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Tadbaba Maryam

Coordinates: 9°01′51″N 38°46′00″E / 9.030799°N 38.766562°E / 9.030799; 38.766562
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Tädbabä Maryam
Tädbabä Maryam (also called Tadbaba Zion)
Religion
AffiliationEthiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
StatusActive
Location
LocationSayint, South Wollo, Ethiopia
Geographic coordinates9°01′51″N 38°46′00″E / 9.030799°N 38.766562°E / 9.030799; 38.766562
This article contains Ethiopic text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Ethiopic characters.

Tadbaba Maryam (also ‘Tadbaba Zion’ in ancient time. Tadbaba meaning Tabernacle; Maryam /Zion refers to St Mary). The current church bears the title in full 'Head of Churches and Monasteries Tadbaba Maryam' (also in Template:Lang-am).

History

Tadbaba Maryam was amongst the first four Temples where sacrificial offerings were implemented in Ethiopia before birth of Jesus. The name is a combination two Geez words: Tadbaba means Tabernacle, Maryam/ Tsion means Zion which gives 'The Tabernacle of Zion'. According to the chronicle of the Tadbaba Maryam, the Ark of Tadbaba Maryam arrived in 982 BCE which coincides with disappearance of the Ark or the reign of King Solomon (between 970 and 931 BCE).[1] [2] [3]

Construction

The current church of Tadbaba Maryam is spectacular in its design and was founded by King Gelawdewos after he won the war with Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi, the Battle of Wayna Daga. The Ark was carried into the Battle of Wayna Daga, the final battle against Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi, where Gelawdewos cut off the Imam's head. Prior to Gelawdewos, while kept in the Tabernacle, the Ark was moved around, but was eventually placed in the Temple founded by King Gelawdewos.[4] [5] [6]

The church is a circular complex with four doors (>3m height) and 32 windows (>2m height) on the outside. By design, the church is arranged in concentric circles with three sections. The inner most section at the center being the inner sanctum (Holy of Holies) and is about 24 meters in diameter. This is where the Ark is believed to be kept, explicitly inside a tent (Tabernacle). In its current form, the church overall measures about 34 meters in diameter.

Religious Activity

The high priest are always selected from tribes of the priestly class, believed to be descendants of Jews. In additions, Deacons, only under the age of 9, are allowed to deliver service. Most of the relics and utilities used in the church are made of pure gold including incense burner (censer with chain). When entering the Holy of Holies, a rope is tied to high priest to enable assistants to safely pull body of the high priest out of the inner-sanctum in the event of mishap. Abuna Takla Haymanot, 3rd Patriarch of EOC, attempted to enter the Holy of Holies and was pulled out by a rope, but died a year later in 1988.

A story is told about a plague that infested the land following an event of mishap in front of the Ark during an annual festivity. Later the people of the land were also afflicted of boils and disease. Since then, the Ark has never been carried outside of its tent or shown to the people during congregation.

References

  1. ^ Solomon Gebreyes (2019). Chronicle of King Gälawdewos. ISBN 9789042936645.
  2. ^ Jean Doresse (1967). Ethiopia: Ancient cities and temples.
  3. ^ Template:Cite article
  4. ^ Template:Cite article
  5. ^ Template:Cite article
  6. ^ Template:Cite article

See also

Further reading

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