A 6th century monastery situated atop Debre Damo mountain near Adigrat, Ethiopia. Basilica
A 6th century monastery situated atop Debre Damo mountain near Adigrat, Ethiopia. Basilica-type monasteries such as the one at Debre Damo can be found throughout the highlands of Ethiopia, serving as a spiritual escape for Ethiopian Orthodox monks from the worldly pleasures and burdens of society. Many of these religious enclaves were established by Byzantine holy men fleeing religious persecution in the Mediterranean world by traveling south to the the royal court at Axum. Original materials preserved since the monastery was built 1,500 years ago include wood and limestone bricks, carved wood ceiling panels with images of animals, and Axumite relics (including manuscripts). British architect D.H. Matthews led the restoration of the monastery in the 1950s. Painted icons were presumably made within the past 200 years. Unfortunately, very little information about the objects held in the monastery at Debre Damo are available online. -- source link
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