Saint Jared
May 18, 2021
The sixth century was remarkable and glorious era in the Ethiopian Orthodox Incarnation Church history for it saw the rise of a magnificent and melodic Saint; ‘Jared.’ Rooted from the Axum’s dynasty, Ethiopian melodic Saint Jared was born in 505 E.C. from his parents Abyud and Tawklia. When his father died at his early age of seven, his mother introduced him to her priest brother Gidewon for he could safeguard and teach him theologies. But, Jared had intricacy in coping up with his uncle and comprehending his teachings.
Onwards he fled away from him in search for his liberty. In his journey, he sat under a shade of a tree in releasing his tiresome. Then, he saw a caterpillar attempting to climb the tree but failed. After striving sixth time, he succeed in climbing up to top of it. Watching and admiring his trial, Jared was inspired from the tiny creature and apprehended what seems to be a message from God; He went back to his uncle and started his lesson all over again. Merciful as He is, the Almighty God revealed the mystery of the books of Old and New Testament.
On Hidar 5, 534 E.C. he was taken to heaven where he heard the Holy angles singing and praising God with a special song. While he returned to earth, inside Axum Zion he turned eastward toward and sing a song he heard from heaven. The song was named after this ‘Areyam’ (Sky). On 538 E.C. he started the melody of chants. On Tahesas 5, He took an oath that lasted from the second day till the first Sabbath, On that day, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ appeared on the cross with His Holy Angels. Saint Jared named this day, ‘Sermon for he witnessed the revelation of Lord Jesus Christ. The next week, he saw Lord for the second time with His luminosity and so he named the day, ‘Light.’ The third week, the Lord came to him by the imitation of a Shepherd function and so he called the day ‘Nolawi’(Shepherd) meaning a keeper of sheep. At the final week, with the imitation Merawi (Bride) and so he named it ‘Merawi.’
After this, he Saint Jared learned sacred melody of Divine Liturgy; he formed the system of chants in three modes known to be Geez, Izil and Ararary. He wrote five volumes of chants for church services and Holiday celebrations called The Book of Digua and Tsome Digua (chants for church holidays and Sundays services), The Book of Me’eraf (chants for major holidays, daily prayers and the season of fasting), The Book of Zimmare (chants to be performed after Mass) and The Book of Mewasit (chants for the dead).
The books of Saint Jared in the Ethiopian Incarnation Church contributed highly;
- Holy Church received a heavenly hymn through Saint Jared, always praising God with the heavenly angels.
- The Church assures us that the Old and New Testaments, as well as other Church books, will continue to teach children until the end of time.
- They have contributed great deal in the consistency of melody in the Ethiopian Orthodox Incarnation Church Divine Liturgy.
On May 19, the great Ethiopian melodic Saint Jared disappeared into the mountains. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church commemorates its chant his disappearance each year on this day.
May the blessing of Saint Jared be with us all!