Saint Tekle Haymanot

Abune Tekle Haymanot (Ge'ez: አቡነ ተክለ ሃይማኖት; known in the Coptic Church as Saint Takla Haymanot of Ethiopia; 1215–1313) was an Ethiopian saint and monk mostly venerated as a hermit. He was the Abuna of Ethiopia who founded a major monastery in his native province of Shewa. He is significant for being the only Ethiopian saint popular both amongst Ethiopians and outside that country. Tekle Haymanot "is the only Ethiopian saint celebrated officially in foreign churches such as Rome and Egypt." His feast day is 30 August (Nehasə 24 in Ethiopian calendar), and the 24th day of every month in the Ethiopian calendar is dedicated to Tekle Haymanot. Tekle Haymanot was born in Zorare, a district in Selale which lies on the eastern edge of Shewa where Christian Amhara families had migrated from the north around the time of the decline of Axum. As an ethnic Amhara, and his 13th-14th century hagiography traces the place name Bete Amhara as far back as the mid 9th century. He was the son of the priest Tsega Zeab (ጸጋ ዘአብ "Grace of God") and his wife Egzi'e Haraya ("Choice of God"), who was also known as Sarah; Tekle Haymanot was born after his parents, who had failed to have children, pledged their firstborn to God. During his youth, Shewa was subject to several devastating raids by Motolomi Sato, the pagan king of the Kingdom of Damot, which lay beyond the Jamma River. One of Matolomi's most notorious predations was the raid which led to the abduction of Egzi'e Haraya; she is said to have been reunited with Tsega Zeab through the intercession of the Archangel Michael. When Matolomi discovered they were escaping, he threw a spear which turned around in the air and slew him instead. There are several traditions like that describing Tekle Haymanot's interactions with King Matolomi. His father gave Tekle Haymanot his earliest religious instruction. Later, he was ordained a priest by the Pope Cyril III of Alexandria (known as Kirollos in Coptic). E. A.