Tekle Haymanot
| Saint Tekle Haymanot ተክለ ሀይማኖት |
|
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1215 Shewa, Ethiopia |
| Died | c. 1313 (aged 97–98) Debre Libanos, Ethiopia |
| Venerated in |
Coptic Orthodox Church Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church |
| Major shrine |
St. Takla Haymanot's Church (Alexandria) Debre Libanos, Ethiopia |
| Feast | August 17 every 24th day of the month (Ethiopian Orthodox) |
| Attributes | Old man with wings on his back and only one leg visible |
| Patronage | Ethiopians |
Tekle Haymanot or Takla Haymanot (Ge'ez ተክለ ሃይማኖት takla hāymānōt, modern tekle hāymānōt, "Plant of Faith"; known in the Coptic Church as Saint Takla Haymanot of Ethiopia) (c. 1215 – c. 1313) was an Ethiopian monk 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 August 17, 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. He was the son of the priest Tsega Zeab ("Gift of Faith") and his wife Egzi'e Haraya ("Choice of God"), who is also known as Sarah; Tekle Haymanot was born after his parents, who had failed to have children, pledged their firstborn to God. According to tradition, his ancestors had been Christians from Tigray who had settled in Shewa ten generations before.
During his youth, Shewa was subject to a number of devastating raids by Motalami, the pagan king of Damot, which lay beyond the Jamma River. One of Motalami's most notorious predations was the raid which led to the abduction of Egzi'e Haraya; she was reunited with Sagaz Ab through the intercession of the Archangel Michael. These raids weakened the morale of the Christians in Shewa, and strengthened the practice of paganism. There are a number of traditions, some of less historical value than others, which describe Tekle Haymanot's interactions with Motalami.
His father gave Tekle Haymanot his earliest religious instruction; later he was ordained a priest by the Egyptian Bishop Cyril (known as Qerilos in Arabic).
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Wikipedia