Debre Abbay
Encyclopedia
Debre Abbay is a monastery of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church located at the edge of the canyon of the Tekezé River
in the Tigray Region
of Ethiopia
. The monastery dates from the 14th century, and has important connections with Ethiopian history: the Emperor Zara Yaqob
was educated there until his 14th year, and the Battle of Debre Abbay
was fought nearby 14 February 1831.
When Paul B. Henze visited the monastery in 2001, he described it as flourishing and self-sufficient, inhabited by 80 monks, 12 nuns, and "30-odd" priests.
(or AD 1334/1335) by Saint Samuel of Waldebba
; another personage associated with the monastery was Abba Samuel of Qoyasa.
Mansfield Parkyns, travelling between Adwa
and Sudan, stopped at Debre Abbay in early July 1845. He found settlement "built in a deep hollow or chasm, and so nearly concealed, that, when approaching it from some directions, you would scarcely imagine yourself to be near habitations, seeing nothing but a wide tract of table-land before you."
The church of the monastery was bombed by the Italians during the Second Italo-Abyssinian War
17 December 1935. It was rebuilt in the 1950s with donations from the Emperor Haile Selassie.
Tekezé River
The Tekezé River, also known as the Takkaze River, is a major river of Ethiopia, and forms a section the westernmost border of Ethiopia and Eritrea for part of its course. The river is also known as the Setit in Eritrea, western Ethiopia, and eastern Sudan. According to materials published by the...
in the Tigray Region
Tigray Region
Tigray Region is the northernmost of the nine ethnic regions of Ethiopia containing the homeland of the Tigray people. It was formerly known as Region 1...
of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. The monastery dates from the 14th century, and has important connections with Ethiopian history: the Emperor Zara Yaqob
Zara Yaqob
Zar'a Ya`qob or Zera Yacob was of Ethiopia , and a member of the Solomonic dynasty...
was educated there until his 14th year, and the Battle of Debre Abbay
Battle of Debre Abbay
The Battle of Debre Abbay was a conflict between Ras Marye of Yejju, Regent of the Emperor of Ethiopia, and his rival from Tigray, Dejazmach Sabagadis of Agame...
was fought nearby 14 February 1831.
When Paul B. Henze visited the monastery in 2001, he described it as flourishing and self-sufficient, inhabited by 80 monks, 12 nuns, and "30-odd" priests.
History
According to Henze, the Memhir or abbot told him that Debre Abbay was founded in 1327 ECEthiopian calendar
The Ethiopian calendar , also called the Ge'ez calendar, is the principal calendar used in Ethiopia and also serves as the liturgical calendar for Christians in Eritrea belonging to the Eritrean Orthodox Church, Eastern Catholic Church and Lutheran Evangelical Church of Eritrea...
(or AD 1334/1335) by Saint Samuel of Waldebba
Samuel of Waldebba
Samuel of Waldebba was a 15th century Ethiopian monk and ascetic of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.-References:*-External links:*...
; another personage associated with the monastery was Abba Samuel of Qoyasa.
Mansfield Parkyns, travelling between Adwa
Adwa
Adwa is a market town in northern Ethiopia, and best known as the community closest to the decisive Battle of Adowa fought in 1896 with Italian troops. Notably, Ethiopian soldiers won the battle, thus being the only African nation to thwart European colonialism...
and Sudan, stopped at Debre Abbay in early July 1845. He found settlement "built in a deep hollow or chasm, and so nearly concealed, that, when approaching it from some directions, you would scarcely imagine yourself to be near habitations, seeing nothing but a wide tract of table-land before you."
The church of the monastery was bombed by the Italians during the Second Italo-Abyssinian War
Second Italo-Abyssinian War
The Second Italo–Abyssinian War was a colonial war that started in October 1935 and ended in May 1936. The war was fought between the armed forces of the Kingdom of Italy and the armed forces of the Ethiopian Empire...
17 December 1935. It was rebuilt in the 1950s with donations from the Emperor Haile Selassie.