The Dessert Star is a prominent epithet for Abune Gebre Menfes Kidus, an Egyptian-born saint and founder of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church monastery at Lake Zuqualla. This title reflects his spiritual power and his life of severe asceticism in the desert, where he lived among wild animals like lions and leopards, famously raising dead animals and taming the beasts.
The Saint was born on Tahisas 29 . His date of birth and conception coincide with the day of Our Lord Jesus Christ. He lived 300 years in desert of Egypt. He went from Egypt to Ethiopia by the order of God. He stayed at Ziquala Lake for 100 years praying for Ethiopia and received a covenant from God. He has brought dead lions back to life. Later on he met King Lalibela and promised him that he would live in mount Ziquala and not leave Ethiopia.
On Tikemet 5, he received a covenant from God. He lived for 562 years on earth and departed from this world on the mount of Ziquala on Megabit 5. His body rests in “Medre Kebed.”
May Saint Abune Gebre Menfes Kidus’s prayer, intercession and mediation be with us; Amen!