ርእሰ አድባራት ወገዳማት አደባባይ ኢየሱስ ታቦተ አብርሃ ወአፅብሃ ቤተ ክርስቲያን Adebabay Eyesus Church Museum አማ
The church of Adebabay Eyesus: cream walls above a deep red base, green-framed arched windows, a raised central tower crowned with a cross, and steps painted in the green, yellow and red of the Ethiopian flag.

Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church · Ethiopia

Adebabay Eyesus Church Museum

ርእሰ አድባራት ወገዳማት አደባባይ ኢየሱስ ታቦተ አብርሃ ወአፅብሃ ቤተ ክርስቲያን

A living sanctuary of faith, art and memory

Explore the collection Plan your visit

Adebabay Eyesus and its churchyard

፬Today Hidar 4, 2019 E.C. Matthew 5:8 Friday fast See today’s page →

Welcome

Enter the courts of an ancient faith

“Adebabay” means the open square — the place where a community gathers. For generations the faithful have gathered around Adebabay Eyesus, the church of Jesus Christ, to pray, to celebrate the feasts and to keep the memory of the saints.

This online museum opens the church’s heritage to the world: processional crosses worked in brass and wood, manuscripts written on parchment in the ancient Ge’ez language, painted icons, the instruments of the liturgy and the chant, and the story of one of the oldest Christian traditions on earth.

Collection

The galleries

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  1. Gallery 1

    Crosses

    Processional, hand and pendant crosses — the signature art of Ethiopian Christianity. No two are alike: each smith works the same sign into a new pattern of interlace.

    4 objects
  2. Gallery 2

    Manuscripts

    Parchment books in Ge’ez: Gospels, Psalters, hymnaries and lives of the saints, written by hand with reed pens and bound between wooden boards.

    4 objects
  3. Gallery 3

    Icons & Paintings

    Panel icons and painted cloths in the luminous Ethiopian style, with its wide eyes, strong outlines and clear, bright colours.

    3 objects
  4. Gallery 4

    Liturgical Objects

    Vessels, censers, umbrellas and vestments used in worship. Most were given by the faithful and are still brought out on the great feasts.

    4 objects
  5. Gallery 5

    Sacred Music

    The instruments of the zema chant handed down from Saint Yared: the drum, the sistrum and the prayer staff.

    3 objects

Collection

Featured treasures

A first look at the treasures kept by the church.

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Crosses

Great Processional Cross

የመስቀል ዑደት ታላቅ መስቀል c. 15th–16th centuryIllustrative
Crosses

Priest’s Hand Cross

የእጅ መስቀል 19th centuryIllustrative
Manuscripts

Illuminated Gospel Book

ወንጌል c. 15th centuryIllustrative
Icons & Paintings

Icon of the Virgin and Child

የእመቤታችን ሥዕል 17th centuryIllustrative
Sacred Music

Sistrum

ጸናጽል 20th centuryIllustrative

Adebabay Eyesus

The name of the church

ርእሰ አድባራት ወገዳማት አደባባይ ኢየሱስ ታቦተ አብርሃ ወአፅብሃ ቤተ ክርስቲያን

Adebabay Eyesus
“Adebabay” is the open square where a community gathers, and “Eyesus” is Jesus. The church is dedicated to Jesus Christ.
Ri’se Adbarat we-Gedamat
“Head of the churches and monasteries” — a title of honour given to a church of the first rank.
Tabote Abreha we-Atsbeha
The church keeps a tabot dedicated to Abreha and Atsbeha, the brother kings remembered in Ethiopian tradition for establishing Christianity at Aksum in the fourth century.
The long façade of Adebabay Eyesus on a rainy day, with blue doors in green frames, flag-coloured steps and a worshipper in a white netela arriving under an umbrella.
The faithful arriving for prayer on a rainy morning

Learn

Learn more

Background for your visit, in the museum and in the church.

Visit

Plan your visit

Adebabay Eyesus is a living church. Visitors are warmly welcome; please respect the prayer of the faithful.

Visiting information

Opening

  • Monday – SaturdayAfter morning prayers until sunset
  • Sunday & major feastsAfter the Divine Liturgy (Kidase)