TSANA'S SIGNIFICANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22210, 10 September 1935, Page 6

TSANA'S SIGNIFICANCE

ISLAND MONASTERIES LINK WITH PATRISTIC AGE ARK OF THE COVENANT Lake Tsana, in Abyssinia, has an interest for the world beyond that of being the natural reservoir for the conservation of water for irrigating the rainless.lands of the Sudan and Egypt. It has many islands, upon which stand old churches and monasteries, the libraries of which may contain invalid able relics of the patristic age 0 f Christianity. The survival of the relics may be due to the fact that during the time of the Mahomedan occupation of Abyssinia the lack of boats kept the invaders to the shores. Even to-day there is not a single boat on the lake, which is 40 miles in diameter. Reed rafts which become water-logged in a few days are the only means of communication. Major 11. E. Cheesman, formerly a British Consul in north-west Abyssinia, has described in the Times a journey of 220 miles that he made among the islands of Tsana, the traditions and folk lore of which say that the Ark of the Covenant from the Holy of Holies of the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem, now said to be in Axum Cathedral, was first taken by Menelik I. to an island in the lake. In every thurch in Abyssinia to-day there is a replica of the casket containing the tables of stone brought by Moses from Mount Sinai. Early Christianity

Christianity was brought to Abyssinia about the year 370 by Frumentius, who became first Archbishop of Ethiopia, much in the same way that Saint Augustine, 226 years later, brought Christianity to Saxon England and became first Archbishop of Canterbury. During the Mahometan invasion in the sixteenth century all churches, with the manuscripts they probably contained, were destroyed except those of the lake islands. The largest island is Dak, three miles in diameter and only 30 feet above the water level. It has five churches of no particular significance. To the west is an islet where is situated the Narga Silasi monastery with a domed bell tower containing a bell weighing about 2cwt. In common with all Abyssinian churches it has a small house, invariably called Bethlehem, on the east side, in which the bread and the wine of the Sacrament are prepared. In another building, the equivalent of a vestry, are stored the vestments of the church. Here Major Cheesman saw a book called "The Miracles of Christ," which was beautifully illustrated in colour on parchment. Tombs of Emperors The island of Daga, which looks like a, volcanic peak 200 ft. high, contains the most sacred monasteries of the country and on it no woman may land. The monastery occupies the peak, to which paths lead through the gloom of the forest that rises from the water's edge. An old church, St. Stephen's, had been struck by lightning and burned. In the sidjoining building that escaped are the tombs of seven Emperors of past ages. The visitor was shown the mummified body of Emperor Fasiiadas, in whose reign were built some of the great jtalaces of Gondar that arc now magnificent ruins. Some of the monks had hot been oil this island for 50 years. Ancient books are here preserved, but none had a date. There is also a list of the kings from David and Solomon oiaward. On Kebran Island are a church dedicated to the Archangel Gabriel and tho tomb of an Emperor. The Superior, who had been on the island 45 years, showed Major Cheesman bocks which he believes would repay a prolonged examination. They had been deposited on the island in times of political nn rest. Hebrew Altars oI Sacrifice There is a succession of small islands? up the east foast, the Church of Madhani is situated on the island of Rima. In its library books is the "History of Mary," dateless, and several triptychs, one depictieg the Virgin Mary and Child, with Joseph, displaying art far above the average. On Tana Kirkos, now a peninsula in the dry season, the Ark of the Tabernacle, according to local legend, is supposed to have rested and was kept for a long period when it first arrived from Jerusalem. The first priest of the temple here is said to have been Azarias, the son of Zadok, high priest in Jerusalem in the days of Solomon, who helped to convey the Ark. Major Cheesman was shown a metal _ bowl on which was embossed an inscription in Sabean characters one inch high. Near by are three stone pillars, on the top of which circular depressions or cups are cut, which, in the visitor's opinion, are undoubtedly tho ancient altars of Hebrew sacrifice. Possible Link With Solomon

"The founders of the Church," says Major Cheesman, "were Abraha and Asbiha, two kings who ruled together. Although \i y cannot be claimed with any certainty, these names have been considered by Sir Wallis Budge as possible corruptions of Ezana, King of Axum, whose inscription in Greex, Ethiopic and Sabean, lias been discovered in Axum and translated. In the first lines of the text Ezana recounts his victories and gives thanks for them to. his pagan gods. In tho account of his last campaign, in which he was again the victor, he adnjjts that the Lord of Heaven had helped him and makes no mention of other deities." . . Ort the .mainland are the ruins of the summer palace of an emperor built bv a Portuguese Jesuit priest early in the seventeenth century, remarkable art being still preserved. On the opposite shore is a zone when; hardly a stone remains on another to mark the site of old churches—evidence of the Dervish raids. A strange jumbled picture of religion and war in the wilderness.