Ink, Skin, and Spirit: Inside the World of Ethiopian and Eritrean Healing Scrolls

There is a stillness that falls when a healing scroll is unfurled. A narrow parchment slips open, revealing rows of Geʽez prayers, protective diagrams, and watchful eyes that seem to study you in return. Across Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox communities, these talismanic scrolls were created as deeply personal safeguards — written for one individual, in one moment of need, to protect both body and spirit. Crafted from animal parchment and inscribed by a däbtära, each scroll serves as a vertical column of prayer, a boundary against illness, misfortune, and unseen forces. They were never made for display. They were meant to be worn, carried, and trusted.