The monastery of Dima is mentioned in the reign of Emperor
Susenyos as the location where
Ras Antenatewos of Begemder, the chief supporter of
Yaqob, found refuge after his side was defeated in the
Battle of Gol in 1607. The British traveller
C.T. Beke came to the town in November 1841 to pay a visit to
Dejazmach Goshu Zewde, who had sought refuge at Dima at the time due to the revolt of his son
Birru Goshu. At the time of Beke's visit, he found Dima to be a large town "apparently of recent construction, divided into quarters, which are surrounded by stone walls; many of the houses are also constructed of the same material. The church of St. George is the largest edifice of the kind which I have seen in Abyssinia, and internally the walls are adorned with paintings, much in the style of those of the middle ages in Europe." Beke was preceded in his visit to the
Dejazmach by the Belgian consul Blondeel. ==New projects==