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It is also important to mention some of the miracles of the Debre Genet Gelila Mariam Orthodox Tewahedo
Church witnessed by many.
Over the Centuries, Ethiopia has been protected by St. Mary from aggressors. A great miracle once occurred when Fascist Italians came to the region of Gelila in pursuit of The
Ethiopian patriot Ras Ababa Aregaye, who at that time had taken refuge in the Church’s compound. The Italians fired their artillery from the nearest hill towards the Church indiscriminately. Even though the Church
was hit hard by the barge of ensuing
artillery, the Church was left unscathed short of a small fire that quickly dissipated. An immense miracle was witnessed that day. None of the other people who also took refuge in the church were harmed.
This alarmed the Commander of the Italian army who quickly turned to his men and asked what the name of the Church was; he was informed that this
miraculous Church was the Debre Genet Gelila Mariam Orthodox Church. He,in awe with what he had witnessed, declared that this was a Church with very special powers and instructed his troops to leave its compound
immediately.
After he vacated his troops from the area, the Commander of the Italian army proceeded to a region called Embwacho.
He had rounded up the local people and instructed them to find the freedom fighters, including Ras Abebe. In fear of the powers of the Debre Genet Gelila Mariam Orthodox Church, he gave his men special instructions not to harm any Ethiopian who claimed to have come from the Gelila region. This is how the lives of the people in that region was spared.
The facts mentioned above surrounding the miracles that of the Debre Genet Gelila Mariam Orthodox Church, are well documented and there are still some survivors who recall the miracles to this day.
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Another
significant miracle, that has also occurred during that era, is the preservation of a special jar that is used for storing traditional drinks, (Yemariam Zekir, in Amharic) for monthly religious gatherings (Yemariam
Mehaber). This particular jar made from clay and used to prepare wine (Tej), over the years has become special.
At one instance when the jar was being used for religious service, it fell from a big hill called Kitalegn, all the way to the bottom and landed on a rock. The onlookers stood in amazement when the jar survived the fall and did not even crack.
This jar of miracles is still in service today and has proven to be indestructible despite its hundreds of years of service. The members of the Church, having acknowledged that this was a jar with special
blessings, started to rotate it from one household to another every month. Each time that this jar was passed off to a household, a miracle was witnessed. Here are some of those miracles:
-”A woman who was once barren, had children as a result of
drinking TEBEL or holy water from that jar”;
-”Believers who had problems with their health,
got their prayers answered after drinking Mahber from the Jar”;
Debre Gemet Gelila Mariam Mahber
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