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Abba Garima Monastery
near Adwa, Tigray, Ethiopia · Africa: Aksum & Ethiopia
14.162, 38.953
Attested. The manuscripts and their late-antique radiocarbon dates are attested; the exact ranges reported vary. The founder story is tradition.
This monastery keeps the Garima Gospels, illuminated Ge'ez Gospel books that radiocarbon testing dates to late antiquity, making them among the oldest surviving illustrated Christian books. Tradition says the monastery was founded by Abba Garima (Yeshaq), one of the Nine Saints. The site shows how early a book culture took root in Aksumite Christianity.
Source stance: neutral. Manuscript science (radiocarbon) plus monastic tradition.
People and groups named here
- Abba Garima (Yeshaq), traditional founder
Sources
- Garima Gospels (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia contributors. Accessed 2026-11-11.
- Abba Garima Monastery (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia contributors. Accessed 2026-11-11.
- Ancient Ethiopian Churches in Historical Perspective
David W. Phillipson, The British Academy. Accessed 2026-11-11.
Manuscripts tied to this place
Further reading
Councils here
None in this list.