Tradition states that the ancient Ethiopian capital of Gondar had 44 churches. The number of churches in this list is less than that — Stuart Munro-Hay provides some evidence that shows the number was meant to be taken symbolically, rather than literally — and not all of them are, properly speaking, in Gondar.
| Name | Date founded (if known) | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Abba Antons | 1715 | Located west of Gondar. Original paintings removed in 1933 by Marcel Griaule, now on display at theMusée de l’Homme.[2] |
| Abajale Tekle Haymanot | Original church built during reign of Emperor Fasilides | |
| 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.[3] | |
| Adababay Tekle Haymanot | Located in Adababay. Founded by Emperor Iyasus I[4] | |
| Asasame Qeddus Mikael | Located inside the Royal Enclosure. Dedicated by Emperor Dawit II.[5] | |
| Ba’eta Maryam | 1775 | |
| Cherkos | 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.”[6] |
| 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.[5] | |
| 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 rreign of Emperor Menelik II.[7] | |
| 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.[8] | |
| 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 | 1713 | |
| 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.[9] | |
| 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[10] | |
| Yohannes Wolde Nagwadgwad | Founded by Emperor Tekle Haymanot II |
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ David Buxton, The Abyssinians (New York: Praeger, 1970) p. 151
- ^ Munro-Hay, Ethiopia, pp. 140f
- ^ Munro-Hay, Ethiopia, p. 141
- ^ a b Munro-Hay, Ethiopia, p. 140
- ^ 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