In the name of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. One God, Amen.
“Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God. Psalms 68:31 KJV
Ethiopia, like our beloved Egypt, has strong ties and many appearances in the bible. Today by the grace of God we seek to look at the blessed Saint Tekelhaimanot otherwise known as Saint Takla Haymanot. His life story begins in the 13th century being born to a pious Chrstian family living in Ethiopia. His father Sagaz Ab whose name means the gift of faith was a priest and his mother Sarah was a woman of well means who loved the poor. According to several sources on this blessed Saint, his family loved the Archangel Michael and would honor him on the 12th of every Coptic Month by celebrating with a Liturgy and holding a feast for the poor.
As with many of the lives of the saints, his mother Sarah was barren and she would entreat God and ask Him for a child. Being a pious and virtuous woman she would spend her time at church reading the bible and praying the psalms. Due to her efforts in love for the poor she was affectionately called Ag Zaharia meaning the choice of God. On one occasion she even told her husband of giving their money to the poor and liberating slaves to which he would agree.
Having lived in peace for many years, a pagan ruler of the name Motemly would rise up and close many churches and tried to enforce the worship of idols; devils. Talanece the place in which Sagaz Ab and Sarah lives was attacked the people would scatter in fear. Sagaz Ab would run from a soldier seeking his life and found safety by throwing himself in a lake asking for help from Archangel Michael. He would feel the water over him as a tent sheltering him and the Archangel would appear strengthening him. In the end, when he did not emerge from the water the pagan soldier would leave thinking he had drowned. Saint Michael the Archangel told Sagaz Ab the soldier was gone so he rose from the water he would then tell him he was saved because of his child that is to be born.
The Archangel would also carry him back to town. Upon returning to his town he saw the aftermath of theft and robbery, his own wife Sarah had also been kidnapped as a gift to the king; who would dress her in fine garments. Being sorrowful at this news he would go to the church and cry kneeling before the Holy Altar of God entreating for her salvation.
While celebrating the Divine Liturgy on the 22nd of Baramhat the Saints father who was praying put his wife’s name on the altar. While serving he saw a woman in expensive clothes praying with fear. After liturgy he would go and greet the new faces and would eventually come to this woman. Who said she came to meet him whose wife was kidnapped so that she might marry him. Sagaz Ab would tell her that priests do not remarry and that God would protect his wife and return her to him in safety. Sarah would then be overjoyed and remove her veil causing all to rejoice. The two would kneel before God in thanksgiving. She would reveal that Archangel Michael brought her to the church after the king held a wedding ceremony in which was followed by lighting and thunder inciting his anger. In a similar fashion to her husband she was told by the Archangel that she was with child.
On the 24th of the Coptic month of Kiakh Sarah gave birth to a son who she called Fesha Zion meaning the joy of Zion. On the third day of his birth he would speak by the Holy Spirit saying, “One is the Holy father, One is the Holy Son, One is the Holy Spirit.” On the fortieth day he was baptized according to church tradition. Archangel Michael would give the tiding before his birth to his father saying, “You will be the father of a child who will be an apostle in Ethiopia.” Around one year after his birth a famine arose and his mother could not prepare a feast to honor the Archangel. He would while being carried by his mother point to a plate of flour. She would carry him to it, he placed his hands on it and it overflowed; the same would happen with honey and oil. She would gather them in containers until she had enough to honor the Archangel. He would eventually have the grace of studying the Bible and Psalms.
“When he was fifteen years old his reverent father took him to the Bishop of Amhara, Bishop Kyrillos, who saw a vision from God to ordain Feseha Zion a deacon. As a deacon he continued to perform miracles and began to heal the sick. Many confessed him to be a god, but he told them that only the One True God is worthy of honor, praise and worship. One day while hunting with friends, Archangel Michael appeared unto deacon Feseha Zion and told him to dedicate the rest of his life to saving people’s souls. The Archangel further told him that God would bestow upon him the ability to cure many illnesses, raise the dead, and cast out evil spirits in His Holy Name. It was then that Archangel Michael changed his name to Takla Haymanot, which means, “Paradise of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” St. Takla returned home and distributed all his money among the poor.
Soon thereafter, Bishop Cyril ordained him the priest of Shewa (Shoa). St. Takla focused his attention on the spiritual welfare of those around him. He preached the Holy Gospel of repentance and forgiveness of sins. He continually cured the sick and performed many miracles. As a result of the holiness of this man many were converted to Christianity. He drove out evil spirits, cast out demons, he converted kings. St. Takla was bestowed with many gifts from the Lord. He raised the dead and could foretell events and quietly tell true prophecies. He labored among the hardest of tasks in the monasteries he dwelt with thanksgiving. He escaped from all praise. He continually led a life of devoutness-fasting, praying, chanting and kneeling before the Lord Jesus Christ.” – https://orthodoxwiki.org/Takla_Haymanot_of_Ethiopia
“One of the most famous of stories related to this saint is of his abiding in the Monastery of Abba Aragawi at the top of a very high, steep mountain. After living some time at this remote monastery, an angel of the Lord appeared to St. Takla and told him to go down to the base of the mountain and dwell in a cave to be found there. He bid the abbot of the monastery and the monks farewell, requesting their prayers and began his descent from the top of the towering mountain. As was the custom, the monks tied the saint with a rope to aid in his descent from the peak of the mountaintop. The rope broke suddenly and the monks feared the worst. Instantly and miraculously, six wings appeared from the saint and flew him safely and swiftly to the base of the mountain. Due to this miracle St. Takla’s icon features him with six beautiful white wings like the Cherubim. “ – https://orthodoxwiki.org/Takla_Haymanot_of_Ethiopia
Glory be to God Forever, Amen.
Works Cited
“Saint Takla Hemanout’s Story – Part 2 – His Birth – St. Teklehaimanot.” St-Takla.org, https://st-takla.org/Story-2.html. Accessed 12 February 2024.Youssef, HG Abba. “Takla Haymanot of Ethiopia – OrthodoxWiki.” Orthodox Wiki, https://orthodoxwiki.org/Takla_Haymanot_of_Ethiopia. Accessed 12 February 2024.
Faith Unto Ages 