COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITY DEPARTMENT OF

HISTORY AND HERITAGE MANAGEMENT

A HISTORY OF MERTULE MARIAM MONASTERY: FROM FUNDETION

TO 1991

A Proposal Submitted to Bonga University College of Social Sciences: Department of History

and Heritage Management in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement of Bachelor of Arts Degree
in History and Heritage Management

BY: ALEBEL KEFALE

ID NO. 0201/12

ADVISOR: SOLOMON KIDANE (msc)

BONGA, ETHIOPIA December, 2022

I
Glossary

Aba……………………Father, Monk or priest

Gedam……………… A monastery

Kahnat……………… Clergy man

Likeda deacon… … leader of deacon

Memhr……………. church teache

Ato...........A civil title given to Ordinary people

Aba ..........Oldest person, priest

Abbahoy .......Old father, title for oldestmen

Awraja ...........Administrative unit of the past Ethiopia regimes

Dega .............Temperate climate

Emahoy............ Oldest Mother

Kebele ..............Smallest Administrative unit in Ethiopia

Megabi .........A religious title given to teacher of the church

Merigeta .......A religious title given to teacher of the church

Qes ..........Title given to priest

Qolla .........Lowland area with high temperature

Reu’se ru’san .............Title of Mertule Mariam Monastery administrator

Tsinah ....................Material made up of metal for church service

Woreda .................Administrative unit below Zone and Region

Weyzero ..............Title of married women

Woynadega .........Sub tropical climate co2

II
 CHAPTER ONE

1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background of the study
Monastery is commonly known as a place that people who leave off to the world, relative friends
families live to gather to pursue a monastic life which is dedicated to serving God with the
exception of reward in the heaven after death. Most of the time monasteries is located in the area
far from the urban cities and town which is considered harbors of the world and market of sin.
The written documents which a deal with the Ethiopia monastic life is fethanegast (law of
king).which is the ancient civic and ecclesiastical code on which is based on all Ethiopian
legislations.1

The world monasticism comes from Greek word mono meaning alone. The first Christian
monastic is who lives separately. At early, small community got bigger and they established a
suitable site live building of small church.2

Monasticism is introduced in Ethiopia in the six century AD with the advent of nine saints. The
nine saints were missionary monk who came to Ethiopia starting from 479A.D.The Ethiopian
Orthodox church chronicle stated the nine saints have come from Roman, Egypt and Syria. Thus
Missionary monks where the first to established monastic life in the Ethiopia church programs.
The nine saint where know in history by the names, Abba Zamikael(Aragawi),Abba
Pentetelawon,Abba Isaac(Gherima),Abba Aftse,Abba Alef,Abba Yemta(Mata),Abba Tsaham
and Abba Guba.3

During its early years the scope of Christianity is low and limited to the few royal classes and
the nobility. However, after the coming of the nine saints into Aksum in 479A.D, it was widely
expanded in Ethiopia that they studied Geez and oustom of the Ethiopia people. Then they
spiked out in different dictation, preaching gospel and establishing monasteries in Tigris around
Aksum in part of the present day Adigrat, Aksum, Adwaand Hawzin. It is true that Aksumision

III
is the first church in Ethiopia. But later, Christianity expand into different direction and church
and monasteries where constructed in different corner of Ethiopia.4
Traditionally the history of Mertulemariam monastery is dated back to the 4 th Century A.D,the
period of king Ezana and Sayzana(Abrha and Atsibhas).Abrha and Atsibhas where the two
brother who accepted and expanded Christianity in different part of Ethiopia including
Mertulemariam.5
According to Gedle Abrha and Atsibha Parchment book in the monastery and also Gedle Selma,
Abrha and Atsibha with the bishop of fremitus come to Mertulemariam viva Wollo from Aksum.
After they reached Mertulemariam they converted the people from Judaism to Christianity and
they constructed the monastery.6

Mertulemariam monastery the place is not comfortable for construcation.It is hard to dig the
ground. Then, they all pray to their God to get comfortable place and the God pointed to build
the monastery at Tserha Aryam.The first building is called Ginbewore the building which is
started but not ended.7
Abrha and Atsbha started building the church (monastery) in rectangular shape or basilica from
with twelve holy of holies.8
Different writers disagree on the time of the foundation of Mertulemariam monastery. They
debated on the time of it foundation. Foreign writers believed that the monastery of
Mertulemariam is found in the medieval period, period, 15thA.D by Queen Eleni in
1510.Accordingly, she is a Muslim Hadya woman but later converted to Christianity to become
devoted Christian untie her death in 1522.In 1622 the Portage travel O, Almeda visited
Mertulemariam and he claim the church had been built by Queen Eleni in 1497.Whereas steplen-
Bel, an English writer the construction of the monastery by Queen Eleni. Service another
foreigner scholar, said that the Italian influenced the construction, other English scholar,
witnessed the monastery was decorated by gold and diamond.9
According to Ethiopia scholar, professor Tadese Tamirat. In the 15 th century, Gojjam w
Christianized and the 16th century Queen Ellani built the monastery. The other Ethiopia writer
Takle Tsadiq Mekuria also supported this idea. Generally, most writers agreed that the
monastery was built in 1497 with in eight years.10
Despite the argument in stated above in relation to the period of its foundation Mertulemariam monastery
trace back to the region of Abrha and Atsbha. The triangular shape of the building of the old monastery
which is burnet by yodit the gold crown (Aklil) of Abrha and Atsbha are tangible source that witness the
early history of Mertulemariam monastery.11

1.2. Statement of the problem

The main problem for conducting this proposal is that since the monastery is ancient monastery,
the monastery of Mertulemariam had not been well known among the wide society. There is lack
of promotion which encourage to the tourists to visit the study area. Moreover to this monastery
is rich in historical, cultural and religious heritage but it has been restricted to the local people.

IV
The other problems of the remains of earlies church which was thought to be burned by Queen
Yodit in that condition of beaning distructed.Not enough rebuild is applied to it.The monasteries
of Mertulemariam have a number of manuscripts and a literature with in oral tradition of the
people tracing their history. The problem is that this all are found in unorganized way.

1.3. Research question

1 What is the history of the monastery?

2 What is the historical factor contributes for the development of the monastery?

3 What are the historical heritages of the monastery?

4 Who is foundation merto lmaryam monastery?

1.4. Objective of study

1.4.1. General objective of the study
The general objective of this study is to explore the history of Mertulemeriam monastery from its
foundation to 2012.

1.4.2. Specific objective

.To indicates challenges on the monastery
. To investigate the religions significances of the monastery
.To investigate the roles of tourist attraction
.To identify the major factors threatening the architectural
To promoting cultural heritage of mertulemariam monastery to the future generation

1.5. Significance of the study

The study will be focus on the significances reference material for those who are willing to
study about issue in the future. The study will be contributed in our understanding about the
historical evolution of monastic life in Ethiopia in general. It is provides important written
documents for future researcher who want to study on this proposal area. The other significance
of the study will be that it helps to understand about change and continuities indifferent aspect of
Mertulemariam society through the passage of times.

V
1.6. Scope of the study
The study will covers mainly the history of Mertulemariam monastery in East Gojjam
zone, in enebsa sarmider woreda from its foundation to 1991 The case of the selection of
this monastery is many problems and challenges in the monastery. In addition to this will
not popularizing in many society. So, it will conduct to encourage visitor, the awareness
of to the society as far as to promote various attractions of the monastery. To narrate the
social history of the monastery and to reconstruct the history of Mertulemariam
monastery from in the past up to 1991

End Notes of chapter one

1
Mitiku Demle. Mertulemariam ena tariku 1995 p32

VI
2
Ibid

3
Mhabera kidusan Be Ethiopia orthodox tewahdo beta christen be misraq
GojjamyeMertulemariam Gedam.

4
Esuyawkal Moges 2015:5

5
Ayele Tekle Haymanot pp. 261-226

6
Ibid

7
Mangistu Gobele The history of church No-2(Addis Ababa Mahibere kidusan 2000 p 64

8
Ayemarow and M Joashim the Ethiopia Orthodox Church Addis Ababa 19 70 p 64

9
Gian palolo chiari Guide to Aksum and yena p 22

10
Habtamu Mengistie a History of Mertulemariam Monastery from its 1500 to 1074 BA Thesis
in history Addis Ababa University

11
Ibid

CHAPTER TWO

2. LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1. Definition of monastery
Monastery in Greek has more than one meaning such as jungle. Wilderness and also desert from
this monastery is are side of religious orders particularly on order of monks which consist of a
small wall in group of huge complex cell in one house.1

VII
2.2 The beginning of monastic life in the Christian world and Ethiopia
Monasticism is a life in which people live in seclusion, Take religious vows and follows some
fixed set of ruler and regulating how they spend their time. Men are called monks and females
nuns. The beginning of monasticism in Christian world traced back to the early 4 th century
A.D.in the historic Egyptian deserts. The monastic life has believed to have been initiated from

secular life and persecution in the hand of pagan kings and authorities . Then Christians from
different part of the world hermits in the Egyptian deserts. Before the medieval period, Ethiopian
monasticism was extremely defective and fragmentary.2

Ethiopian monasticism began after the first half of the 4 th century and took strong hold after the
arrival of nine saints in the end of 5th century.3

2.3 The Monastery and its monastic life

Monastery is commonly known as a place that people who leave the world i.e. relatives, friends
and families live together to pursue a monastic life which is dedicated to serving God with the
exception of reward in heaven after death.4

Most of the time monasteries are located in the areas far from the urban cities and town which
are considered harbours of the world and markets of sin. Monastic life is monk or nun for male
and female, respectively. The written documents which deals with the Ethiopia monastic life is
Fetha Negast (the law of kings) which is the ancient civic and ecclesiastical code on which is
based on all Ethiopian legislations.5

On the status of monks and nuns, it says “Monastic life is the wisdom of Christian laws and
monks are earthly angels or heavenly men, followers of Christ as much as it is humanly possible
to be and emulating his apostles in every deed by giving up two ready goods, by giving up
pleasure by despising everything, themselves included to obey him and love him. The obligation
of the monks and nuns are summarized as follows, to give up marriage, to leave one’s blood
relatives and the world’s pleasures, to dwell in the monastery, to wear sack, to grid up the lions
with skins, to abstain from meals unless it is absolutely necessary and The brethren’s shall live
together as a single soul and shall have one through only in heir bodies.6

Even if they are many in body, their chief aim only one, namely God, who unites them into this
single soul, which is made one by the bond of love.7

VIII
The monks dedicate his life to fasting and prayers, to fatigue and labour remembering God
constantly reading his holy books, learning the interpretation them of reading the lives of his
saints to like his beloved, meditating on the perfection of his persons, the greatness of his work,
his primordially, the beautiful order of his creation, how he rules the creation in one way with no
interruption and the wonders of his ruling.8

2.4 The establishment of Mertulemariam monastery

The word monastery it is English term monster meaning leaving the material world and living
spiritual life. Monastery is a place where religious practice conducted very well. In Ethiopia
monasteries here began to have been established as soon as the nine saints came to the country.
The coming of nine saints’ Isa land mark for the establishment of monasteries and churches in
the northern Ethiopia.9

End Notes for chapter Two

1
Tadese Tamerat church and state in Ethiopia 1270 to 1527 p108

2
Ibid

3
Taddse Tamerat, church and state in Ethiopia 1270 to 1527.P, 108

4
Ayele Tekle Haymanot, pp.261-266.

IX
5
Ibid.

6
Ibid, p.268

7
Ibid.

8
GianPalolochiari, Guide to Aksum and yeha P, 22

9
Ibid

X
CHAPTER THREE

3. RESEARCH METEDOLOGY

3.1. Natural environment and socio cultural pattern of Enabse sarmidr Woreda
Enabse- Sarmidr is one of the sub distracts of East Gojjam with its town of Mertulemariam. The
town is located 364 kilometers away from the capital city (Addis Ababa), 180 kilometers from
regional capital city (Bahir-Dar) 198 kilometer from Debere-Markos and 64 kilometer Awrajja
(Motta). It has 3052-hectare area with interesting topography. The woreda is bounded southern-
Wollo in the south. Southern Gondar in the north and Eenarg Enawega woreda in the east. Its
latitudinal location measured 10042’ and 100 45’ North and 370 51’ East.1

The inhabitant of the woreda practiced agricultural dominate economic activity. They grow
cereal crop such as Teff, Bean, wheat, Barley dominant, Teff dominant in the Wonia Dega area
where as Barley and bean are dominant in the Woina Dega area. According to 2007 census, the
profile of Enbesa-Sarmidr woreda her been estimated to be above 2300.2

3.2. The Reconstruction of the Monastery

The Medieval Christian kings were to reconstruct monasteries and churches and also expand
Christianity. It is true for Mertulemariam monastery. Though Yodit burnt the color full
monastery, different medieval kings tried their best to reconstruct the monastery. But, the
monastery could not regain its original beauty.3

In the second half of the 15th century (1468) emperor Susenous came to Mertulemariam and rebuilt
the monastery. He also built other churches in the west of burnt monastery and this church is still
valuable for the people.4

Ras Haylu the governor of Gojjam also attempted his best to reconstruct the monastery. He built
praying house in the south of the main monastery. He also contributes gold and silver
instruments for the monastery. He planned to reconstruct the burnt church and collected three
hundred sixty six thousand Maria thresa (36,000). After he collected the maria therasa, he sends
mission to get foreign artesian and he built house for the arcticians’. But his attempt was not
more than a dram because Emperor Haila Sellase ignored his plane and prisoned Ras Haylu.
Haile sellasie built other church in1927.5

XI
In this study the researcher will be used both primary and secondary data. In order to analyze the
content of both primary and secondary source, the researcher carefully used the qualitative
research methods because it is qualitative method which helps to interoperate the opinions,
thoughts, believes, and feelings of respondents than quantitative method.6
3.2 METEDOLOGY
3.2.1 Primary source
Interview; the proposal are the interview where there is few open-ended questions are
prepared are used in the field for the research purpose. interview is use full for the information in
order to take about a given situation than that of qestionaries.The technique of personal interview
will undertaken in order to reach the objectives since it is the most versatile and productive
method of communication, enabled spontaneity and also provided with .The Purpose of this
proposal seen face to face interviews were conducted involving to interest group local
authorities and accommodation providers. They choose will be based on propsal in knowledge
about different educational levels among interviews, their different life styles and ages which
make imperative an adoption in questions to that they ensure the comprehension by interview
that will be repeat the question.

Personal observation; observation means by which we can understand facts that we might
not access to it through other techniques, it helps understand by and what informants explain
about them through size, sound, touch, small and eventuate.

Focus on group discussion; the proposal has been gathered data from organizing to interest
group discussion where six individual are involved on the matter. The first one is discussing with
the people who has advanced knowledge about proposal , the other is discussing with the people
who will known about that location means our particular area.

3.2.2 Secondary source

the proposal is collect secondary data from pamphlets, magazine and others written documents
via reading and analysis.

3.3Research design
A research design is a master plans, structure, format and strategy of investigation of concerned
as to obtain answers to proposal questions and problems1. The main aim of the study will be to
explore the history of monastery its foundation up to 2012 E.C. This study will be contacting
historical proposal methodology to collecting qualitative and quantitative data that are analyzed
using qualitative and descriptive based methods.

3.4 Method of data analysis

After collecting the data, the researcher will analyse the gathered data using qualitative and
descriptive method. The data collected from interview, books, Magazines, documentary
materials will be analyzed qualitatively, but the data obtained from observation and archives will
be analyzed by descriptive analysis of the result.

XII
End Notes of Chapter Three
1
House of federation federal democratic republic of Ethiopian principle the nations and
nationality day Addis Ababa 2008 pp27-28

2
Informants Ato Ermas Abebe

3
Mitiku Demle,”Mertulemariam enaTariku” (1995) P32

4
Ibid

5
Mitiku Demle Mertulemariam ena tariku 1995

6
Habtamu Mengeistie. “A histor of Mertulemariam from its 1500 to 1974”.(B.A Thises is history
Addiss Ababa university) P,6

XIII
4. Work plan
Table 1 work plan

No. Activities to be accomplished October Novemb December

er

1 Selecting the titles X

2 Literature search X X

3 Developing research proposal X

4 Research designing X

5 Field work X X

6 Data collection X

7 Data analysis X

8 Write up X

XIV
5. Budget Plan
Table 2 budget plan

No. Item Amount Unit of cost Total cost

1 Pen 3 15 45

2 Paper 50 1 50

3 Mobile card 10 25 250

4 Flash 1 250 250

5 Print 30 3 90

6 Binder 2 25 50

7 Transport 10 60 600

8 Total 106 379 1335

XV
Bibliography
A, published material

Bahru Zewdea History of modern Ethiopia 1855 -1991. Addis Ababa university press, 1968
BahruZewde, A short History of Ethiopia and the Horn, Addis Ababa university press, 1998,
Fentahun Alemu keHegalebona EskaHigewongalye Mertulemariam tarik. Addis Ababa; Nap,
2002o
TaddeseTamrat, Church and state in Ethiopia 1270 to 1527 oxford Clarendon press, 1972
Palolochari, Guide to Aksum and Yeha Ethiopian Nap 2004.

B, unpublished material
Maheberakidusan,” Be Ethiopia orthodox Tewahedo beta Christian be Misraq Gojjam ye
Mertulemariam Gedam.” January 2002.
House of federation, “Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopian principle, Rule for the nation’s
nationalities day. Addis Ababa Np 2008”.
Mitiku Demle, “Mertulemariamena Tarikua” 1995.
Chojnaki “Two Ethiopian Icons”UCCAJemes- coalman Africans studies center, 2012”
Habtam Mengeistie “history of Mertulemariam monastery from its 1500 to 1974” (B.A thesis in
history; Addis Ababa University.
W.W.W, UNSCO, org/ new/en/Cairo/culture.

XVI