IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, ONE GOD AMEN!

Birbir Mariam (St. Mary's Monastery in Birbir)

Hiruy Simie

If one travels for a distance of 30k.m. in a motor car he/she will reach at the famous Birbir Mary Monastery which is located at the North western part of present day Chancha woreda (district) in Gamo Gofa diocese. This Monastery used to be a place were burnt offerings were sacrificed during the Old Testament years in Ethiopia. fathers of the Monastery still today can show the visitor the altar which used to contain the blood offerings of goats, heifers and bulls. During the reign of Abreha and Asebeha (Ezana and Saizana) the Old Testament sacrifice was replace with the blessings of the Holy Communion of Christianity.

The Old Testament temple was first built at about 400 B.C. Starting from that ancient time this temple was a center of learning for the Judaic laws and peace offerings. Thus, it was a very important area of religious propagation and teaching for the whole of southern Ethiopia.
 
During the first half of the 6th century in the Christian era or year of Mercy /Amete Mehiret/ Atse Gebremeskel son of Caleb who knew the history of this famous Monastery came to the place with Abuna Aregawi (Aregawi means the Sage his real name is Ze Michael) and St. Yared not to mention thousands of soldiers and courtiers. They brought with them from Aksum the Ark of holy Mary. On the 20th day of the month of Ginbot they reached the old temple and spent the night with chants and prayers. On the next day Aba Aregawi consecrated the temple holy with Meron /holy oil/ and placed on the altar the ark of holy Mary. From this time on wards this church became known as Birbir Mariam. On that day Atse Gebre Meskel donated many fifes as the property of the Monastery. This royal proclamation is recorder on ancient books in the monastery.

This historical church once again after this event became a center of Christianity for the whole of southern Ethiopia. However, because of the distance from the capital i.e. Aksum and later on Lasta and even Northern Showa it fell in to neglect and began to crumble. This gave a chance for enemies of Christianity to rise up against this church in the area.

A dangerous man by the name “Buda Kenina” rose up in the area in the 14th century. He then gathered followers and made a move to destroy the church. He was a leader of an idolatrous and sorceress religion in the district. He tried to set fire on the church. However, holy Mary miraculously put out the fire. Nor was he able to burn it again.

At last, after many years had elapsed Atse Eskinder /Alexander/ 1471 – 1487 E.C. reestablished the church and Atse Libne Dingil /r.1500 – 1533 E.C/ strengthened the reestablishment by making the church in to a ‘Debre’. Some state that it is Zere Yacob who made the church a Debre and make Libne Dingil as the one who made it into a monastery.

The first known religious teacher in the monastery is called Serse Dingil. The famous historian and religious writer Aba Bahirey also lived as a monk in this church during the 16th century. During his incorporation campaign in southern parts of Ethiopia Atse Minilik reached this monastery and saw very ancient holy relics of gold and silver. He also saw ancient crowns of kings and many other other sacred objects. However, today all these relics had been looted and have not been recovered.

The fascist Italian force which invaded our country during 1928 E.C. attempted in the likeliness of the ancient Buda Kenina to destroy this church. Thus, they bombed the church employing fighter planes from the air. However, holy Mary miraculously made the bombs harmless and one can still many of them around the church and they have not exploded for more than 50 years.

Today, Chancha wereda is an area overrun by Muslim fundamentalists. These, people claim the area as a place reserved for Islam. History however proves the opposite; as we have seen from the above passage. In addition this claim shows that how Christianity had shrunk in time in many parts of southern Ethiopia. Therefore, we must spiritually struggle hard to day to regain our lost diocese to outsiders.

Source: Daniel Kiberet, Ye Bete Kirestian Meregawoch.  (Addis Ababa, 1998 E.C) pp.236-238

 Glory to God and his mother holy Mary Amen

May God Bless us. Amen!!

Bilbala Giorgis

Hirury Simie

This ancient Monastery is found in Bugna District, Lasta Zone, Wollo. To get their, one must climb a small hill for 2 minutes. The church is rock hewn and was built by Emperor Caleb. The History of this holy place, as written by fathers of the monastery, is as follows: When founded, this monastery was known as Mekane Loza, to mean a place of blessing (in Geez, ‘Mekan’ means place and 'Loza' means blessing). In fact, Mekane Loza had been recognized as a holy place long before its first founding. Holy Mary had visited this place during her exile with the Lord and his attendants which had been initiated by Herod. At that time the Lord had blessed this particular area where the monastery is now located. Moreover, the angel St. Urael had blessed the same place on Good Friday with the blood of Christ. The story of the hewing of the church is narrated as follows by church fathers.

After King Caleb gained a great victory over Finhas in Nagran he departed for Ethiopia and came to Roha. The reason of his coming to Roha is because of a vision he saw while in south Arabia. In his vision he saw the 12 rock hewn churches of Lalibela on the area and hastened to build them. As he reached Roha, God Christ appeared before him and told him that the one chosen to build those churches was yet to be born. He told him that a pillar of light will lead him to the churches he will build. King Caleb then started a journey sadly to Aksum. However, while on his return trip he observed a great pillar of light moving in front of him. He knew that it was guiding him to a certain place and began to follow it. When he reached Bugna the pillar of light spread like a carpet at Mekane Loza.

King Caleb knew that the Lord led him to this place so that he can fulfill his wish and that was building rock hewn churches. He started building immediately and happily was able to curve 7 rock hewn churches. On Hidar 7, 518 E.C King Caleb finished hewing the St. Giorgis church. at Mekane Loza. It was then consecrated with holy oil and the inaugural Mass was held. As the Mass prayer was underway, a huge swarm of bees came to the church and entered in it. The next day the whole church was found covered with honey and all people who ate the honey got healed from their sickness. Those possessed by the devil became well. Many people came by traveling even from far places upon hearing these miracles. Soon after that Atse Caleb abdicated to become a monk after giving huge areas as fiefs to this church.

Many years later his Grand son Yeshak (Isaac) (r.537 E.C) came to Mekane Loza and stood in the church of St. Giorgis. He then prostrated before the Ark of the Lord and saw a great flame burning in the church. As he stood marveling at this revelation a great swarm of bees came out of the church and entered in to his royal tent. After some time the swarm left the tent and entered back into the church. The tent had been covered in the mean time by honey. When it was night time, king Yeshak and his army saw the church and even its groves aflame with a huge conflagration. When they approached there was no fire. Thus, they were spiritually exalted. Then the king asked the soldiers if they saw the miracle and when they answered in the affirmative; he said; "May God who showed us this miraculous flame be blessed. I Yeshak son of Gebre Meskal grandson of Caleb has passed this royal decree because God showed me this miracle to day so that I may make this church into a monastery. Therefore, let this place be like an Island. May fire surround its borders and heaven be its midst. Let a Ginaina fowl which escaped from its trap or a bird which escaped its hunter be free if it entered this area" He then made all the other six rock hewn churches to be administered by Bilbala Giorgis and ordered 130 priests to serve the church. Thus, the name Bilbala came from the word Nebelbal (flame) which was bestowed by king Yeshak as the name of the Monastery.

Source: Zemedkun Bekele, kidusan Mekanat Be Ethiopia. (Addis Ababa, 1992 E.C) pp.111-112.

 Glory to God and his mother holy Mary Amen

May God Bless us. Amen!!