Abune Garima (Isaac) of Madara
June 23, 2021
Long ago in the 15th century, lived an emperor of Rome called Masfeyanos who had a barren wife; her name was Sefengeya. Sad as she was about her aridity, she lived through pleading God to give her a child through the intercession of Saint Mary.
The Mother of Light then gave them a blessed child whom they named Isaac. He was raised within the Church Liturgy which later led him to be a Deacon. Unfortunate to the family, King Masfeyanos suddenly died and so, Isaac took over his father’s throne. For seven years he governed the people.
Then one day, he received a letter which was sent from righteous Father, Abba Pantalewon who lived in a cave of a dessert in Egypt. It said, “O my son Isaac, let the dead bury their dead, and you come and seek the kingdom of Lord Jesus Christ.”
Emperor Isaac did not hesitate; he got up at night, prayed and left the throne only wearing the cloth he wore. Suddenly, Saint Gabriel appeared lifting up with his right-wing, and enthralling him to the cell of Abba Pantalewon within three hours, a journey which takes ten month.
There, the father welcomed him, taught him to be a monk, and then came to Ethiopia being the ninth in number amongst the Nine Saints; and when the Saints did ample in our country, one of them was the great Abba Isaac (Garima). Because, he labored much, his skin and bones were attached together.
One day, Abba Pantalewon was saddened as he was told that Abba Isaac had performed the liturgy after he had a meal. Thinking to advise him, the elder said, “My son, hold back the people from me so that I may tell you a secret.” But Abba Isaac replied, “Let all the stones be move from us let alone the people.” While he said this, the trees of the monastery moved a furlong (about 800 meters).
Abba Pantalewon who witnessed the miracle said to him, “My son Isaac, you amazed me.” Starting from that day, his name changed to “Abba Garima” (Garima derived from ‘Gärämkänī Geez word.’) When Abba Garima went to Madara, those trees and rocks, which went back earlier, followed him chanting, “Garima you are startling to us too.”
The righteous father in addition to preaching the Gospel and establishing monasteries had also performed many miracles. Some are listed below.
- He sowed wheat in the morning and it bore fruit (seeds) at 3 PM. As it is said (in the Deggwa of Saint Yared/Jared),“(Abba Gerima) sows in the morning And harvests in the evening”
- The wine he planted in the morning bore fruit at 3 PM.
- A drop of his spittle became a healing pool which exists till today.
- His stylus fell to the ground and there it blossomed and bore fruit.
- He stopped the sun on its path while writing (copying the Gospel of John) as it was getting dark.
After all those years passed, our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him and gave him a covenant (made a vow). He said, “I will forgive 12 generations of the whom calls your name and holds your feast. “I tell you great news, that you will not even face death.” Then, Lord Jesus ascended to kingdom of heaven with glory. At that moment, Abba Garima was straightway caught up in a shining cloud and the Angels placed him on a chariot, in chanting and taking him to the World/Realm of the Living.
Source: Ethiopic Syanaxarium, (Senie 17, page 578-579)