Ethiopian priests recreate ancient Geez manuscriptsAFP, ADDIS ABABAArmed with a bamboo ink pen and a steady hand, Ethiopian Orthodox priest Zelalem Mola carefully copies text in the ancient scriptural language Geez from a religious book onto a goatskin parchment. At the Hamere Berhan Institute in Addis Ababa, priests and lay worshipers 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 small collections of prayers or paintings to have “reproductions of ancient Ethiopian works,” she said. Like most other religious works, Zena Selassie is written in Geez.

Source: Ethiopian News May 26, 2023 17:59 UTC