IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, ONE GOD AMEN!
Rama Kidane Meheret monastery
Hiruy Simie
This ancient monastery is found in north Wollow diocese. It was first founded in the 6th century by Aba Guba and Aba Gerima famous fathers of among the nine Saints. However, they didn't build it as a monastery in those days, It was simply a church. It is saint Fekerte Kiristos also known as Eme Meuze who made it into a monastery. However, the church she built on the grounds of the Monastery was destroyed by Ahmed Gragn.
Rama Kidane Meheret was never herd of for many centuries after its destruction by Gragn. Its discovery and establishment is a fascinating story. Today's Rama Kidane Meheret was rebuit and established by king Yohannes IV in the 19th century. He was the one who discovered the ancient church from secrete disappearance. The story is told as follows;
When king Yohannes IV was traveling in Wollow in one of his Campasans he came to a beautiful spot and made a camp. None know or even guessed that they were on the grounds of the ancient Rama Kidane Mehert Monastery. Thus, the army and the king spent the whole night and Just as down Brock one of his soldiers rose early and went to a near by forested hillside to hunt an animal. When he reached the forest the day had broken and there was sufficient day light. While he was in the forest he saw birds coming out of a cave caring bits of clothes on their bikes. He therefore went to the cave and found a well structured opening. He pares in and walked forward to enter the cave. However, as soon as he passed the entrance a surge of heat weave like a flame hit him and he dropped unconscious.
Later on that day his commerades became aware of his absence and started to search for him. They followed the directions he took and reached presently where he had fallen. He was in a sorry state by being completely deaf and bump.
He was taken immediately to priests and they started to pray and baptize him with holy water and he became immediately well. The soldier then told the priests what he saw in the forest. The priests went to the place and after praying and sprinkling holy water moved forward with their processional crosses. They singing song also verses from the psalms of David. As soon as they entered the cave they beheld a wonderful sight which can be seen only by those blessed by God.
The cave was a place which ancient fathers have retreated to when the army of Gragn swept through wollow. Apparently it has escaped the destruction of Gragn and had remained for 330 years in seclusion and secreasy. There they found the Holy Ark table of Kidane Miheret many faboulous and ancient relics. King Yohannes IV was greatly astounded. He praised the lord for being chosen to see this glorious sight and to be the king to discover the ancient monastery. He therefore, passed the orders for the establishment of the monastery and gave many fiefs for that purpose.
Currently, the Church is being renovated. This story claims our deepest and profound reverence and gratimde for our dear God. Even today God has allowed us sinners to see gratitude similar revelations taking place right under our very eyes. God the merciful had shown us grace by blessing our country with Saints and holy places. He had not looked down on us nor rejected the covenent he gave to Ethiopia. Therefore, the wisdom we learn from this history is the fact that we Ethiopians can see the end of drought, war, plight and diseases in our country through strengthening our belief on God and by following the way of life of our forefathers.
Western model modernization brought only suffering and unending trauma. Today, we must have the rebirth of a new generation who follows the path taken by his for fathers. Small ways of hope to this are the members of Mahabere Kidusan. If all Ethiopians became like them we can find the Ethiopia of our ancient fathers.
Glory to God
And his mother holy Mary Amen.
Abune Tetemke Medhin
Hiruy Simie
Our father Tetemke Medhin lived in the first half of the 15th centurey during the regime of Yohannes IV our father was a hermit, a monk, a Religious teacher and a Miracle worker. Abune Tetemke Medhin is recognized for his saintly life among the many venerated saints in Ethiopia. His father's and mother's name was Wolde Kiristos and Wolde Mariam respectively.
Aba Tetemke Medhin was born on December 2nd and was baptized on the epiphany, hence it is said that his name became Tetemke in order to remember this memorable event. His upbringing was not different from the many boys of his time in rural Ethiopia. From his early age he became a herd boy and looked after his parents cattle. However, because of his extreme desire of learning the religious teachings of our church, he used to abandon the cattle on the field, and secretly go to monks and hermits to learn the psalms of David.
One day a hermit came to his father and asked for a permission to teach the boy church prayers. Wolde Kiristos refused and asked the hermit as to who would look after the cattle when his child became a student. Many days later Wolde Kirstos saw a traditionally made small skin bag with the book of Psalms on the shoulders of Tetemke Medhin.
The confused father next day came to the place where the cattle were grazing. To his great surprise and amusement he saw wolves and leopards bounding happily with them. Late in the afternoon the Leopards and wolves herded the cattle to their manger and ran away to their lairs which was found on a near by hill densely forested by huge trees. When Tetemke Medhin came as usual in the evening, the perplexed father asked him where he had been during the day time. The unsuspecting boy told his father that he was looking after the cattle near the densely wooded hill.
The father immediately understood and said. "My son, I know now every thing, this is a sign that I should allow you to go to those Saintly hermits and learn the prayers of our Orthodox faith."
From that day onwards Abune Tetemke Medhin started learning the religious teachings of our church, until his very heart was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit to bereave the spiritual war.
He was so dedicated to this way of live that he wanted to follow the path of our former saintly fathers the apostles, the martyrs and the Saintly Monks. He became a monk when he was 23 years old in the church of Mertule Mariam from the hand of Aba Zekere Mariam. The Saint Tetemke Medhin then started living the life of a hermit by wearing the cloth made from the skin of Goats undernith which he wore chains that bound his flesh from his neck to his toes. He fasted always except on Saturdays and Sunday both days being the Sabbath of the EOC. Moreover, he lived bound with an infinite prayer and prostrated before God 1000 times a day.
Then the lord looked upon him with his love and gave him his blessing and made his holy spirit to reside in him. By this power he was able to understand the meanings of the cry of wild animals and communicated with them. The animals in the forest also were able to understand him and obey his commands.
Aba Tetemke Medhin used to have a donkey named "Tseware Meskel" (barer of the cross) who used to run errands like a man. The donkey understood always perfectly what the saint said. In such a manner it served him for many years always doing the commands of the saint with out a single mistake.
Our father received his testament from God while he was traveling to Gondar. From that movement, he started teaching the monks in his monastery known as Guhancha Monastery. He thought religious teachings and the laws of Monkhood. In the monastery he lived the remaining years of his life being the abbot of the place.
Finally, the hour came for his departure to his creator. On the day he visited the church of Saint George in Gashola, he died. He was 61 years old when he passed away. That day God showed the singe of his great spiritual achievement and struggle. The Monks had not prepared his tomb in Gashola and didn't bury him there his body smelled like the best incense ever burned and like the best perfume ever smelled. Its fragrance was so sweet that non-ever smelled any thing like it before or after in their life. They put his body in a wooden coffin and placed it with honor inside the church. Many laity still every year visits Gashola to honor the saint.
N.B. Our father founded Haratse Mariam Monastery in Metekel Zone, Hawariat (apostles) Monastery and Guhancha monastery during his life time.
May God Bless us. Amen!!
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