Tradition states that Gondar, the capital of the Ethiopian Empire, had 44 Orthodox Tewahedo churches. There are fewer churches in this list – Stuart Munro-Hay provides evidence that shows the number was meant to be taken symbolically, rather than literally – and not all of them are, properly speaking, in Gondar.[1]
Name
Date founded (if known)
Comments
Abba Antons ("Father Anthony")
1715
Located west of Gondar. Built under Emperor Yostos reign.[2] Original paintings removed in 1933 by Marcel Griaule, now on display at the Musée de l'Homme.[3]
Abajale Tekle Haymanot
Original church built during reign of Emperor Fasilides, and later underwent restoration under Emperor Tekle Haymanot II. The church is dedicated to Saint Tekle Haymanot.[4]
Abhorra Giyorgis
Located 3 kilometers south of Gondar
Abyegzi
Original church founded by an aristocrat in the reign of Tekle Haymanot II. Present structure is a round church
Adababay Iyasus
Located in Adababay, the market place outside the southern gates of the Royal Enclosure. Founded by Emperor Fasilides.[5]
Adababay Tekle Haymanot
Located in Adababay. Founded by Emperor Iyasus I[6]
Asasame Qeddus Mikael
Located inside the Royal Enclosure. Dedicated by Emperor Dawit II.[7]
Ba'eta Maryam
1775
Founded by Tekle Haymanot II. Was among the richest churches in Gondar until it was burnt to the ground in the sack of Gondar by Tewodros II in 1866. Rebuilt in the late 1920s.[8]
Qeddus Qirqos
Located on southeast end of Adababay, and named after the child martyr Quiricus of Tarsus. Original church founded by Emperor Tekle Haymanot II
Dafacha Kidane Mehret
"Convent of Mercy" Founded by Bakaffa; by 1973 this church was in ruins
Debre Berhan Selassie
1693
Best known of the churches of Gondar for its interior paintings. Avoided destruction by the Mahdists in 1888, this church "offers some idea of what other treasures might be in Gonder today had it not been for the Mahdist War."[9]
Debre Metmaq Mariyam
Founded by Emperor Tekle Giyorgis in late 18th century.
Dibabo
Also known as the "Church of the Apostles of Deva"
Elfin Giyorgis
Located inside the Royal Enclosure. Constructed by Emperor Fasilides.[7]
Ewostatewos
Named for the Ethiopian saint. Founded by Bakaffa
Egziabeher Ab
Founded by Emperor Fasilides, but destroyed in the Mahdist sack of Gondar. According to Solomon Getahun, the site is now occupied by a mosque built during the reign of Emperor Menelik II.[10]
Fit Qeddus Mikael
Old church of St Michael, burned down in 1725. A modern round church stands on this site, although an old archway from the original church still stands
The Four Saints
Also known as the church of the Four Animals. Now vanished, but the site is marked by a fig tree.
Gemjabet Mariyam
Located inside the Royal Enclosure. Constructed by Emperor Fasilides.[11]
St. George of Damot
Burned down in 1695
Hamara Noh ("Noah's Ark")
1710
Also known as Selestu Mit. Founded by Emperor Tewoflos. Mentioned numerous times in the 18th century, this church since vanished without a visible trace.
Hawaryat
By 1938, all that remained were traces of the enclosure wall and a mound of stones.
St. John of Guara
Perhaps founded by one of the relatives of Empress Mentewab
Lideta Mariyam ("Birth of the Virgin Mary")
1713
The first of two churches constructed under Emperor Yostos.[2]
Mariyam Seyon
Munro-Hay doubts this church ever existed
Mariyam Sihor
Church southwest of Gondar
Medhane Alem
Seat of the Ethiopian Orthodox bishop of Gondar
St. Mikael of Aira
Unidentified
St. Mikael of Belageo
Also known as Bilajig Mikael
Peter and Paul
Unidentified
Qaha Iyasus church
May have existed before the founding of Gondar.
Qeddus Abbo
Also known as Fit Abbo. First church built by Emperor Fasilides in Gondar.
Qeddus Fasilides
Munro-Hay believes this "was actually nothing other than a re-use of the pavilion in the lake usually called the Bath of Fasiladas."
Qeddus Gabrael
Original church said to have been built by Emperor Fasilides; location now occupied by a large square church. Solomon Getahun notes this was the seat of the Abuna, and served as a refuge for asylum-seekers. The Abuna moved his residence to Medhane Alem (see above) during the Italian occupation.[12]
Qeddus Rafael
1722
Adjacent to the Royal Enclosure. Burned during unrest in Iyasus II's reign; present structure a new building
Qeddus Yohannes
Built by Ras Wolde Leul during the reign of Iyasu II, currently all that remains of this structure is the stone-built pedestal. Reconstruction planned.
St Simeon of Tzaamdi
Munro-Hay suggests two different churches this might be: either a church of Samuel southwest of Gondar, or the church of "Tzemba" located on the Lesser Angereb
Wolleka Ba'ata
Located three kilometers north of Gondar
Wrangeb Giyorgis
May have existed before founding of Gondar[13]
Yohannes Wolde Nagwadgwad
Founded by Emperor Tekle Haymanot II, dedicated to Saint John the Evangelist.[4]
^Unless otherwise indicated, information for this list taken from Munro-Hay, Ethiopia, the unknown land: a cultural and historical guide (London: I.B. Tauris, 2002), pp. 142-156.
^ abRichard P.K. Pankhurst, History of Ethiopian Towns (Wiesbaden: Franz Steiner Verlag, 1982), pp. 144f.
^David Buxton, The Abyssinians (New York: Praeger, 1970) p. 151
^ abRichard K. P. Pankhurst, History of Ethiopian Towns (Wiesbaden: Franz Steiner Verlag, 1982), vol. 1 pp. 178f
^Munro-Hay, Ethiopia, pp. 140f
^Munro-Hay, Ethiopia, p. 141
^ abMunro-Hay, Ethiopia, p. 140
^Aida Edemariam, The Wife's Tale, a personal history, 4th Estate, London, 2018
^Philip Briggs, Ethiopia: The Bradt Travel Guide, 5th edition (Chalfont St Peters: Bradt, 2002), p. 233
^Solomon Getahun, History of the City of Gondar (Trenton: Africa World Press, 2005), pp. 17f
^Munro-Hay, Ethiopia, p. 139
^Solomon Getahun, City of Gondar, pp. 22, 31
^Solomon Getahun, City of Gondar, p. 3
and 28 Related for: List of Gondarine churches information
that Gondar, the capital of the Ethiopian Empire, had 44 Orthodox Tewahedo churches. There are fewer churches in this list – Stuart Munro-Hay provides...
construction of the royal complex Fasil Ghebbi, and 44 churches that were established around Lake Tana. In the arts, the Gondarine period saw the creation of diptychs...
portal ListofGondarinechurches Gultosh – a deserted village near Gondar Azezo – a nearby village south of Gondar Based on the BGN/PCGN romanization of Amharic...
absorbed into the prevailing Ethiopian architectural style. This style of the Gondarine dynasty would persist throughout the 17th and 18th centuries especially...
lost after the invasion of Ahmad Gragn. In the modern era, the Imperial dynasty has several cadet branches. The elder Gondarine Amhara line, starting with...
a further seven on the tentative list. The first two sites in Ethiopia added to the list were the Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela, and the Simien National...
buildings that was built during the reign of several emperors in the Gondarine period. The complex covers an area of 70 square kilometers. Based on the 2007...
and three churches: Asasame Qeddus Mikael, Elfign Giyorgis and Gemjabet Mariyam. The origins of the Fasil Ghebbi is preceded by old tradition of Ethiopian...
regnal listof Ethiopia is an official regnal list used by the Ethiopian monarchy which names over 300 monarchs across six millennia. The list is partially...
ts’om) lasts for eight weeks (rather than five, as in the Chalcedonian churches), or 55 continuous days before Easter (Fasika). The fast is divided into...
1855, Kassa deposed the last of the Gondarine puppet Emperors and was crowned negusa nagast of Ethiopia under the name of Tewodros II. He soon after advanced...
control of its Ethiopian territories in April 1941, but Victor Emmanuel did not formally renounce his title until November 1943. Listof emperors of Ethiopia...
Emperor of Ethiopia Emperors of Ethiopia Family tree President of Ethiopia Listof presidents of Ethiopia Prime Minister of Ethiopia Listof heads of government...
construction of the rock-hewn monolithic churchesof Lalibela. The name "Zagwe" is thought to derive from the ancient Ge'ez phrase Ze-Agaw, meaning "of the Agaw"...
wonderful Rock Hewn Churches were carved out of rock. Furthermore, it was the center ofChurch Education. For example, from the Monastery of Hayq Estifanos...
dynasty continued to rule in Lasta for centuries; restored to imperial throne in 1868. Rasta Ites – Listof Ethiopian Kings Crown Council of Ethiopia...
Ge'ez now serves as the liturgical language of the Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox and Catholic Churches. Other writing systems have also been used over...
construction of the royal complex Fasil Ghebbi, and 44 churches that were established around Lake Tana. In the arts, the Gondarine period saw the creation of diptychs...
Emperor of Ethiopia from 1559 until his death in 1563, and a member of the Solomonic dynasty. He was a brother of Gelawdewos and the son of Emperor Dawit...
history of Ethiopia in the Middle Ages roughly spans the period from the decline of the Kingdom of Aksum in the 7th century to the Gondarine period beginning...
state religion by the order of Emperor Fasilides, beginning with Gondarine period. 1636 – Founding of Gondar as capital of the Empire and subsequent Ethiopian...
define the rights and responsibilities of the monarch and subjects, as defined by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church). Edmond J. Keller, Revolutionary...
Ethiopian church. However some sources suggest that certain islanders and their leaders were resenting the services of their former colonial churches and vocalised...
Ethiopia. He also made endowments to the Ethiopian Church: three charters survive of grants he made of lands in Wolqayt, Serae, Adiyabo, Shire, Addi Arkay...
the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. In addition, the following Muslim holidays, which may take place at any time of the year, are observed as public...
still living in Ethiopia; those who did not embrace the beliefs of the Ethiopian Church were exiled to Sennar. Six Franciscans sent by Pope Alexander VII...
the abbot of Debre Libanos Ichege, or secular head of the Ethiopian Church. However, neither of these traditions is contemporary with any of the individuals...