Debre Damo is a fortified monastery dating back to the 6th century and, located on an isolated mountain (called amba in Amharic) in the northern part of the Tigray region of Ethiopia, not far from the city of Axum.
The peak of the amba has a shape reminiscent of an isosceles triangle whose longest sides measure around 800m and whose shortest side, 300m in length, faces west. Surrounded by steep cliffs, the peak can only be reached by climbing a precarious track that breaks off 15 metres from the top. For the last stretch, you have to hoist yourself up with ropes. Access to the monastery is only permitted to male visitors.
The buildings that make up the monastery include the refectory, a chapel and individual housing for monks containing a room for study, one for rest and one for prayer, all looking out onto a small vegetable patch. In the past, the monastery, which is still in operation today, was a key centre for the production and circulation of books and manuscripts on Ethiopian orthodox theological studies.
The monastery, given its isolated and inaccessible location, remained unconquered even during the war of conquest led by Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi, during which it was host to the emperor Dawit II (1508-1540). Afterwards, it was used as a prison for members of the royal family.
The project, a joint undertaking of the Butterfly Foundation and the Voluntary International Service for Development (VIS) took almost four years to be completed. Finally, on June 3rd 2018 Butterfly foundation and VIS representatives could open this technically difficult project.
Two wells will be constructed with a depth of around 70 metres, as well as a drainage system, water tanks in the middle and large-scale pumps to ensure 250 resident monks in the monastery have drinkable water, as well as the inhabitants of the village at the foot of the rock face.
On the feast day of the Patron of the monastery, Aragawi, which takes place on the 24th of October each year, over 1500 believers make the painstaking climb up the monastery wall with the help of a dubious-looking leather rope.