Co-ordinates: 9° 56' 52" N, 39° 38' 24" E

Location:

The site is south-east of Sälla Dǝngay and includes a rock-hewn church within a walled courtyard and a large prayer chamber, carved to the north west of the courtyard. The site is surrounded by tall trees and approached from the north west and above. During fasting periods and religious holidays, hundreds of people live onsite in makeshift shelters. Given the importance of this site, photography and talking are prohibited and shoes should be removed prior to descending to the church and prayer chamber.

 

Site Description:

(by Tarn Philipp)

Prayer Chamber Description

The prayer chamber is carved into a northeast cliff face, immediately to the right of the of the church. The path, which descends from above, widens in front of the prayer chamber. The slope below is terraced and the faithful occupy any available space. A rectangular entrance, raised by a few steps, enters centrally into the chamber. There is a rectangular window opening to the left of the entrance. The chamber widens within the rock and includes two square columns, to form a space three bays in width and two in depth. The southwest bays are raised above the northeast bays by two steps. Large, shallow niches are carved on the southeast and southwest wall. The roof is sloped and rises gradually within the rock. The northwest bay is separated by curtains and access is reserved for priests. To the right of the prayer chamber and visible on the façade, is an entrance to a carved storage chamber. This storage chamber may connect to the northwest bay of the prayer chamber. To the left (southeast) of the prayer chamber, several steps rise to the walled courtyard in front of the church.

Church Description

The church is also carved into the northeast face. Several steps rise within the courtyard to the church. The courtyard includes a built structure and access from the southeast. A small carved chamber is also found between the church and the prayer chamber. The church includes two entrances and two small windows, one placed on either side of the left entrance. The church is square in plan and divided into four primary spaces, each roughly square in plan. This results in a cruciform wall at the centre of the plan. A central column and pilaster further separate all but the two northeast chambers. All three columns are relatively slender and square in plan and a curtain is hung between the first two chambers. Integrated seating is found along the base of most walls. The chamber within the left entrance includes a square protrusion from the southeast wall. The second two bays, deeper within the rock, are raised by steps and reached through arched entrances. The south chamber, to the far left, forms the maqdas and is raised slightly higher above the northwest chamber. The maqdas includes a large rock-hewn manbara tabot and a tabot to Maryam. The ceiling is roughly flat throughout but varies in height.

 
Getting There:

Däbrä Mǝṭmaq Ṣadqan Maryam Gädam is a five-minute drive south east of Sälla Dǝngay. Take the turnoff opposite the bus station in Sälla Dǝngay, heading east. Sälla Dǝngay is a thirty-minute drive
from Ṭarma Barr, the roadside town shortly before the tunnel on the road from Däbrä Bǝrhan to Däbrä Sina.

 

Images
(Please click to enlarge)
Architectural Drawings

(by Tarn Philipp)

(by Baynew Melaku)