A Brief History of the Great Waldiba Monastery
The Great Waldiba Abrentant Monastery is one of the most ancient and sacred monastic centers of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Its origin is deeply rooted in divine revelation, apostolic tradition, and the covenant granted by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
From its foundation, Waldiba has been set apart as a spiritual wilderness, a place of prayer, fasting, and total devotion to God. For centuries, it has served as a refuge for monks who renounced worldly life to seek the heavenly kingdom, preserving the Orthodox faith through uninterrupted monastic tradition.
Arrival of the First Monks
During the reign of Emperor Al-Ameda, on January 11, 484 E.C., the people gathered at a place called Bereket Medhane Alem in Minjar-Sama Senbet to celebrate the Feast of Epiphany (Timket). Due to the great joy, the priests were preoccupied with the Mahlet (hymns) and the laity with shouting and cheering; consequently, the hour of the Liturgy (Qidase) passed them by. They consulted one another, saying, “The hour of the Liturgy has passed; what shall we do? If the time has passed, shall the Holy Communion be cancelled?”
As they prepared to enter the Liturgy, a secluded monk named Abba Bekimos, who had come from India, said to them: “The Liturgy you were commanded to perform has already been celebrated [by angels], but a scourge has been decreed upon you; therefore, seek the salvation of your souls.”
The Decision to Journey to Jerusalem
Hearing this, they decided to go to the City of God, Jerusalem. Their number was ten thousand and ninety-nine (10,099).
During their journey, our Lord Jesus Christ joined them in the likeness of a man and asked, “Where are you going?” When they replied, “We are going to Jerusalem,” He said, “I will lead you,” and He guided them on their way.
The Miracle at Sequar
As they reached a place called Sequar, the Lord asked them, “If you found your Creator here, would you still insist on going to Jerusalem?” They replied, “If we find our Creator, what more could we seek?” He then told them, “I am your Creator.”
They responded, “As you were leading us, we thought you were a kind man; but are you actually a deceiver (Meshahi)?” He asked, “What must I do for you to believe I am God?” They replied, “If you hollow out this cliff before us, we will believe.”
Immediately, He threw the staff He was holding and pierced the cliff. The name of that place became “Sequar” (from Seqorew – meaning He pierced/hollowed it). The place where the staff landed is called Atela. From the spot where the staff fell, water gushed out for them to drink.
Arrival at Abrentant
They replied, “If you are truly God by Nature, gather our brothers who were separated from us by death, illness, and exhaustion since we left our country, heal the sick, strengthen the weak, raise the dead, and bring us together as one assembly; then we shall believe in Your Divinity.”
After they said this, He raised the dead, strengthened the weak, healed the sick, and united them all at Abrentant.
At that moment, they believed and prostrated before Him, saying, “Truly, You are God by Nature.”
He told them, “If you believe in Me, dwell here; let this place be Jerusalem for you.”
The Olive Tree and Revelation of the Cross
He then took an olive prayer bead (Mequterya) from one of the monks and planted it; immediately, it grew into a large tree.
He then manifested the Guba’e Ayhud (The Assembly of the Jews) and, suspended upon that olive wood, He revealed to them all the sufferings He endured on Good Friday.
They prostrated to Him, saying, “Gada le-Mesqelke” (We bow to Your Cross).
This occurred on March 27, on a Friday, at the sixth hour (midday).
The Jordan of Waldiba
They then asked, “You have made this place Jerusalem for us; but where shall we find the Jordan where You were baptized?”
He caused water with three springs to gush forth and said, “Let this be Jordan for you,” blessing and sanctifying it.
Afterward, He baptized them in the Jordan He had brought forth and ordained them as monks.
He fashioned stone caps (Qob) and placed them on their heads.
Foundation and Consecration of the First Church
By Divine act, He manifested a beautifully adorned Church with 150 pillars.
He consecrated it using the Tabot (Ark) of Medhane Alem (Savior of the World) which they had brought from their country, and administered Holy Communion to the ten thousand and ninety-nine monks, saying, “Henceforth, let this place be yours.”