the Eastern Tigray Diocese with His Grace ˀAbunä
Maqaryos.
4
Below, a short description of the work at all sites is presented, with the exception of only four: Bet
Marya ˁAddigrat (on the outskirts of ˁAddigrat), ˀAbunä Gäbrä Mänfäs Qǝddus gädam, Däbrä Ṣǝge
ˀIyäsus Gwaḥgot (Ganta ˀAfäsum wäräda); Mäˁag(g)o ˀAmanuˀel (around Nägaš; wäräda Kǝlǝttä
ˀAwlǝˁalo).
5
Quite popular in Ethiopia, “Gäbrä Mäsqäl” was the name (or one of the names) of several Ethiopian
monarchs from the half-legendary successor of 6th-cent. Kaleb; it was another name of Lalibäla,
ˁAmdä Ṣəyon I, and some others (s. EAE II, 623b-24b).
6
Today, three types of the church institutions are formally distinguished in the Ethiopian Orthodox
Täwaḥǝdo Church: most of the individual churches are registered as däbr (“church, cathedral”); some
others as gäṭär (usually translated as “chapel”). Monastic communities which are formally recognized
as such are referred to as gädam (equivalent to “monastery”). However, today the status may be
historical: if a monastic community gets dissolved and disappears, but its church remains, being
served by the secular clergy, it can retain the status of gädam. (For the historical definitions and
ethymologies, s. EAE II, 6a-7a; 641b-42a; 714b). Further in the report, unless a remark on its status is
provided, an institution is considered to be of däbr-type.
7
The monks who lived in the 15th and 17th cent., respectively. Cp. EAE II, 390a-91b; III, 893b-94a.

2
presence of the tabot8 of ˀabunä ˀƎsṭifanos. Among the books in the possession of the church,
there is a 19th-cent. copy of the Vita of ˀƎsṭifanos (from the time of King Yoḥannǝs IV, 1872-89), a
fine “Golden Gospel” book (s. fig. 3; first half of the 17th cent.?), and several samples of the
“protective literature” (s. fig. 4; the picture of the cross in a [19th-cent. ?] collection of the
“protective texts”9).

Fig. 1. ˀAgamyo Mikaˀel

Fig. 2. ˀAgamyo Mikaˀel

8
The so-called “altar tablet”, the most sacred object found in each Ethiopian church. Tabots are
consecrated by bishops. A tabot is preserved in the closed part of the church (mäqdäs); it is absolutely
prohibited for lay person, to see the tabot or enter the place where it is kept (cp. EAE IV, 802a-06b).
9
A version of the Book of the Disciples, the Prayer of the Virgin on Golgotha and Doctrina Arcanorum.

3
Fig. 3. ˀAgamyo Mikaˀel, Golden Gospel

Fig. 4. ˀAgamyo Mikaˀel, Ardǝʾǝt

2. Däbrä Qǝddusan ˀAbunä Mamas ˀAgärhǝse gädam

The site of ˀAbunä Mamas ˀAgärhǝse is located close to the Eritrean boarder. It can be
conveniently reached by the road ˁAddigrat – Zäla ˀAmbäsa; one has to turn left at the monument
to the soldiers of the 11th Regiment, pass the village called ˀAgärhǝse, and reach the edge of the
plateau, the site where currently a new church is being built. Steps roughly cut in the rock lead
downstairs, to the picturesque site with the church Däbrä Qǝddusan ˀAbunä Mamas standing
under the cliff. The rectangular church is built in the traditional Tǝgrayan style; it is sheltered by
the rock (fig. 5), resembling the “church-in-cave” type of structures. The site seems to be ancient.
Around the church, holes and small caves can be seen in the rocks, being former graves and
dwellings of the monks. The most interesting architectural feature of the site are two structures
built on the vertical slope: two masonry walls, apparently hiding the caves or cavities behind, with
windows (fig. 6). Formerly used by the local monastic community, today these structures are
deserted and hardly accessible. Historically the site appears to have been the main center of the

4
veneration of ˀabunä Mamas (commemorated on Taḫśaś 30)10, a 14th-cent. Ethiopian saint,
contemporary of Kings Säyfä Arˁad and Dawit. The foundation of the church is ascribed to the
saint. The church possesses several copies of the Vita of ˀabunä Mamas, the oldest one (fig. 7)
originating from the time of King Täklä Giyorgis I11.

Fig. 5. ˀAgärhǝse ˀAbunä Mamas

Fig. 6. ˀAgärhǝse ˀAbunä Mamas

10
Cp. very scanty information Kinefe Rigb-Zelleke 1978:82, no. 102 (he should not be confused with
St. Mamas, who was martyred in 275, in Caesarea). For another church of Mammas, in Ṣädäya (Wärˁi
Läḵä), s. Sauter 1976:161, no. 803, and MS, EBW-2005.194:001 and other pictures (s. “Mamas” in
MS, “Index of places”). Mamas was that monk whose grave 14th-cent. Bäṣälotä Mikaˀel had visited,
according to the Vita of the latter, during his wandering in Tǝgray, Gulo Mäḵäda. However,
Gwəgwəda, the name of the specific place mentioned in the Vita of Bäṣälotä Mikaˀel, is not known in
Agärhǝse any more (cp. ACD I, 187/423).
11
The last powerful Gondärine king, who ruled for several distinct periods from 1779 to 1800.

5
Fig. 7. ˀAgärhǝse ˀAbunä Mamas, Gädlä Mamas

3. ˀAraˁro Täklä Haymanot

Situated close to ˀAgamyo, the site of ˀAraˁro Täklä Haymanot accommodates two churches: a
new one and an old one, known for its architecture (figs. 8, 9) and wall paintings12. Both churches
are sheltered by a vertical rock slope, somewhat similar to ˀAbunä Mamas ˀAgärhǝse. Local
tradition does not know the time of the foundation of the church. The dedication to ˀabunä Täklä
Haymanot probably goes back to the Gondärine time (18th cent.?)13, but the “Golden Gospel”
book of the church definitely predates this period (s. fig. 10; late 15th - 16th cent.?).

Fig. 8. ˀAraˁro Täklä Haymanot

12
Lepage – Mercier 2005:206-07.
13
As it can be assumed on the basis of a manuscript of the Vita of Täklä Haymanot in the possession
of the church, which originates probably from the middle or late 17th cent. Lepage - Mercier 2005
includes the passage devoted to the church in the sub-chapter for 17th-19th cent.

6
Fig. 9. ˀAraˁro Täklä Haymanot, new and old churches

Fig. 10. ˀAraˁro Täklä Haymanot, Golden Gospel

4. ˁAddi Qolqwal Giyorgis

The site of ˁAddi Qolqwal Giyorgis can be reached through the road Zäla ˀAmbäsa – Säbäya and
a short walk uphill. The rectangular church is built in the traditional Tǝgrayan style (fig. 11), and is
half hidden behind big cactus-trees (Tgn. qolqwal). Administratively, it is considered gäṭär. Local
tradition remembers neither a foundational story, nor names of the church founders. It refers only
to the 19th-cent. däğğazmač Wəbe Ḫaylä Maryam and Metropolitan Sälama II, who renovated or
re-established the church. At a first glance, ˁAddi Qolqwal Giyorgis does not feature in the
historical sources, yet its manuscripts hint to substantial age of the church and the role it had
played in the past. The “Golden Gospel” book of the church (figs. 12-13) can be preliminary dated
into the late-15th/16th cent. Besides, the church possesses a few other impressive manuscripts
(originating possibly from the same period, and having been donated on the same occasion) such
as Gəbrä Ḥəmamat (the Rite for the Passion Week; fig. 14), Gädlä Sämaˁətat (“Vitae of the
Martyrs”, commissioned by a certain ˀabunä Ṗeṭros) and ˀOrit (Octateuch; fig. 15). The church
library is partly in poor condition, and the oldest manuscripts badly require urgent conservation
measures.

7
Fig. 11. ˁAddi Qolqwal Giyorgis

Fig. 12. ˁAddi Qolqwal, Golden Gospel

Fig. 13. ˁAddi Qolqwal Giyorgis, Golden Gospel

8
Fig. 14. ˁAddi Qolqwal, Gəbrä Ḥəmamat

Fig. 15. ˁAddi Qolqwal, Octateuch

5. ˁƎmbäyto Täklä Haymanot

ˁƎmbäyto Täklä Haymanot is located near ˁAddi Qolqwal, just below the same road. Like a few other
sites of the area, the church is located in a chilly and humid valley, covered with thick green grass and
trees, with a ṣäbäl-source of water nearby. According to the local tradition, it was founded by “goytana
Ḫaylu” in the time of King Tewodros II14. The members of the clergy recount the tradition about the
history of the church, and also remember by heart the genealogy of “goytana Ḫaylu”. The church has
a gäṭär status, and is linked to another church dedicated to ˀabunä Yəmˀata, located nearby. An old
teacher of qəne, ˀaqqwaqwam and zema lives at the church; being a native of the place, he studied
many years in Gondär (Bäˀata) and then returned to ˁƎmbäyto. The church might be an ancient
sanctuary only re-established in the 19th cent., but no traces of an older foundation could be
discovered. A first half 19th-cent. manuscript of the Vita of ˀabunä Täklä Haymanot (fig. 16) proves at
least the time of the dedication to the saint; the right side of a 19th-cent. dyptich (fig. 17), unusually,
shows together ˀabunä Yəmˀata (left) and ˀabunä Täklä Haymanot.

14
Probably, Ḫaylu Täwäldä Mädḫən of Ḥamasen is meant (d. 1876). Being on the political scene of
Ḥamasen and adjacent areas since 1830s, he was one of the closest allies of King Tewodros II (1855-
69).

9
Fig. 16. ˁƎmbäyto, Gädlä Täklä Haymanot

Fig. 17. ˁƎmbäyto, diptych

Fig. 18, ˀAmbasät Kidanä Mǝḥrät, Ardǝʾǝt

10
 6. ˀAmbasät Kidanä Mǝḥrät
The church of ˀAmbasät Kidanä Mǝḥrät is easy to reach by the ˁAddigrat – Zäla ˀAmbäsa road; it
is located just before the small town of Faṣiy. The site accommodates two churches: one is
Kidanä Mǝḥrät, rectangular, built in the traditional Təgrayan style in 1943 E.C.; another is the old
rock-church dedicated to ˀabunä Libanos15. According to the local tradition, the tabot of Kidanä
Məḥrät (“Covenant of Mercy”) was formerly located below the contemporary building, in a church
which was founded in the old times by ˀabunä Zä-Mikaˀel ˀArägawi and King Gäbrä Mäsqäl. This
church is said to have been later destroyed by “Queen Gudit”, and re-established by ˀabunä
Libanos. In 1943 E.C. a new church was built in a more accessible place and closer to the main
road. A monastic community is said to have existed at the Libanos church, but disappeared long
time ago. The “Golden Gospel” book of the church ˀAmbasät Kidanä Mǝḥrät dates probably into
late 18th - early 19th cent. (fig. 18; “Genealogy of Christ” from the Gospel of Luke). Apart from the
church library, ˀAmbasät is remarkable for its specialists of traditional binding, as well as for the
manuscripts with “protective texts” (fig. 19) and “protective scrolls” owned by some of the local
people. The church owes much of its fame also to ˀaläqa ˀAsfaw, a traditional scholar,
intellectual, scribe and author (d. 1970s).

Fig. 19. ˀAmbasät Kidanä Mǝḥrät, Golden Gospel

7. Däbrä Dammo gädam

The team was lucky to spend a few days surveying the monastic library of the famous Däbrä
Dammo monastery. Even though the accident of 1990s16 inflicted heavy losses upon the books of
the monastery the library still preserves a number of manuscripts of great value. Many of the
codices seen in Däbrä Dammo are remarkable thanks to the outstanding quality of writing,
miniatures and fine bindings: s., e.g., a 17th-cent. manuscript of the Arägawi mänfäsawi (“The
Spiritual Elder”, a work of the monastic literature) with Gəˁəz text and Amharic commentaries on
the margins (fig. 20); unique pre-15th cent. Psalter (fig. 21); fragment of a calendaric treatise in
added into the 18th-cent. manuscript of Qerəllos (lit. “Cyril”, a patristic collection; fig. 22); a
miniature from the 18th-cent. Taˀamrä Maryam (“Miracles of Mary”) (fig. 23). Today, there is no
scribal or manuscript making tradition in the monastery itself, but a few professional scribes and
painters live and work in the surrounding area. Cultural influence that Däbrä Dammo exerted
upon the entire region was (and still is) very strong and manifold, it requires a detailed study. The
veneration of Zä-Mikaˀel ˀArägawi, the founder of the monastery, spread to the extent that nearly

15
Sauter 1963, no. 6.
16
S. Ethiopian church… 2009:97.

11
every church in the region possesses his Vita. Also the monastery itself is remarkable due to the
complex administration of the monastic life, and sophisticated architecture of the complex
buildings of the monastic compound, still unrecorded and unexplored.

Fig. 20. Däbrä Dammo, Arägawi Mänfäsawi

Fig. 21. Däbrä Dammo, Psalter

Fig. 22. Däbrä Dammo, Qerǝllos

12
Fig. 23, Däbrä Dammo, Miracles of Mary

8. ˀAḥzära Däbrä Mǝhrät Qǝddǝst Maryam

The church ˀAḥzära Maryam is located not far from Däbrä Dammo, and can be conveniently
reached through a small side road which starts at the settlement called ˀAḥzära. The rectangular
church is built in the traditional Tǝgrayan style. The compound of the church incorporates a few
unusually big, massive structures: the gate house and two-storey ˁəqa bet. Local tradition
narrates that the place had been a site of religious veneration in the pre-Christian time (ˀOrit).
The Queen of Sheba is said to have spent a night at this place during her trip; because of this, a
temple was established here. King Bazen, on the 10th year of his reign, renewed the sanctuary
and reestablished it as church. The 15th-cent. imam Aḥmäd Graňň is said to have come closely to
ˀAḥzära, but his army was chased away by a strong wind. The “Golden Gospel” book of the
ˀAḥzära church approximately dates into the late 15th- 16th cent. (fig. 24).

Fig. 24. ˀAḥzära Maryam, Golden Gospel

13
 The area around the city of ˁAddigrat (sites 9-15)
Despite having been established as urban center in early 18th cent. only, ˁAddigrat itself shows a
remarkable concentration of antiquities and historical sites. Surveying the area of today’s
ˁAddigrat and its immediate surroundings (administratively in the Ganta ˀAfäšum wäräda), the
team could observe traces of at least three cultural layers: pre-medieval, medieval and pre-
modern (the Solomonic period), and modern (starting from the time of Ḫaylä Śəllase). Quite a
number of places show the presence of all three layers, proving a very long tradition of religious
veneration. The team of the project mostly concentrated on the historical legacy of the medieval
and pre-modern period – manuscripts, local traditions, and paraphernalia.

9. Däbrä Sälam Qǝddus Mikaˀel Nǝḥbi gädam

The church of Qǝddus Mikaˀel Nǝḥbi is located on the outskirts of ˁAddigrat, on the slope of the
mountain, overlooking the city. Beneath the church, there is a cave in the cliff which might have
been used as a dwelling in prehistoric times. An Aksumite remain, a massive stone bowl, lies in
the church compound. Local tradition does not specify the time of the foundation, but tells that
Yǝsḥaq, the founder of Gundä Gunde and adherent of the Stephanite movement, established the
monastic community at the church of Nǝḥbi before going to the area where he founded later
Gundä Gunde. As other churches and monasteries of the area, the monastic community of Nǝḥbi
was favored by däğğazmač Subagadis Wäldu17, but it declined in the early 20th cent. During the
Italian period another church dedicated to Zärˀa Buruk was established nearby, under the
administration of Qǝddus Mikaˀel Nǝḥbi. Formerly, there was a traditional school with scores of
students and teachers, but a few years ago local church education tradition was interrupted. The
most interesting manuscripts of Nǝḥbi Qǝddus Mikaˀel are linked to the figure of däğğazmač
Subagadis and are good examples of late-Gondärine scribal art and miniature painting: a
sumptuous copy of Dǝrsanä Mikaˀel (“Homily of St. Michael”, fig. 25), finely written and illustrated
Täˀamrä Maryam (“Miracles of Mary”, fig. 26), and Gädlä Gäbrä Mänfäs Qǝddus (“The Vita of
Gäbrä Mänfäs Qǝddus”) (fig. 27).

Fig. 25. Qǝddus Mikaˀel Nǝḥbi, Dǝrsanä Mikaˀel

17
Däğğazmač Subagadis (or Säbagadis) Wäldu, from the Irob people, rose to power in the region and
was able to consolidate his sway over entire Tǝgray by 1816; however, in 1831 he was defeated and
killed at May ˀƎslamay, by the allied forces of Yäğğu lords and Wǝbe Ḫaylä Maryam of Sǝmen.

14
Fig. 26. Nǝḥbi, Miracles of Mary

Fig. 27. Nǝḥbi, Gädlä Gäbrä Mänfäs Qǝddus

10. Däbrä Gännät Qǝddǝst Maryam Gänaḥti

The church of Qǝddǝst Maryam Gänaḥti is located close to ˁAddigrat, behind the educational
center of the Salesians of Don Bosco and the Italian military cemetery. The church is relatively
new, rectangular, built in the traditional Tǝgrayan style (s. fig. 28). Remains of an older foundation
(s. fig. 29) can be seen in the church yard. According to local tradition the church was founded by
King Säˁaldoba in 430. The oldest manuscript of the church library appears to be the “Golden
Gospel” book (fig. 30; 16th-cent.?); the church possesses also other interesting and valuable
manuscripts. Local tradition preserves an elaborate oral account about the ruler Kǝndših, his son
Kätay, “mäḥonni” ˀAkḥadom and his daughter Ğir Baḥra18, the story which is linked to the folk
etymology of the place name (by means of word gäna “[not] yet, still”). The story apparently
correlates with genealogies inscribed in a few manuscripts as Additiones. Locally Gänaḥti is
sometimes referred to as the place of birth of däğğazmač Subagadis.

18
For tǝgre mäkwännǝn ˀAkḥadom and traditions related to him, s. EAE I, 166b.

15
Fig. 28. Qǝddǝst Maryam Gänaḥti

Fig. 29. Gänaḥti, Aksumite pillar

Fig. 30. Qǝddǝst Maryam Gänaḥti, Golden Gospel

16
 11. Ṣǝrḥa Ṣǝyon Betä Ḥawaryat
The church of Betä Ḥawaryat is situated close to ˁAddigrat. It has a ṣäbäl-source, and appears
quite common, at a first glance. It does not feature in historical sources. Apparently, the site is
very old. Four stone columns from the Aksumite time are kept in the mäqdäs of the church19, and
one more stone object has been noticed in the entrance house. Local tradition does not
remember who established the sanctuary. A monastic community is said to have existed here but
disappeared long ago. At least two manuscripts hint to an important role the church might have
played in the past, and to an ancient tradition of religious veneration: an old collection of liturgical
hymns (s. fig. 31; late 15th/16th cent.?)20 and an old Senodos (fig. 32; of the same period?).

Fig. 31. Betä Ḥawaryat, Collection of hymns

Fig. 32. Betä Ḥawaryat, Senodos

19
S. Plant 1985:199-200 (no. 135), and index. Mäqdäs, or “holy of the holies” is the closed part of the
church in which the tabot(s) are preserved (s. EAE IV, 765a-67b).
20
S. mentions of liqä ṗaṗasat ˀabunä Ṗeṭros on the recto-side. Most probably, the title liqä ṗaṗasat
refers here not to a Coptic, but an Ethiopian hierarch. ˀAbunä Ṗeṭros was the head of Ethiopian church
in the second half of the 16th cent. He was thus a contemporary of the Kings Minas and powerful
Särṣä Dǝngǝl (1563-97), and, indeed, in the Chronicle of Särṣä Dǝngǝl he is referred to as liqä
ṗaṗasat (s. EAE IV, 138a).

17
 12. Däbrä Mǝḥrät Qǝddus Mikaʾel Bäˁatti gädam
Small Däbrä Mǝḥrät Qǝddus Mikaʾel Bäˁatti gädam is located on the outskirts of ˁAddigrat, on the
rock just above the site where buildings of the future ˁAddigrat University are now constructed
(planned to be opened next year). The site (fig. 33) can be reached through a spectacular
staircase hewn in the rock (fig. 34). The church itself is said to be old; the monastic community
was established by däğğazmač Subagadis only in the early 19th cent. After the revolution of 1974,
however, land possessions of the monastery were confiscated, and the monastic community
declined. A short history of the foundation is reflected in its books, among others, in an early 20th-
cent. copy of the Miracles of Mary in which an older folio with miniatures was included (s. fig. 35).

Fig. 33. Qǝddus Mikaʾel Bäˁatti

Fig. 34. Qǝddus Mikaʾel Bäˁatti

18
Fig. 35. Qǝddus Mikaʾel Bäˁatti, Miracles of Mary

13. Mädḥane ˁAläm Ḉäḥat

The church of Mädḥane ˁAläm Ḉäḥat can be easily reached through the main road ˁAddigrat –
Zäla ˀAmbäsä. The church itself is in the process of reconstruction. Local tradition claims
foundation by King Säˁaldoba, but nothing supportive of such an early dating was discovered at
the site. The collection of the church, though small, includes fine pieces of the late 17th/18th_cent.
Ethiopian scribal art (cp. fig. 36; a 18th-cent. manuscript of the Miracles of Mary, with a miniature
showing two saints [added later?]).

Fig. 36. Mädḥane ˁAläm Ḉäḥat, Miracles of Mary

14. Däbrä Mǝḥrät Kidanä Mǝḥrät Läqay

A big church Däbrä Mǝḥrät Kidanä Mǝḥrät Läqay is located some 2 km far from Ḉäḥat. Though
uncertain about the foundation time, local tradition refers to King Kaleb. Indeed, the church
appears to be located near an unexplored archaeological site. Among the oldest manuscripts of
the collection, there was a 15th-cent. (?) manuscript of the Miracles of Mary, with flyleaves and a
miniature originating from much older books (fig. 37). Among the other remarkable manuscripts of
the collection, there are a Missal (fig. 38) and a Vita of Libanos both from the 17th cent. (fig. 39;

19
with the infixed Sälam-hymn), a 19th-cent. illuminated Dǝrsanä Mikaˀel (fig. 40), an early 17th-
cent. Vita of St. Kiros (fig. 41) etc.

Fig. 37. Läqay, Miracles of Mary

Fig. 38. Läqay, Missal

Fig. 39. Läqay, Gädlä Libanos

20
Fig. 40, Läqay, Dǝrsanä Mikaˀel

Fig. 41. Läqay, Gädlä Kiros

15. Däbrä Gännät Qǝddǝst Maryam Siˁät

The well-known church of Däbrä Gännät Qǝddǝst Maryam Siˁät21 can be reached after a short
drive on the main road to Mäqälä and a ca. 40-min walk upwards. The site is located at the foot of
the mountain. The recent, rectangular church dedicated to Kidanä Mǝḥrät stands below, and the
old church dedicated to St. Mary is located above, hewn in the rock. Many holes and small caves
can be seen in the vertical rock around the entrance, formerly used as burials or dwellings of the
monks (s. fig. 42). In the church, one can see traces of white-washed old wall paintings. Apart
from the architecture, the most interesting object in the church is the big wooden door covered
with thick parchment painted on one side. The church possesses an extensive and interesting
collection of manuscripts, including a 15th-cent. (?) “Golden Gospel” book with painted canon
tables (fig. 43)22, in a new binding but complete and in a good condition, and a few more books
originating from the same and later periods (cp. fig. 4423). In addition, the church possesses a
rare, precious devotional image painted on parchment (cp. fig. 45).

21
Cp. Sauter 1976:163, no. 1012; Plant 1985:100-01 (no. 100). Siˁät is today’s pronunciation of the
name; the older variant attested in the manuscripts is Saˁet.
22
Reported already in Plant 1985:168.
23
Two folios from a copy of the Haymanotä ˀAbäw (“Faith of the Fathers”), dated into 17[5]6 A.M. in
the colophon (fol. rb), with extensive Additiones (fol. rc).

21
Fig. 42. Däbrä Gännät Qǝddǝst Maryam Siˁät

Fig. 43. Siˁät, Golden Gospel

Fig. 44. Siˁät, Haymanotä ˀAbäw

22
Fig. 45. Siˁät, devotional image on parchment

16. Däbrä Ṣǝyon Qǝddǝst Maryam Qiˁat

Maryam Qiˁat can be reached after some 30min driving on the main ˁAddigrat - ˀAksum road, and
a new side-road to Qiˁat which is still under construction. At the edge of the escarpment one has
to descend and walk under the cliffs of the escarpment, in the hot valley. Maryam Qiˁat is an
ancient rock-hewn church24. Local tradition does not specify the name of the founder and the time
of foundation, but refers to the establishment of the sanctuary in the pre-Christian period (ˀOrit).
Further on, the tradition preserves an account connecting the name of the place, Qiˁat, with the
word for Catha edulis (ḉat, qat) which, according to the local people, grows at this place. As
elsewhere in the region, a remarkable feature is the local veneration of Zärˀa Buruk and Gäbrä
Nazrawi25.

Fig. 46. Maryam Qiˁat, icon

24
Lepage – Mercier 2005:126-129.
25
From what the local people told us, it was not possible to confirm the role of Gäbrä Nazrawi as the
founder of the church, as described in Lepage – Mercier 2005:126-129. One of the tabots of the
church is dedicated to Gäbrä Nazrawi, and the church has a very recent copy of his Vita. The local
people are aware that Gäbrä Nazrawi whom they venerate was from Šäwa. A detailed study is
necessary to ascertain the identity of this saint. Indeed, he may represent a conflation of several
figures who were active in different regions, in different times (cp. EAE II, 626a-27a). In any case, one
should notice that exactly during the Gondärine (especially in the late 17th-first half of the 18th cent.)
time, several non-Tǝgrayan saints (esp. Täklä Haymanot, Gäbrä Mänfäs Qǝddus, and several others)
became popular in North Ethiopia.

23
 Fig. 47. Maryam Qiˁat, picture book

Among the interesting and valuable items preserved in the church, there is a non-
Ethiopian icon painted in the late-Byzantine style (fig. 46)26, as well as a late Gondärine (late 18th
or early 19th cent.?) “picture book” (fig. 47).

17. Däbrä Gännät Kidanä Mǝḥrät Mäḵodˁä gädam

The monastery of Kidanä Mǝḥrät Mäḵodˁä (fig. 48) is difficult to access. It is located under the
same rocky escarpment as Qiˁat; it can be reached and after at least 1h of difficult walk from the
village called Rahya. On the way to the place, one can admire a magnificent view, with many
churches scattered below, here and there, including the historical church of Azäba (to be
reached, however, through Ḥawzen). At the end of the way, one has to surpass the crest (kǝsad)
connecting the escarpment with a huge protruding rock, descend along the dry river bed and
cross it to the other side.

Fig. 48. Kidanä Mǝḥrät Mäḵodˁä

26
Painted in the post-Byzantine style, 16th cent., probably of Cretan origin (information courtesy of
[Link], [Link], Ikonen-Museum Frankfurt).

24
 As most of the sites mentioned above, Kidanä Mǝḥrät Mäḵodˁä does not appear to have
been mentioned in the sources. Local tradition does not specify the time when the monastic
community was first established. The oldest manuscripts of the community date into the time of
King Lǝbnä Dǝngel (r. 1508-40). Some other books were acquired by the community further in
the 17th (s. fig. 49)27 and 18th cent. (fig. 50)28. At least in the late 17th century Mäḵodˁä was
probably a flourishing monastery. It was associated with Gundä Gunde, this being demonstrated
by the presence of a tabot and a manuscript of the Vita of Mäzgäbä Sǝllase, one of the prominent
Gundä Gunde abbots (fig. 51) 29. Today, a small monastic community struggles for survival,
setting up the cultivation of vegetables and fruit-trees (fig. 52).

Fig. 49. Kidanä Mǝḥrät Mäḵodˁä, Miracles of Mary

Fig. 50. Kidanä Mǝḥrät Mäḵodˁä, Synaxarion

27
Holy monks [of Däbrä Gännät Mäḵodˁä]; a miniature (late 17th cent.?) infixed in a later manuscript of
the Miracles of Mary.
28
A copy of the Synaxarion (first half of the 18th cent.?) donated by a certain Mäzmurä Dǝngǝl
contains readings for the second half of the year, and the unusually extensive and emotional “donation
note” (columns vb-ra).
29
The site is not mentioned in Kinefe-Rigb Zelleke 1975 (s. page 85, no. 114).

25
Fig. 51. Mäḵodˁä, Gädlä Mäzgäbä Śǝllase

Fig. 52. Mäḵodˁä, plantation

18. Däbrä Sälam Qǝddus Mikaˀel Märgaḥǝya

The remote church of Däbrä Sälam Qǝddus Mikaˀel Märgaḥǝya can be reached through the main
road ˁAddigrat - ˀAksum, after a short drive on a side-road (starting after Məgullat) and a difficult
walk downwards, from the new church Gäbrä Nazrawi ˀAgazna (fig. 53). Local tradition recounts
that the church was founded in the time of King “ˀAlˀadoba, father of ˀAlˀador, father of Kaleb”.
The study of the church library did not support such an early date; however, a few remarkable
samples of Ethiopian manuscript culture were discovered: cp. fig. 54 (miniatures from a Dǝrsanä
Mikaˀel, second half of the 19th cent.30), fig. 55 (a collection of prayers; first half of the 17th
cent.?). Like in a few places mentioned above, a remarkable feature of the area is the veneration
of Gäbrä Nazrawi, a Šäwan saint, with copies of his Vita found in Gäbrä Nazrawi ˀAgazna.

30
Donation of ras Sǝbḥat ˀArägawi, the governor of ˁAgamä (1844-1914; s. EAE IV, 587b-89a).

26
Fig. 53. Däbrä Sälam Qǝddus Mikaˀel Märgaḥǝya

Fig. 54. Märgaḥǝya, Dǝrsanä Mikaˀel

Fig. 55. Märgaḥǝya, prayer book

27
 19. Däbrä Bǝrhan Yoḥannǝs Mäṭmǝq Dǝbla
The church of Däbrä Bǝrhan Yoḥannǝs Mäṭmǝq Dǝbla can be reached after some 20 min of
driving on the ˁAddigrat – Mäqälä road, and a short drive on a stony side-road. The church is
situated in a valley, surrounded by mountains. Some time ago, the local community dismantled
the walls of the old church of Dǝbla intending to construct another church around the old mäqdäs.
However, the TCTA stopped the work, as it was undertaken without proper consultation with and
permission of the Agency. Local tradition claims that the church was founded in the time of King
Sälˁadoba. The church library includes a few valuable manuscripts, among them a sumptuous
Dǝrsanä Mikaˀel (fig. 56), a complete and well-preserved 17th-cent. Missal (fig. 57), and a unique
late 17th-cent. (?) codex containing the Vitae of Täklä Haymanot and ˀEwosṭatewos (fig. 58).

Fig. 56. Dǝbla, Dǝrsanä Mikaˀel

Fig. 57. Dǝbla, Missal

28
Fig. 58. Dǝbla, Gädlä Täklä Haymanot

The area around Nägaš (sites 20-21)

At the concluding stage of the field work, the team visited a group of the churches located around
Nägaš (wäräda Kǝlǝttä ˀAwlǝˁalo): Däbrä Täwaḥədo Kidanä Məḥrät Kädiḥ Maryam, Däbrä
Gännät Qǝddus Mikaˀel Bäläsa (sites 20-21).

20. Däbrä Täwaḥədo Məḥrät Kädiḥ Maryam

Kädiḥ Maryam is a big church situated just near the road. The present building is quite recent (fig.
59), but local tradition claims that the first church was constructed by the “artisans of Greece”
(ṭäbbäbtä Ṣərˁ), and it still preserves an account about the “Righteous of Kädiḥ” (commemorated
on 24 Taḫśaś)31. However, no indigenous texts meant for the liturgical veneration could be
discovered. The place is an archaeological site which remains unexplored. The library of the
church preserves the manuscripts from recent period (s. fig. 60; incipit of a late 19th-cent. Missal).

Fig. 59. Kädiḥ Maryam

31
Cp. Getatchew Haile 1988-89; Brita 2010, s. index.

29
Fig. 60. Kädiḥ Maryam, Missal

21. Däbrä Gännät Qǝddus Mikaˀel Bäläsa

The church of Qǝddus Mikaˀel Bäläsa is also located on the main road, several minutes before
Kädiḥ. According to local tradition, the church was founded by the famous ras Mikaˀel Sǝhul (ca.
1691-1777). An unusually spacious compound, with a ṣäbäl-source, accommodates two
churches. One new, rectangular, is built in the traditional Tǝgrayan style; to its left, encircled by
the bush, there stands another one, wattle-and-doub round church, built at the latest in early 20th
cent. (?). Liturgy is celebrated in the new church only. Luckily, when the new church was built, the
people decided to preserve their old one. It is still well kept, with the sophisticated woodwork of
the roof fully intact, with some paintings visible on the walls inside and outside (fig. 61). Among
the books of the church, a finely illustrated Dǝrsanä Mikaˀel was discovered (fig. 62), as well as a
manuscript of the Vita of Kiros (fig. 63), donated by däğğazmač Gwangul Maru32.

Fig. 61. Qǝddus Mikaˀel Bäläsa, old church

32
One of the sons of däğğazmač Maru (d. 1827; s. EAE III, 807)?

30
Fig. 62. Bäläsa, Dǝrsanä Mikaˀel

Fig. 63. Bäläsa, Gädlä Kiros

22. Dǝrba Däbrä ˀAbunä Yasay

The last site visited during the field season was the church of Dǝrba Däbrä ˀAbunä Yasay
(wäräda ˀƎndärta). The site can be reached after some 20 min of difficult driving on the side-road
from May Mäḵdän. The new large rectangular church, standing on the elevated, stony bank of the
river (dry during the dry seasons), was completed a few years ago. The old church stands some
500m away next to the river, half-hidden in the canyon. The founder of the church is said to have
been ˀabunä Yasay, a late 14th-cent. Ethiopian monk, whose Vita is still unpublished. Among the
books of the church, there is a large-format Gospel book from the time of däğğazmač Wäldä
Rufaˀel33 (fig. 64; frontispiece miniature and the beginning of the Gospel of Mark), one large-
format Gäbrä Hǝmamat; a finely written Mäṣḥafä Gənzät (“The Book of the Funeral Ritual”)

33
Wäldä Rufaˀel was a nephew of the powerful ras Wäldä Śəllase. After the death of the latter (1816)
he tried to consolidate the power in his hands, but had to leave the way for däğğazmač Subagadis
Wäldu who by 1822 became the ruler of Tǝgray.

31
dating into 1779-95, from the time of King Täklä Giyorgis34 (fig. 65); two manuscripts of the Vita of
ˀabunä Yasay, the oldest dating, however, into the late 17th - early 18th cent.

Fig. 64. Dǝrba Däbrä ˀAbunä Yasay, Golden Gospel

Fig. 65. Dǝrba, Mäṣḥafä Gənzät

Quoted bibliography
ACD I-VI
Sergew Hable Sellassie (ed.), Yäˀamarǝňňa yäbetä krǝstiyan mäzgäbä qalat. Amharic
Church Dictionary, 6 vols., Heidelberg – Addis Ababa 1981–82 A.M. [1989–90 A.D.].
Brita 2010.
A. Brita, I racconti tradizionali sulla “seconda cristianizzazione” dell’Etiopia. Il ciclo
agiografico dei nove santi, Napoli 2010 (Studi Africanistici. Serie Etiopica 7).

EAE I-IV
S. Uhlig (ed.), Encyclopaedia Aethiopica. Vol. I: A-C, Wiesbaden 2003; Vol. II: D-Ha,
Wiesbaden 2005; Vol. III: He-N, Wiesbaden 2007; Vol. IV: O-X, Wiesbaden 2010.

34
King Täklä Giyorgis reigned six distinctive periods in 1777-95.

32
Getatchew Haile 1988-89.
Getatchew Haile, ‟A Text ob the Saints of Kädih”, in: Taddese Beyene (ed.), Proceedings of
the Eighth International Conference of Ethiopian Studies. University of Addis Ababa, [26–30
November] 1984, 2 vols., Addis Ababa – Frankfurt-am-Main 1988–89, vol. 1, 653-64.

MS
Mazgaba Seelat. A Database for the Recording of Ethiopian Art, Architecture and Culture
([Link]

Kinefe-Rigb Zelleke 1975.

Kinefe-Rigb Zelleke, “Bibliography of the Ethiopic Hagiographical Traditions”, Journal of
Ethiopian Studies 13-2 (1975), 57–102.

Lepage – Mercier 2005.

C. Lepage – J. Mercier, Art éthiopien. Les églises historiques du Tigray. Ethiopian Art. The
Ancient Churches of Tigray, Paris 2005.

Ethiopian church 2009.

Ethiopian church - Treasures & Faith, Paris 2009.

Sauter 1963.
R. Sauter, “Où en sont notre connaissance des églises rupestres d’Éthiopie?” Annales
d’Éthiopie 5, 1963, 235-292.
Sauter 1976.
R. Sauter, “Églises rupestres du Tigré”, Annales d’Éthiopie 9, 1976, 157-175.

33
Impressum

Principal Investigator:

Dr. Denis Nosnitsin (nosnitsin@[Link])

Researchers:

Dr. Stéphane Ancel

Susanne Hummel, M.A.
Magdalena Krzyżanowska, M.A.
Vitagrazia Pisani, M.A.

Project seat:

Ethio-SPARE
Hiob Ludolf Centre for Ethiopian Studies
Universität Hamburg
Alsterterrasse 1
20354 Hamburg

Web:

[Link]/ethiostudies/ETHIOSPARE