Monasteries of the Ethiopian Orthodox church are place where monks isolate themselves from the world and dedicated to meditation and prayer. Lake Tana has thirty-seven islands, twenty of which are home to churches and monasteries. Some of them dated back to the 13th century and many others are dated from the 14th century to the Gonderine period of the 17th and 18th centuries. Many of the original churches of Lake Tana are said to be renovated and reconstructed during the Gonderine period.

Many of the churches and monasteries of Lake Tana are very famous cultural museums because of their beautiful mural paintings and many other valuable treasures such as varieties of crosses, crowns, costumes of Kings, illuminated manuscripts, mummified bodies and remains of several Ethiopia Emperors in wooden coffins and glass boxes. In addition, they have been used as the major refugees for many cultural treasures of the country in general and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in particular during the times of war and wors conditions in the history of the country like the devastating wars of Ahmed Gragn.

The foundations of some of the monasteries of Lake Tana are associated with the seven saints (Monks) of the Ethiopian Orthodox church who are also known as the ‘seven stars’ by the church. They were products of the famous medieval monastery of Debre Haiq founded by Abba Iyesus Moa. The ‘seven stars’ and the respective monasteries founded by them are;

• Hirute Amlak of Dege Estifanos
• Yohannes of Kebran Gebreil
• Betre Mariam of Ura Kidane Meihret
• Zacharies of Bahre Gelila
• Yesaye of Mendaba
• Afekrene Egzi of Gugubi and
• Tadiwos of Debre Mariam

Indeed, there are also many famous monasteries on the island of Lake Tana such as Narga Selassie, Dek Estifanos, Tana Chirkos, Mistsele Fasildes, Azwa Mariam, Entos and so on. Some of the monasteries are not allowed for women. Since the monasteries are many in numbers only few of the prominent ones are briefly described as follow;

It belongs to the monasteries of Zegie Peninsula and situated at the top of the island in a stone wall compound.

Abune Yohannes was its founder

It is famous because of its exciting church building with a distinct cathedral atmosphere.

The church is a large circular building in traditional Ethiopia design, with walls made of compacted mud and straw In interior of the church, surrounding the sanctuary, 12 symbolic dark red pillars exemplify the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ. The pillars are arched and ornamented at the top. Women are not allowed to enter the monastery

It belongs to the peninsula of Zegie and said to have been established during the reign of King Amade Tsion by Abune Bet Mariam.
It is decorative church arched over with a huge conical thatched roof. The decorations are paintings of biblical features and scenes of the Ethiopian church history.

It houses immense antiquities including the beautifully illuminated Ge’ez manuscripts.

It is believed to be the place where the Ark of the Covenant was hidden for about hundreds of years from the invasion of the legendary Queen Yodit up to end of the wars of Ahmed Gragn.
It is said also that St. Yared (composer of the Ethiopian Church music) stayed for certain years at the monastery of Lake Tana and wrote the Degwa (a book of song), which is still preserved in the treasure house of the monastery.
The church is rectangular with six entrance that have very huge wooden doors.

It is located near Gorgora town at the northern end of Lake and the remains of Susenyos palace is found in its surroundings.
It is famous by its very impressive Gonderine style wall paintings dated to the 17th century and sponsored by princes Melkotawit, sister of Emperor Susenyos (r. 1607 -1632).

It belongs to the Dek island, which is located around the centre of Lake Tana
It is famous by its beautiful structure and its external towers that correspond to typical Gonderine architectural style.
The church has 12 entrances with heavy wooden doors and windows and surrounded by many arched and ornamented reddish stone columns.
Like Debre Sina Maiam, it is famous for its very impressive wall paintings.

Like Narga Selassie, it belongs to the monasteries of Dek islands.
It houses the mummified remains of several Ethiopian Emperors, contained in the glass-sided coffins. The skeletal remains of Yekuno Amlak (1270-1285), Dawit (1380-1430), Ze Dengil (1603-1604), Zara Yaqob (1434-1468), Fasiledes (1632-1667), and Susenyos (1608-1632) have been maintained in the monastery. However, only the skeletons of Dawit and mummified bodies of Zera Yaqob, Susenyos and Fasiledes are displayed at present.
The framed picture of St. Mary painted in the 18th century during the reign of Zera Yaqob belongs to the most prominent treasures of the monastery.