Seventeen ancient spiritual parchment manuscripts, which had previously left Ethiopia under unspecified circumstances, have been officially repatriated and handed over to seven national institutions.
Data from the Ethiopian Heritage Authority indicates that the manuscripts, dating from the 17th century onward, include important religious and historical texts such as the Ta’amra Maryam (Miracles of Mary), the Four Gospels, the Synaxarium, and the Psalms of David.
The returned manuscripts were formally received in Addis Ababa and distributed among the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Patriarchate, the National Archives and Library Agency, and the Institute of Ethiopian Studies at Addis Ababa University.
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Speaking at the handover ceremony, Prof. Abebaw Ayalew, Director General of the Ethiopian Heritage Authority, alongside other members of the Restitution Committee—such as Dr. Alula Pankhurst—emphasized the importance of recovering materials that hold historical, religious, and scholarly value for Ethiopia.
According to the Ethiopian Heritage Authority, more than 67 trafficked cultural artifacts have been recovered and returned to Ethiopia over the past seven years.
Beyond their significance, the manuscripts provide valuable primary sources for research into Ethiopia’s history, religious traditions, art, and manuscript culture. According to committee members, their return also places emphasis on the responsibility of Ethiopian institutions to conserve and document the materials for future generations.
