A fortnight ago, I got up early in the morning and got myself fully engaged in some personal activities of daily living. It was a bright Sunday morning. After some time, as I was dog tired, I sat down comfortably on a certain bench with my legs crossed and embarked on playing games on my cell phone. I schedule my days out every so often.
When I looked at my mobile phone clock all at once, I could not believe my eyes. I thought that I would fail to spot one of the scheduled programs. Almost immediately, I headed straight to Arat kilo targeting at meeting up with one of my alter egos. Afterward, I hurried to Bata church situated around the National Palace to pay homage to the Bata church museum.
As chance would have it, when I arrived there, the mass was not over and done with. I grew to be by a long way happy at the drop of a hat. Quite a lot of things kept on popping into my head time and again. Having passed by the church, I overheard congregations praying in the following way,
‘Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name, Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven: give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
By the salutation of Saint Angel Gabriel, oh my Lady Mary I salute you, thou art virgin in thought, And Virgin in body, the mother of God Tsabaot (The Lord of Host) salutation to you. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Jesus Rejoice thou who is hailed, O graceful god is with you. Beseech and pray for our mercy to your beloved son Jesus Christ that he may forgive us our sins. Amen.’
When I was at a loss what to do, I kick-started taking a walk around the church’s vicinity. I was nearly shambling. Subsequently, I made up my mind to have a cup of tea in a certain cafe until all the congregations left for home.
Having spent half an hour or so in the cafe surrounded by customers who were talking the hind leg of a donkey, I rose up to my feet and headed to Bata church to pay a visit to the Bata church museum.
The cemeteries of Emperor Menelik II, Empress Taytu Betul, Empress Zewditu and Princess Tsehai Haile Selassie, Aba Mattewos and other historical treasures were located in the museum.
Although I overheard the whereabouts of the graveyards of the above mentioned great Ethiopians, I was not able to pay a visit to them.
All kidding aside, when I arrived at the Bata church, I was able to see a wide spectrum of tortoises and attention-grabbing trees in the length and breadth of the church compound.
They had the power of leaping everybody’s heart and taking everyone to another world with no trouble. More than anything else, the weather condition was lovely, magnificent and pleasant.
By the same token, most of the congregations were making the sign of the cross and praying to God on the church premises. Most of them were in their little world.
When I came within reach of the Bata church, all the doors were closed. I did not know who to ask. Subsequently, I sat down on a certain bench found on the premises of the church. A lot of congregations were flowing into the church compound. Sometime later, I approached one of the congregations and asked him politely how to find the Bata church museum tour guide.
In next to no time, the churchgoer set in motion looking for the right person who was assigned for this purpose. In the fullness of time, he showed up with the museum tour guide who went by the name of Deacon Teshome Hirko.
After some time, the guide brought a bunch of keys and opened one of the doors of the Bata church. I kept following him. I was looking forward to seeing the historic museum and the historical treasures of the church.
To be quite honest, when I entered the room, I could not believe my eyes. The inside out of the museum was beyond description. Without exaggeration, words fail me when I attempt to express my admiration. The museum was filled with a broad spectrum of ancient treasures that could win the hearts and minds of everyone in a little while.
The wall of the first room was full of attention-grabbing pictures which in black and white portrayed Emperor Menelik’s great deeds and other related activities. To put it in a nutshell, everything in the museum was beyond my imagination.
After some time, I headed to the ground floor where the cemeteries of Emperor Menelik II, Empress Taytu Betul, Empress Zewditu and Princess Tsehai Haile Selassie, Aba Mattewos, icons of angels and saints were positioned. To the surprise of everyone, all the tombs were made from attention-grabbing marbles from France.
Similarly, the museum consisted of a kind of small tent in which Emperor Haile Selassie used to attend mass at Bata church and other historical and valuable treasures.
When I looked at the graveyards of great Ethiopians, I got like an electric shock feeling that ran through my entire bodies. If truth be told, a feeling that I could not express in words pinched me in the corner of my heart. Quite a lot of things kept on springing to my mind.
Like a shot, I inquired myself why I did not pay homage to the great Ethiopians’ cemeteries for such a long time. I went far deep in thought. Quite a lot of things went on popping into my head.
I was not able to take my eyes off the cemeteries of the great Ethiopians. I grew to be by a long way happy. It was a kind of happiness that I could not explain in words. I felt like an honored person and I was born again.
I dare to say, most people do not know the whereabouts of the cemeteries of Emperor Menelik II, Taitu Bitul, Zewditu, and other great Ethiopian figures. The museum has not been visited by quite a lot of tourists who come from all corners of the world.
Deacon Teshome Hirko, the Bata Church museum assistant tour guide said, “The number of people who come to pay a visit to the museum is not that large. To my mind, if we would like to attract a lot of tourists from various parts of the globe, we need to attach importance to promotion by making use of the print and electronic media of the country. Unless we bring into play a wide spectrum of techniques, we cannot reap the fruit of success in no time at all. I have the guts to say much remains to be done.”
“By the same token, it is no secret that Emperor Menelik II had played a major role in introducing modernization in the length and breadth of the country. He was one of the greatest leaders. During the battle of Adwa, he was known for driving out Italian invaders from every corner of the country,” he added.
“It is crystal clear that whenever tourists come to Ethiopia, they drop in on a wide spectrum of tourist attractions located in every nook and cranny of the country. Unfortunately, tour guides do not make tourists acquainted with the fundamentals of the Bata church museum treasures. If they do so, I do hope the number of visitors will be on the rise without a shadow of a doubt.” he wrapped up.
The Ethiopian Herald September 4, 2019
BY ADDISALEM MULAT
