Christian monasticism in Ethiopia

Debre Libanos monastery, located in North Shewa Zone, Oromia Region

Christian monasticism in Ethiopia has been practiced since the Aksumite era in the 6th century AD. The Nine Saints, who came from the Byzantine Empire, played a crucial role in the development of monasticism in Ethiopia, which continued during the Zagwe and Solomonic periods.

Debre Libanos and Debre Damo are some of the best-known monasteries in Ethiopia. Monasteries often have the titles of Debre ("church") and Gedam ("monastery").

Overview

Betremariam Monastery, at the Lake Tana

As tabots are associated with angels, Ethiopian monks are considered messengers of God. This transcends the previous concept of theosis and is interpreted as a form of physical transformation. In terms of gender, monks usually represent the larger proportion of the Ethiopian clergy, whose "total number has been estimated at from 10% to 20% of the population, particularly the male population"; men constitute 80% of the monastics in Ethiopia. There is also a substantial number of nuns in every monastery. Nuns often do not consider the gender gap by assigning male or female superiority and respond that "God does not distinguish between male and female" and view monastic life as "mimesis of the life of Christ".

Bete Giyorgis rock-hewn church in Lalibela

Monasteries in Ethiopia are usually not built within an enclosed or fortified structure. Most are located in mountainous regions. Examples of such monasteries include Debre Damo, Debre Libanos and monasteries around the Lake Tana islands. It is difficult to distinguish Ethiopian monasteries from obvious larger "bounded" cenobitic (communal) sites such as Debre Damo and Debre Libanos. In general, Ethiopian churches are attributed to monasteries because they are associated with the "Debre" or "Gedam" name and belong to community of monks and nuns.

In Addis Ababa, Orthodox Christians endorse media promotion about religion, but it is debated how to correctly promote asceticism, humility, and attention to God while avoiding pride.

Historical context

Kingdom of Aksum

Ethiopian monasteries have played vital sociocultural and economic roles within Christian society in the Ethiopian Highlands. The concept of Christian monasticism dates back to the Kingdom of Aksum, which was founded by a group of missionaries called the Nine Saints, around the sixth century AD. Early Ethiopian monasticism was similar to that of adjacent regions such as Egypt, Nubia, and the Levant. As in Egypt, it is unlikely that the monastery of Ethiopia played an active role in the Christianization of the local people.

According to mainstream historical records, Christianity reached the Axumite Empire during the reign of King Ezana in 330, although traditional accounts differ from the introduction of Christianity to the early Church period. Christianity persisted through the Early Middle Ages and many large church buildings were constructed in the northern province of Ethiopia, followed by rapid change in material culture (e.g., coinage, funerary tradition).

Christianity also survived through the decline of the Kingdom of Aksum in the seventh century and continued until the Dark Age, when written records overwhelmed external sources. The fall of Aksum is due to two main reasons: the first is the anonymity of its rulers and their size and status due to a decentralized structure. The History of the Patriarchs of Alexandria is the best example of this reason, and the second is that most accounts came from Arab writers, often travelers, and wrote much information about the economic status of the period.

Zagwe dynasty

The Zagwe dynasty, which succeeded the Axumite dynasty, reinvigorated Christendom after founding its capital, Roha, in the 12th century and later renamed Lalibela after eponymous king of the same name. During the reign of Gebre Meskel Lalibela, eleven rock-hewn churches were constructed within the town, and churches were also built in caves in the countryside around Lalibela.

However, historical records, even in this period, became more obscure than Aksum. The Gadlat (hagiographies) were the main source of notable kings and saints' descriptions and were written later than the actual events they described, although oral history differs with respect of archeological works at Lalibela.

Solomonic period

Monastery became the essence of life in social and economic role during the Solomonic period since the ascension of Yekuno Amlak (r. 1270–1285), providing charismatic religious leaders such as Abune Tekle Haymanot (1215–1313) and Iyasus Mo'a (1214–1294). Monasteries attracted royal patronage and became important centers of wealth within the political elite, where secular power was vested in the Emperor of Ethiopia and his court, as well as in the feudal system.

Until the Ethiopian Revolution in 1974, monasticism was important to the economy and agriculture of the highlands, which utilized the gult system. After the abolition of the monarchy in 1975, monasteries became nationalized during the Derg regime which diminished their power.