Holding a bamboo ink pen, Ethiopian Orthodox priest Zelalem Mola carefully copies text in the ancient Ge'ez language from a religious book onto a goatskin parchment. At the Hamere Berhan Institute in Addis Ababa, priests and lay worshippers work by hand to replicate sometimes centuries-old religious manuscripts and sacred artwork. "Ancient parchment manuscripts are disappearing from our culture, which motivated us to start this project," she says. Some customers order for themselves small collections of prayers or paintings to have "reproductions of ancient Ethiopian works," she adds. 'Talking to saints and God'Like most other religious works, "Zena Selassie" is written in Ge'ez.

Source: Ethiopian News May 26, 2023 10:52 UTC