Debtera

A debtera (or dabtara; Ge'ez/Tigrinya/Amharic: ደብተራ (Däbtära); plural, Ge'ez\Tigrinya: debterat, Amharic: debtrawoch ) is an religious figure in the Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Churches, and the Beta Israel. Etymologically derived from the Ge'ez word for "tent" or "tabernacle" (referencing the biblical Tabernacle or Tent of Congregation), the term primarily denotes a lay scholar who is trained in church literature, liturgical hymns(Zema), and/or Tekle Aquaquam (Ge'ez: ተክለ አቋቋም). They may in fact be officially ordained as deacons, or may act outside the Church hierarchy.