Field research
Institutions visited, with a list of manuscripts digitized and described
1. Ḥamara Noḫ Kidāna Mǝḥrat
Ḥamara Noḫ Kidāna Mǝḥrat Monastery is an old ecclesiastical centre in the North of Addis Ababa which was established at the foot of the Entoto Mountain by Empress Ṭāytu in 1902 EC. Later, Empress Manan built a new church in 1923 EC. Rās Dastā supervised the construction work. Near the church, there is a holy water spring which is highly visited due to the belief of its miraculous healing power. There, all levels of the ecclesiastical education are offered, even though some of them are not active.
|
Text |
Project shelfmark |
1 |
ʾAmmǝstu ṣawātǝwa zemā |
|
2 |
Dǝggwā |
|
3 |
Ṣoma Dǝggwā |
|
4 |
Mǝʿǝrāf |
|
5 |
Zǝmmāre |
|
6 |
Qǝddāse |
|
7 |
Commentary of Gospel |
|
8 |
Gospel (Wangel ʾastawāṣ́ǝʿo) |
2. Māḫdara Sǝbḥat lǝdatā laMāryām
Māḫdara Sǝbḥat lǝdatā laMāryām is a famous ecclesiastical centre in Addis Ababa. This church of St. Mary was inaugurated on 21 Yakkātit 1916 EC. The founder and patron of the church was ʾƎč̣č̣age Gabra Manfas Qǝddus (later ʾAbuna Sāwiros). The site was comparatively extensive and belonged to the ʾƎč̣č̣age’s office.
The church had 40 gāšās of land for its upkeep, thirty of which belonged to the Gabaz, Lǝǧ Gabra ʾAdǝnaw, who was Mənilək’s ʾƎlfǝññ ʾAskalkāy and is sometimes known as Bālamwāl Gabre. The land was inherited by his children who have, however, no connection with the church and have even stopped the annual feast on Gǝnbot one which their father used to organize in order to commemorate the day of Lǝdatā.
In 1963, there were 32 priests and deacons, and 38 dabtarās serving the church. Influential people attached to the church included Daǧǧāč Bālčā ʾAbbā Nafso, Daǧǧāč ʾAsaffā Lǝʿul Saggad and Empress Zawditu. In the 1960s Rās Bitwaddad Makwannǝn ʾƎndālkāččaw and his wife used to support the church. The Italian forces tried to demolish the church, perhaps because they had plans to use the land for some other purpose. They forbade the use of the church and it was for some time surrounded by soldiers.
|
Text |
Project shelfmark |
1 |
Dǝggwā |
|
2 |
Ṣoma Dǝggwā |
|
3 |
Dǝggwā |
|
4 |
Ṣoma Dǝggwā |
MSL004 |
5 |
Ṣoma Dǝggwā |
MSL005 |
6 |
Mǝʿǝrāf |
MSL006 |
7 |
Mǝʿǝrāf |
MSL007 |
8 |
Mǝʿǝrāf |
MSL008 |
9 |
Zǝmmāre Mawāśǝʿt |
MSL009 |
10 |
Qǝddāse bāla-mǝlǝkkǝt I |
MSL010 |
11 |
Qǝddāse bāla-mǝlǝkkǝt II |
MSL011 |
12 |
Qǝddāse tǝrgwāme |
MSL 012 |
13 |
Dāwit tǝrgwāme |
MSL 013 |
14 |
Mawāśǝʿt |
MSL 014 |
15 |
Commentary of Gospel |
MSL 015 |
16 |
Zayǝnaggǝś |
MSL 016 |
17 |
Ziq |
MSL 017 |
3. Dabra Libānos
Dabra Libānos is one of the most famous medieval monasteries of Shoa. The team documented mainly the practices and cultures of different stages of the school system given at the monastery. The following manuscripts were documented:
|
Text |
Project shelfmark |
1 |
Dǝggwā |
|
2 |
Dǝggwā |
|
3 |
Dǝggwā |
|
4 |
Dǝggwā |
DLS004 |
5 |
Ṣoma Dǝggwā |
DLS005 |
6 |
Ṣoma Dǝggwā |
DLS006 |
7 |
Ṣoma Dǝggwā |
DLS007 |
8 |
Ṣoma Dǝggwā |
DLS008 |
9 |
Ṣoma Dǝggwā |
DLS009 |
10 |
Mǝʿǝrāf |
DLS010 |
11 |
Mǝʿǝrāf |
DLS011 |
12 |
Wāzemā |
DLS012 |
13 |
Zǝmmāre |
DLS013 |
14 |
Zǝmmāre |
DLS014 |
15 |
Zǝmmāre Mawāśǝʿt |
DLS015 |
16 |
Yǝtbahāl |
DLS016 |
17 |
Qǝddāse bāla-mǝlǝkkǝt |
DLS017 |
18 |
Śǝrʿata Qǝddāse |
DLS018 |
19 |
Qǝddāse |
DLS019 |
20 |
Qǝddāse |
DLS020* |
21 |
Dāwit |
DLS021 |
22 |
Mawāśǝʿt |
DLS022 |
23 |
Mawāśǝʿt |
DLS023 |
24 |
Mawāśǝʿt |
DLS024 |
25 |
Mawāśǝʿt |
DLS025 |
26 |
Mazmur |
DLS026 |
27 |
Mazmur |
DLS027 |
28 |
Nagś |
DLS028 |
29 |
Gospel (John) |
DLS029 |
30 |
Gospel (Luke) |
DLS030 |
31 |
Zayǝnaggǝś |
DLS031 |
32 |
Ziq |
DLS032 |
33 |
Ziq |
DLS033 |
4. Mǝskāya ḫǝzunān Madḫāneʿalam Monastery
|
Text |
Project shelfmark |
1 |
Dǝggwā |
|
2 |
Ṣoma Dǝggwā |
MHM002 |
3 |
Qǝddāse |
MHM003 |
4 |
Zǝmmare – Mǝʿrāf |
MHM004 |
5 |
Ziq and Zǝmmare |
MHM005 |
6 |
Collection of Qǝne |
MHM006 |
7 |
Declaration of Gǝʿǝz Grammar |
MHM007 |
5. Manbara Ṣabāʾot qǝddǝst Śǝllāse
|
Text |
Project shelfmark |
1 |
Dǝggʷā |
MTSS001 |
2 |
Ṣomä Dǝggʷā |
MTSS002 |
3 |
Mǝʿrāf |
MTSS003 |
6. Dabra Nagwadgwād qǝddus Yoḥannǝs
|
Text |
Project shelfmark |
1 |
Dǝggʷā |
DNY001 |
2 |
Dǝggʷā |
DNY002 |
3 |
Mǝʿrāf |
DNY003 |
4 |
Ṣoma Dǝggʷā |
DNY004 |
5 |
Qǝddāse |
DNY005 |
6 |
Saʿātāt |
DNY006 |
7 |
Hāymānota ʾAbaw |
DNY007 |
7. Bāḥər Dār Śǝllāse (BDS)
This site is among the originally planned sites due to its famous school of Qəne containing more than two thousand students. The Chief instructor is a young scholar in the field by the name Yanetā Qəddus Yāred. He is the son of Liqa liqāwunt Yāred Šifarrāw, the still active and celebrated scholar of Qəne at Č̣agode Ḥānnā, the center which is distinctly known by its unique way of verb derivation. The school is believed to have the largest number of Qəne students in the country. The team invested a day in documenting texts and the teaching-learning process. Very important from our observation and documentation of the process was what they call nagarā, the session when the instructor or his assistant (called zarāfi) performs Qənes of all levels and their interpretation to the students so that they used them as models for their own compositions. The chain of well-composed Qənes flows from the majestic sound of the instructor followed by the amplifying voice of the disciple (taqabbāy) who receives and sends his instructor’s Qəne to the crowd and still followed by the collective barks and roars of the galaxy of students in the hall in an attempt to fix each Qəne composed and delivered by the instructor in their mind is an awesome experience.
|
Text |
Project shelfmark |
1 |
ʾAggabāb |
BDS001 |
2 |
Gǝss |
BDS002 |
3 |
Ya qǝne bet Tārik 1 |
BDS003 |
4 |
Ya qǝne bet Tārik 2 |
BDS004 |
5 |
ʾAggabāb |
BDS005 |
6 |
ʾAggabāb |
BDS006 |
7 |
ʾAggabāb |
BDS007 |
8 |
ʾƎrbā qəmmər |
BDS008 |
9 |
ʾƎrbā qəmmər |
BDS009 |
10 |
ʾƎrbā qəmmər |
BDS010 |
8. Bāḥər Dār Takla Hāymanot
Located on the Southern side of Bāḥər Dar, on the side of the course of ʾAbbāy River, this monastery is known for its school of commentary. The name of the scholar is mamhər Səməʿā Konna Maləʾāk who assumed the name of Liqa Liqāwnt due to his scholastic coverage of all the four departments of the commentary school. The following manuscripts were digitized at the site:
|
Text |
Project shelfmark |
1 |
Səməntu Bəḥera Orit |
BDTH001 |
2 |
Daqiqa Nabiyāt |
BDTH002 |
3 |
Qerlos |
BDTH003 |
4 |
Yoḥānnəs ʾAfawarq |
BDTH004 |
5 |
Sərʿāta Mənkwəsənnā |
BDTH005 |
9. ʾAbbāy Mādo Qəddus Gabrəʾel
This is a relatively new Church in the outskirt of Bāḥər Dār where there is a school of Dəggwa.
|
Text |
Project shelfmark |
1 |
Zǝmmāre mawāśǝʿǝt |
AMQG001 |
2 |
Məsṭira Dəggwa |
AMQG002 |
3 |
Qəne maqaṣaya and Bāḥəra Ḥāsāb |
AMQG003 |
4 |
Gǝss |
AMQG004 |
10. Dabra Bərhān Śəllāse, Gondar
Located on a hill in the north-west side of the city, this church is one of the famous churches in Gondar town. It was founded in January 1694 during the reign of ʾaṣe Iyyāsu I. It is renowned for its fine murals, which cover the entire interior. The ceiling, decorated with cherubs, is one of the major tourist attractions in Gondar. The Church is also known with its famous school centers. Today, the following ʾabǝnnat schools are found:
|
School |
No. of students |
1 |
Nǝbāb bet, Zemā and Dǝggwa |
ca.80 |
2 |
Qǝddāse |
ca.50 |
3 |
ʾAqqwāqqwām |
ca.100 |
4 |
Qǝne |
ca.200 |
The team documented the teaching learning and social life of the schools’ community. The following manuscripts were also digitized:
Title |
Code |
Ṣoma Dəggwā |
GDBS001 |
YaDəggwā Yətbahāl |
GDBS002 |
Tārika Nagaśt ZaGondar |
GDBS003 |
Gadla Iyyāsu + Malkə |
GDBS004 |
ʾAggabāb ZaGonǧ |
GDBS005 |
Maftəḥe śərāy |
GDBS006 |
11. Gondar Baʾatā LaMāryām
Founded in 1771 during the reign of Emperor Takla Hāymānot, the church is mainly known with its unique school of the ʾAqqwāqqwām that is the only center of excellence where students get certification in the subject. The current instructor, Maggābe ʾaʾǝlāf mamhǝr Kǝbur ṭǝlāhun regularly certifies 50 disciples every year.
Besides the many photos shot documenting the school life of the students, the following five manuscripts are digitized:
Title |
Code |
Ṣoma Dəggwā |
GBM001 |
ʾAnqaṣ |
GBM002 |
Zəmmare Mawāʾśət |
GBM003 |
Ziq1 |
GBM004 |
Ziq 2 |
GBM005 |
Kertas |
GBM006 |
12. Walda Nagwadgwād Yoḥānnəs
Emperor Takla Hāymānot founded the church in 1769. The church is known its schools of Zemā and ʾAqqwāqqwām. Currently there are two schools: a school of ʾAqqwāqqwām (17 students) and a school of Nǝbāb, Zemā and Dǝggwa (39 students). The following manuscripts were digitized at the school:
Title |
Code
|
Qəddase |
GYWN001 |
Ziq + Qəddase |
GYWN002 |
Ziq |
GYWN003 |
ʾAggabāb + Zəmmare Mawāʾśət |
GYWN004 |
YaQāl Təmhərt ʾAwāǧ |
GYWN005 |
ʾAqqwāqqwām ZaYoḥānnəs Gəʾəz Sawāsəw |
GYWN006 |
Gəʾəz Sawāsəw |
GYWN007 |
Kərtās Ya ʾAqqwāqqwām |
GYWN008 |
Malkəā Həmāmāt |
GYWN009 |
YaMəqnāy Kərtās |
GYWN010 |
Nagara Hāymānot Kərtās |
GYWN011 |
Kərtās ZaṖeṭros WaṖāwlos |
GYWN012 |
Śərʿāta Wāzemā |
GYWN013 |
Kərtās ZaMikāʾel |
GYWN014 |
Kərtās ZaŚəllase |
GYWN015 |
YaṢəge Yətbahāl |
GYWN016 |
YaBaʾatā Yətbahāl |
GYWN017 |
YaQəne Zemā Ləkk |
GYWN018 |
13. Qachane Dabra Salām Madḫāneʿalam
Finally, the team has received the permission to access the archive of Qachane Dabra Salām Madḫāneʿalam, a famous church in Addis Ababa which was established in 1913 EC. According to a source in the parish, Lǝğ Iyyāsu laid the corner stone of the present church and construction work commenced in 1903 EC. Part of the funds for the completion of the building was granted by the Emperor Ḫāyla Śəllāse I, when still Regent and Crown Prince. For various reasons, however, it was delayed for several years and was only completed in 1913 EC and the ark was placed in the new church on the 27th Təqəmt. The church walls were painted by ʾAgagnahu ʾƎnggəda (+1944 EC). The gabaz, the lay head, was Fitāwrāri Hābta-Giyorgis and was succeeded by his grand son Sawʾalla Dagafu. The team documented the following manuscripts:
Title |
Code |
Dəggwā |
QDSM001 |
Qǝdma Dəggwā |
QDSM002 |
Mǝʿǝrāf |
QDSM003 |
Qəddase Bālaməlkkət |
QDSM004 |
Ṣomä Dǝggwa |
QDSM005 |
Zemmare |
QDSM006 |