A History of Däbrä Bäkur Abunä Sét Monastery in Hahaile, Ahiferom Wäräda Tigray, Ethiopia from Its Foundation up to 1991.
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2019-11
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Ethiopia is one of the most ancient countries in the world with rich history and civilization. Most scholars stated that, one of the factors that contributed for the Ethiopian civilization is the introduction of Christianity in the fourth century. From the contribution of the introduction of Christianity is the expansion of Christianity and spread of monasteries in Ethiopia. Furthermore, the medieval period of Ethiopia witnessed the spread of Christianity and the foundation of several monasteries. Hence, several religious men and saints were emerged in Tigray and they established different monasteries in the name of themselves. Among the monasteries that established in Tigray was Däbrä Bäkuer Abunä Sét Monastery. The monastery found in the northern part of Ethiopia in central Zone at Ahiferom Wäräda; and it may be establish in the end of thirteen Century. Nevertheless, it is little known about the monastery in oral sources and written documents. However, the glorious period of the monastery began when Abunä Sét met with king Dawit I and the church received a monastery status. Since this period the monastery has a close contact with royal court. The main aspire of this thesis is to reconstruct a History of Däbrä Bäkuer Abunä Sét Monastery of Hahile Sub-Wäräda, Ahiferom Wäräda from its foundation to 1991. The study covers the time from its establishment until 1991. The study begins with geographical setting and historical background of the Wäräda. Along with, the Däbrä Bäkuer Abunä Sét Monastery was one of the monasteries of Ethiopia, which have a rich in ancient and various equipment; therefore, this study tries to assess the treasures found in the monastery and their deposition conditions. This monastery was one of the centers of traditional education. Based on this, the thesis endeavors to assess the traditional school of the monastery. In addition, this thesis also tries to look the construction of the building and the wall and parchment paintings that includes religious and secular depictions. Furthermore, the study also examines to set out the source of income of the Monastery. The main of income of the monastery was gult land that granted by the Ethiopian emperors besides the offering until the land nationalization policy of Dareg regime in 1975. Thus, the main revenue of the monastery lost. This indicates the monastery was highly depending on the land. Nevertheless, after 1975 the land was distributed to the surrounding community. Thus, from this time own wards the monastery had become dependent on the parish. As a result, the life in the monastery became challenging and many monks was displaced to other monasteries and the traditional education which was given in the monastery enter in to endanger. Gradually the religious education that given in the monastery was became a nebab bet (reading house) only. The Wäräda generally and the area specifically has a rich archaeological sites, monasteries, court place, and other historical places and events then to investigate them it needed more study. Then, I recommend for scholars or voluntaries to make a historical and archaeological study to know more about the Hahile Sub-Wäräda specifically and Ahiferom Wäräda in generally.
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A History of Däbrä Bäkur Abunä Sét Monastery in Hahaile, Ahiferom Wäräda Tigray, Ethiopia from Its Foundation up to 1991.