Saint Yared – Father of Ethiopian Hymnology
Saint Yared (505–571 AD) is the legendary composer of the Zema, the sacred musical system of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Through divine inspiration, he created a spiritual language of melody that continues to shape worship in Ethiopia to this day.
🎶 His Musical Contributions:
Invented Zema, a liturgical music system based on three modes:
ግዕዝ (Ge’ez) – Plain chant
ዕዝል (Ezel) – Lament
አራራይ (Araray) – Joyful chant
Composed hymns for:
Daily prayers
Holy days and fasts
Psalms, Synaxarium, and Gospel readings
🕊️ His Life and Miracles:
Born in Aksum, he struggled at first to learn, but after seeing a worm persistently climbing a tree, he was inspired to try again.
Tradition says he received the Zema directly from heaven through angelic revelation.
Taught by angels under a tree near the Church of St. Mary of Zion.
🏛️ His Impact Today:
All Ethiopian Orthodox chants, from Matins to Divine Liturgy, are based on Saint Yared’s system.
Students of hymnology (መንክር) still memorize his verses by heart using the traditional Yared School method.
Mequamia sticks, used rhythmically in liturgy, are part of his musical legacy.
🎥 Watch More:
📺 Learn About Saint Yared on Our YouTube Channel
📘 Coming Soon:
Saint Yared Hymns Samples
PDF download of Zema chart
🕯️ “He who praises God with pure music is joined to the angels in heaven.”
📌 Ancient Wisdom. Modern Teaching.
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