Debre Berhan (ደብረ ብርሃን): The Holy & Historic City Where Light Descended from Heaven!

Debre Berhan (ደብረ ብርሃን): The Holy & Historic City Where Light Descended from Heaven!

Debre Berhan (ደብረ ብርሃን) is a Holy & Historic City where Light descended from heaven. Debre Birhan is currently the Amhara Regional Capital City of North Shoa (Showa). Debre Brehan, was the Capital City of Ethiopia in 15th Century is one of the oldest Cities in the World with untold stories.

Emperor Zarayaqob
The Famous Philosopher and Emperor of Ethiopia, ZaraYaqob

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope you will enjoy reading its amazing history and also you are invited to watch the thrilling surrounding environment includinging:

*The Menelik Maskot (Menelik’s Window) and Amhara Souvenirs at Basona Werana

* The ጥቁሬ ዝንጀሮ (Tiqure or Chilanda Baboon Monkeys)

* The Birth Place of of Emperor Menelik and his Statue at Basona Werana

* Agricultural lands around Debre Birhan

* The Historic City of Debre Birhan and its refreshing surrounding environment

BACK GROUND

The Word “Debr” in Amharic means Mountainous place and “Berhan” means Light. “Debre Berhan” means the City of Light or the illuminating City. The name Debre Birhan was given by the Great King and Philosopher Atse (Emperor) Zera Yaiqob (Zarayaqob) after a miraculous light had descended from heaven and illuminated the City for several continuous Years.

Emperor Zerayaqob’s father, Emperor Dawit (David) was one of the greatest Emperors of Ethiopia who had built a great City at the present place of Addis Ababa (Berara) which was destroyed and looted by the Islamist Gragn Ahmed and his Ottoman collaborators in the 16 Century. That is why Emperor Menelik II re-established and rebuilt Addis Ababa in this same location after 400 Years. Emperor Zera Yaqob reigned from 1434-1468 AD. Only after the Birth of Christ 32 Amhara Emperors (King of Kings) crowned and ruled Ethiopia peacefully with law and order.

Statue of Menelik

The recent Emperors/Empress are: Emperor Gelawudios, Emperor Menelik, Empress Zewuditu and Emperor Haile Selassie. North Showa i.e. Tegulet, Menz, Merhabete and Bulga are the guardians of Ethiopia. Emperor Dawit was the ruler of Ethiopia who has brought the original Cross of Jesus Christ to Debre Birhan from Jerusalem by the help of Queen Eleni. North Shoa is the birthplace of famous Emperors and Kings, Saints, Painters, Brave Military leaders, Academicians and Philosophers. It was against this Great and prosperous Christian Empire that Ahmed Gragn (Ahmad ibn ibrahim al-ghazi) declared war in collaboration with the Ottoman Turks in the 16th Century ignoring the words of Prophet Muhammad which says “Don’t Touch Ethiopia”.

It is well known that Ethiopian Christian Emperors have accepted the persecuted Muslim brothers from Saudi Arabia in sympathy (in the 6th Century) as refugees and allowed them to live peacefully with the majority Christians in harmony. But some fanatics like Gragn Ahmed have betrayed Ethiopia and attacked this peaceful and generous Country in collaboration with the Ottomans and Zabid who were actually anti Muslims during the early stage of this religion. Taking the situation into consideration the great Emperor (Atse) Libnedingil made a calculated and tactical draw back to Begemider & Gondar which was one of the Centres of the ancient Amhara Civilization.

River Jema, Tegulet and Merhabete

Emperor Libnedingle stationed at Debre Damo Monastery successfully led his gallant Amhara fighters against the Ottoman Turks and their Puppet. The Brave Army of Emperor Libnedingil continued harassing and degrading the well armed (including with refiles) Ottoman led Army without rest. During those difficult times Emperor Libnedingil sent a message to King Manuel of Portugal and explained to him how the Ottoman Islamists have been collaborating with Ahmad Gragn to impose their religion against the Christians in Ethiopia. That time Ethiopia was well known by the Portuguese government and considered as a Holy land by many other Europeans.

Menelik Meskot

King Manuel of Portugal was outraged by the situation and sent Portuguese soldiers to Ethiopia led by the great Christopher Dagama. Christopher Dagama was the son of the great traveler, Vasco Dagama who was the first European to reach India by Sea. Christopher Dagama was killed savagely by by Ahmed Gragn while he was Boldly fighting together with the Ethiopian patriots against the Ottomans and Ahmad ibn ibrahim al-ghazi invaders. After a protracted war Emperor Gelawudios (Son of Emperor Libnedingle) arrived from Showa (Debre Birhan) with a newly (secretly reserved) recruited Amhara soldiers and destroyed Ahmad Gragn (Ahmad ibn ibrahim al-ghazi ) and his collaborators at the Battle of Woina Dega in Gondar.

Religion Debre Libanos
The Sacred Debre Libanos Monastery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During Ahmed Gragn’s invasion of Ethiopia the Central Government was weakened by the long war as well as by internal turmoil which consequently enabled the Oromo (then called Galla) nomads to migrate easily and occupy a large fertile areas from South East to the Central highlands of Ethiopia. This new phenomenon compelled the Solomonic (Amhara) Dynasty to move its Capital from Shoa to Gondar. The great Gondar Amhara (Solomonic) Dynasty has restored Ethiopia’s past glorious history and pride, Re-united Ethiopia, built Marvelous Castles, Churches and public buildings. Ethiopia had many famous Kings, of them Fasil was one of the most known and loved Emperors. Please Like, Subscribe and Share Kefale Alemu! Or visit http://www.iwooket.org/