Saint Takla Himanot the Ethiopian

Updated January 1, 2016
By Kassa Nigus 
The Family of the Saint
In the 13th century, a Christian family lived in Ethiopia; the husband who was a priest and loved Jesus very much was called "Tsega Ze’ab" (= the gift of father), and the wife who was very rich and loved the poor was called “Egzi’e Hareya " (= the chosen of Lord). Their patron saint was the Archangel "Michael", and they used to make a feast for him on the 12th of every Ethiopian month by having a mass and after that a banquet for the poor.

In every 12th of the Ethiopian month which is named by the Arch Angel Michael, they prepared a feast and fed the poor. However they were both sadden and unhappy with the fact that they could not have a child. “Egzi’e Hareya "  used to go to church and prayed beneath the icon of our mother Virgin Mary to God to give her a child that would love and serve Him, live in righteousness other wise to never let give her and keep her sterile.

One day, Tsega Ze’ab and “Egzi’e Hareya” discussed who inherit their wealth since they didn’t have a child. They decided to give their money and all wealth to the poor and liberating their slaves who happily served them.They told their servants they no longer have to live serving them and are free to go to but the slaves loved them so much that they said let us ask for forgiveness if we have disappointed you but please do not let us leave you, let us rather stay with you.

The capture of Egzi’e Hareya

After many years of peace, a pagan called "Motolomy" ruled the land of "Damoot" and "Shawa". He closed many churches and tried to revive the worship of idols.

One day "Tsilalsh" (the place where "Tsega ze’ab" and " Egzi’e Hareya " lived) was attacked by Motolomy. When the soldiers entered the country, " Egzi’e Hareya " "  was caught and taken to Damot by the soldiers who wanted to give her as a gift to their king "Motolomy".

 "Tsega ze’ab" took a route to hide and was followed by a soldier who wanted to kill him, until they reached a nearby lake, so "Tsega ze’ab" threw himself in the lake to hide from the soldier asking the Archangel Michael to help him through this. At once he felt the water over him as if it’s a tent sheltering him, and the Archangel appeared to strengthen him.

  The Archangel told "Tsega ze’ab" that the soldier went away and hence he got out of the lake. At that time the Archangel Michael told "Tsega ze’ab" that he was saved because of his child to be. He told him of great secrets about the child and carried him back to the town.

Then, when Egzi’e Hareya was caught and taken to Damot by the soldiers, she was presented to the king "Motolomy".

When the king saw the face of the saint "Egzi’e hareya", he ordered for the richest clothes and precious jewels for her, and to be kept in the city of gods until their wedding.But when all the soldiers went to sleep, she used to pray in the night to God for His great work in her life. King Motolomy gather his royals, pagan priests and brought Tsega ze’ab forward, she was told to bow down to the idol for worship but refused saying I will not bow for this made idol with human hands and when they came forward to punish her but her beloved St. Michael took her away back to her place Tslalsh.

"Tsega ze’ab" was in great misery and sadness for what happened to his wife whom he loved very much, and was afraid of the evil king, but he went to the house of God at once. He went into the church and kneeled before the Holy Alter and cried and sobbed a lot while he prayed to God to save his wife.

"Egzi’e Hareya" and the angel

One day while he was in the church he saw a woman in expensive precious clothes praying and awe to God. When he finished he went to talk and asked her where she was from saying, “you seem to be from a royal family what have brought you here?”, she told him that she had heard of a man called "Tsega ze’ab"  whose wife was taken and kidnapped and hence she came to be his wife! Then the priest crossed and told her that priests do not remarry, and that God would protect his wife and would return her safely to him.

 "Egzi’e Hareya" smiled happily for her husband’s faith and told him she was his wife and took off the veil that covered his face. Her husband was surprised and asked her how she had come. She told him that the Angel had saved her and got her to the church. The two kneeled before God in the church and thanked Him for his protection. In the evening all the congregation came when they heard of the return of "Egzi’e Hareya" and they all prayed glorifying God for his great love.

Then, she told him that she prayed for her safety, and Michael, the Archangel came to her to tell her that she would return for the sake of her son. When the wedding ceremony started and finished, and the people congratulated the king, there was lightning and thunder. The king got mad and the angel saved her and got her to the church.At night "Tsega ze’ab" had a dream where he saw the sun and a lot of stars in their bedroom and the next day the Archangel told them of the coming of their son.

The Birth of the Saint

At the night Tsega Zeab saw a dream as did Egzi’e Hareya and St. Michael was revealed and told them they will bear a blessed child chosen by God and who will be the light of the world.

Then our beloved father was born on 24th December in 1215 and called him "The happiness of “Tseyon", or “The happiness of the churches". There were many miracles done by him; like when he talked when he was only 3 days old. He was baptized on his 40th day.

  During his childhood, there was a terrible famine that his parents could not make the feast of St. Michaeal the Archangle. Then, St. Tekle Haymanot indicated his mother to the basket with his hand where there was a little pan and oil in a pot. He put his hand on the basket that it poured too much that his mother gathered every container she had in the house.

St. Abune Tekle Haymanot begun to preach the Gospel over the whole of Ethiopia he traveled to and abandoned the pagan and idol worship. People became very faithfully to God, strong in their religion after he baptized them.He established churches; assigned priests and deacons that would serve the people with the Holy Communion. Throughout his life, St.Tekle Haymanot increased his fasting and prayer for the change he was going to face a head.

Eventually he exerted plenty effort in praying and fasting before God for the forgiveness of all the world and its sin in the monastery of Debere Libanos which was established by him, there he live every day remembering the torture and pain Jesus received from his own peoples in order to save the world.

He was chosen not to live in comfort where there were too much worldly pleasures and he even prayed standing on one foot until his leg fell off. He remained in his cave until his death. Many people from all over Ethiopia come to the monastery of Dabere Libanos in search of his blessing, many cured of illnesses, and to hear the word and the true teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ.

    May the Grace and blessing of our Father be up on us Amen!

Source: Gadle Tekle Haymanot,1989.