An Ethiopian monastery, abandoned and damaged during the 1967 Six-Day War, is set to be restored and reopened to the public.
The Holy Trinity Monastery, located in the Jordan Valley east of Jericho at Qasr al-Yahud, holds profound spiritual and historical significance.
Ethiopia’s ambassador to Israel, Tesfaye Yetayew, announced that the Ethiopian Orthodox Church has obtained the necessary permissions to renovate and reactivate the site.
He noted that the primary challenge to its restoration was the presence of landmines, a situation that has now been resolved, facilitating the reconstruction process.
Melake Selam Gebrekidan Ejegu, the monastery’s treasurer, explained to Capital that the initiative was previously halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent regional conflicts.
He also highlighted that the site’s designation as an active military zone had prevented any restoration efforts until now.
Thanks to a British-led demining operation conducted about five years ago, the area is now accessible for religious observances, such as Epiphany, after being sealed off for over fifty years.
While the Ethiopian Orthodox community has had a presence in Jerusalem for centuries, the Holy Trinity Monastery is a relatively modern addition, built on the banks of the Jordan River.
Ethiopia is unique as the only sub-Saharan African nation with churches and monasteries in the Holy Land, owning seven properties in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Jericho, including the pioneering Dar al-Sultan Monastery.
The monastery’s location is of great significance, situated near the traditional site where John the Baptist is believed to have baptized Jesus.
Established in 1933, it was championed by Empress Menen Asfaw, the wife of Emperor Haile Selassie I.
Moved by the austere living conditions of the Ethiopian monks, who previously worshipped in a simple “reed church,” she personally acquired the land and funded the construction of the monastery.
Following the 1967 conflict, the entire area was declared a military zone and heavily mined.
The Six-Day War, which occurred from June 5 to 10, 1967, was the third conflict in the Arab-Israeli wars, resulting in Israel’s decisive victory and the capture of significant territories, including the Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West Bank, Old City of Jerusalem, and Golan Heights. The status of these territories has since been a major point of contention in the Arab-Israeli conflict.
A 1994 peace accord between Israel and Jordan laid the groundwork for the region’s rehabilitation.
Recent extensive clearance of explosives has gradually reopened this sacred landscape to the public and pilgrims, restoring a vital destination for Christians visiting the Holy Land.
