Debre Damo

[ work in progress ]

Introduction

Debre Damo [Tigrinya: ደብረ ዳሞ, Däbrä Dammo] is a monastery in eastern Tigray (about 100 km northeast of Aksum).

According to tradition, the monastery was founded in the 6th century by Abba Zamika’el Arägawi [ዘሚካኤል አረጋዊ], one of the Nine Saints. Debre Damo belongs to the oldest still existing monasteries in Ethiopia, featuring Aksumite architecture and ancient manuscripts.

Liturgical/ sacred music

Debre Damo was a respected center of learning during the Aksumite Empire and again during the Solomonic Dynasty.

The Feast of St. Arägawi is celebrated on Ṭəqəmt 14 (i.e., October 24 or 25).

Video

publ. in 2019:

2020:

Further reading

Däbrä Damo” (Sewasew.com)