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Yared annd His Disciples Singing A Song In Front Of King Gebreme Skel

In The Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit in One God Amen!

Yared was born in Aksum in the first half of the sixth century. His father was called Inberem and his mother was Rewleya. Aksum was not only the Capital City of the Empire but also center of learning. One of the scholars who disseminated the culture of the day was Abba Gedewon,the uncle of yared.

This man was taught in the courtyard of Aksum Zion Church. He attended the school run by his uncle, Gedewon.

After that he become a deacon and served at Aksum Zion Church where he later on become a married priest who succeeded to the position of his uncle, Abba Gedewon known as the first composer of the Ethiopian Church music.

According to his life story, his music was not a result of learning only, but a matter of inspiration, he was made to enjoy the company of, and listening to the singing of inspiring birds and then he was taken up in spirit to the heavenly Jerusalem where he could learn the song of the twenty four priests to heaven. When he returned to himself, he went into the church of Aksum at the third hour of the day and he began to cry out loud voice saying “Hallelujah to the Father, Hallelujah to the Son, Hallelujah to the Holy Sprit.”

The important event, which occurred during the reign of King Gebre Meskel, was the rise of Yared, the author of the Digwa, the Ethiopian Hymnary, and the composer of Ethiopian church music. The music of Yared has impressed the Ethiopian people’s as whole even up to this day.

n the life story of Yared we are told all about him. In connection with this, there is an episode which took place at that time. One Day while Saint Yared was singing by the foot stool of the king, the king was so deeply observed in listening to his voice, that he drove his spear into that flat part of Yared’s foot with such force that much blood spurted out, but St.Yared did not know of it until he had finished his song. Finally saint Yared left Aksum with his followers and settled in the mountains of simmien, where he was taken to heave alive on 11 Ginbot, 571 A.D (19 May, 579 A.D)

Courtesy:
Yonas Garedew
(OBL Forum Advisory Broad Member)

Source:
Saints and Monasteries in Ethiopia by Rev.Kefyalew Merahi