# Yared > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Yared > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Yared.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yared > Source revision: 1356968814 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Aksumite saint and composer (505–571) For the biblical name, see [Jared](/source/Jared). For Lebanese composer, see [Gabriel Yared](/source/Gabriel_Yared). Saint Yared Composer Born (505-04-25)25 April 505 Axum, Kingdom of Aksum Died 20 May 571(571-05-20) (aged 66) Semien Mountains Venerated in Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church Ethiopian Catholic Church Eritrean Catholic Church[1] Feast 19 May Attributes Old man wearing traditional attire and holding walking stick (mequamia), tsenatsel in front of Deggua book and three chants: Ge'ez, Ezel and Araray depicted as doves Part of a series on Oriental Orthodoxy Oriental Orthodox churches Coptic Syriac Armenian Indian Cilicia Orthodox Tewahedo Ethiopian Eritrean Independent churches Coptic: British Orthodox Tewahedo: Tigrayan Syriac: Malabar Independent Autonomous churches Coptic: French Coptic Orthodox Church Armenian: Constantinople, Jerusalem Syriac: Jacobite Syrian Christian Church History and theology History of Oriental Orthodoxy: Coptic history Tewahedo history Syriac history Saint Thomas Christians Ecumenical Councils: Nicaea I Constantinople I Ephesus I Ephesus II Ephesus III Dvin I Dvin II Dvin III Dvin IV Manzikert Capharthutha Shirakavan Hromkla Theology: Miaphysitism Oriental Orthodox theology Non-Chalcedonian Christianity Liturgy and practices Anaphora & Rites: Alexandrian Rite Anaphora of Saint Gregory Armenian Rite West Syriac Rite Liturgy of Saint James Liturgy of Saint Basil Liturgy of Saint Cyril Malankara Rite Holy Qurobo Calendars: Armenian Coptic Ethiopian Julian Gregorian Bible: Peshitta Coptic Bible Armenian Bible Orthodox Tewahedo Bible Cross: Coptic cross Armenian Cross St. Thomas Cross Ethiopian cross Major figures Cyril of Alexandria Mor Addai Abgar V Gregory the Illuminator Nine Saints of Ethiopia Tiridates III Mar Awgin Athanasius of Alexandria Ephrem the Syrian Ezana of Axum Frumentius Shenoute Mesrop Mashtots Dioscorus of Alexandria Severus of Antioch Abraham of Farshut Yared Simon the Tanner Gregory of Narek Nerses IV Michael the Syrian Bar Hebraeus Tekle Haymanot Giyorgis of Segla Mar Thoma I Gregorios Abdal Jaleel Geevarghese Gregorios Related topics Abuna Catholicos Catholicos of India Patriarch of Antioch Maphrian Ethiopian titles Apostolic Church-Ordinance Coptic monasticism Coptic saints Debtera Coonan Cross Oath Ethiopian chant Fast of Nineveh Coptic fasting Tewahedo fasting Timkat Links and resources Category Media Templates WikiProject Christianity portal v t e **Saint Yared** ([Ge'ez](/source/Ge'ez): ቅዱስ ያሬድ; 25 April 505 – 20 May 571)[2][3][4] was an [Aksumite](/source/Kingdom_of_Aksum)[5] composer, hymnwriter and scholar. He was credited with inventing the [traditional music of Ethiopia](/source/Music_of_Ethiopia), he developed the [music](/source/Orthodox_Tewahedo_music) of the [Ethiopian Orthodox Church](/source/Ethiopian_Orthodox_Church) and [Eritrean Orthodox Church](/source/Eritrean_Orthodox_Church). In a broader context, he helped establish [liturgical music](/source/Liturgical_music) in the [Coptic Orthodox Church](/source/Coptic_Orthodox_Church) and [Syriac Orthodox Church](/source/Syriac_Orthodox_Church), as well as create the Ethiopian [musical notation](/source/Musical_notation) system. Additionally, he composed *[Zema](/source/Ethiopian_chant),* or the chant tradition of Ethiopia, particularly the chants of the Ethiopian-Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Churches, which are still performed today. According to the medieval chronicle *The Gadla Yared (Acts of Yared)*, Yared was born in [Axum](/source/Axum). After the death of his father, his activity in education gradually declined which led him to be sent to parish priest Abba Gedeon. Yared then went to his uncle birthplace in Murade Qal. He saw a worm trying to climb tree with numerous attempts until the last moment. The worm struggle had inspire him and pursue to read and study Holy Scriptures. He became a priest at [Church of Our Lady, Mary of Zion](/source/Church_of_Our_Lady_Mary_of_Zion), then attracted to the Aksum king [Gebre Meskel](/source/Gebre_Meskel). He developed musical notation, including Zema or [Ethiopian chant](/source/Ethiopian_chant) as well as authoring the famous *[Book of Deggua](/source/Book_of_Deggua)*. At the age of 66, Yared died in [Semien Mountains](/source/Semien_Mountains) during journey of tutoring. He is regarded as a saint of the Ethiopian-Eritrean Orthodox Church, with his feast day celebrated on 19 May. His name is from the Biblical person known in English as "[Jared](/source/Jared)" ([Book of Genesis](/source/Book_of_Genesis) 5:15). ## Life Much of Yared's life is broadly accounted in the medieval hagiography *The Gadla Yared (Acts of Yared)*, whose composition was recovered in the 16th century.[6] Yared was born on 25 April 505 in Axum from his father Abyud (Isaac) and his mother Christina (Tawklia). Yared with disciples singing to King Gebre Meskel Yared was enticed by the Aksumite king [Gebre Meskel](/source/Gebre_Meskel), which led to his musical prominence, composing *Zema*, or chant. Following his musical success, he asked the king to live in [ascetics](/source/Asceticism), saying: Promise to grant me...allow me to retire from my work in the court and to live among the people so that I may devote the rest of my life to teaching, to meditation and to prayer. The king allowed his request and Yared travelled to [Semien Mountains](/source/Semien_Mountains).[7] He developed the *[Book of Deggua](/source/Book_of_Deggua)*, (De'guaa) in [Geʽez](/source/Ge%CA%BDez), which means "lamentations".[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Yared also played pivotal role in church building. For instance, he consecrated churches in [Debre Damo](/source/Debre_Damo) that were founded by [Abuna Aregawi](/source/Abuna_Aregawi). Yared also taught students at [Tana Qirqos](/source/Tana_Qirqos) in [Lake Tana](/source/Lake_Tana).[8] Yared also established churches in Gojjam, [Begemder](/source/Begemder) (today: Gondar), and Tigray. He went to [Gayint](/source/Lay_Gayint) and built a church called Saint Mariam at [Zur Amba](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zur_Amba&action=edit&redlink=1). The foundation is said to be as a result of "God's guide" and this location was named *Zur Amba* after "appearance of God to Aragawi". The account was written about God's appearance and guidance to Aragawi in Geʽez: "Zur Abba Mengale Misraq...." which means "...Abba, turn to the east; you will find the way to the hill."[9] ## Later life and death St. Yared died at the age of 66 on 20 May 571 in a cave of [Semien Mountains](/source/Semien_Mountains). He had been travelling to teach.[8] 19 May is his feast day in the [Orthodox Tewahedo Church](/source/Orthodox_Tewahedo) in commemoration of his death.[10] ## In popular culture Little known of the life of St. Yared outside the traditional account. St. Yared thought to gather his pupils to teach his musical system after asceticism in monastic life. He has been said to bequeath musical heir where the practice also revolutionised "a genealogy of masters from St. Yared in the 6th-century to [Aleqa](/source/Aleqa) [Mersha](/source/Mersha_Nahusenay) in the 20th-century". St. Yared's chant and voice are revered as powerful; his performance on liturgical music outstrips into secular domain, where "the remark [is] often made of a good singer; his voice makes one cry."[11] His work has been contested to controversy by religious and secular discourse. Secular teaching argued that St. Yared is the base and father of secular music. The outlook of "secular music" is strongly objected to by the Orthodox Church. Other challenges are spiritual songs in audio and audiovisual form are possible without an original hymn. Without proper knowledge, some musicians prepare religious music and some singers take to secular form. The most contentious is the use of church treasures such as drum, sistrum, clothes and sticks currently used by Protestant followers. Some of St. Yared's songs like "Yekome Wereb", "Yetegulet Digua", "Yeankober Wereb", Yewashera Qine", Yeachabr Wereb", "Yeselelkula Kidase", "Ye Aba Giorgis" and "Ze Gasicha Seatat" are becoming obsolete or few scholars have no students.[12] ### Reception St. Yared is regarded by [Ethiopian Studies](/source/Ethiopian_Studies) scholars as the founder of *[qene](/source/Qene)*. His musical work swayed Yohannes of Gebla in [Wollo](/source/Wollo_Province) and Tewanei of Deg Istifa in [Gojjam](/source/Gojjam), who improvised into complex forms. The work also contributed to service from time of day to day of the year, depending on valuable occasional feasts and religious seasons. Deggua's summary opening by:[13] Oh! Music!... Ah! Music that I heard the angels' sing in Heaven Uttering Holy! Holy! Lord! The Heavens and the Earth are filled with Your holy praise Tradition holds that St. Yared ascended to Heaven supported by angels [Seraph](/source/Seraph) and [Cherub](/source/Cherub), singing "Holy! Holy! Holy!", a paraphrase of [Ancient of Days](/source/Ancient_of_Days) in [Book of Daniel](/source/Book_of_Daniel). In addition, it augmented supernatural entities bolstered him: three white angels, and three white birds singing with animals and beasts. His compositions also reflect agriculture and seasons. For example, for the rainy season (mid-June to mid-September) and for the harvest season (mid-September to mid-December):[13] **Rainy season** Listen to the sound of the footsteps of the rain! When the rains pour down, the poor rejoice. Listen to the sound of the footsteps of the rain! When the rains pour down, the hungry are satiated... The clouds hear and obey His word; And the streams brim with water. And the furrows quench their thirst... **Harvest season** In its own time, the rainy season has passed. Now is established the season of plenty. Behold! The plants have blossomed and brought forth fruit... ## See also - [Ethiopian chant](/source/Ethiopian_chant) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Kidane Mehret Ge'ez Rite Catholic Parish *The Ge'ez Rite*"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180812181446/http://kidane-mehret.org/Geezrite.html). *Kidane-mehret.org*. Archived from [the original](http://kidane-mehret.org/Geezrite.html) on 2018-08-12. Retrieved 2018-08-12. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Chavis, Charles L. (2011-04-05). ["Saint Yared, 505-571 AD"](https://www.blackpast.org/global-african-history/saint-yared-505-571/). Retrieved 2020-05-03. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Giday, Belai (1991). [*Ethiopian Civilization*](https://books.google.com/books?id=_FBzAAAAMAAJ&q=editions:VdYRUVixGbEC). B. Giday. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Friedlander, María-José (2007). [*Ethiopia's Hidden Treasures: A Guide to the Paintings of the Remote Churches of Ethiopia*](https://books.google.com/books?id=yJfWAAAAMAAJ&q=yared+25+April+505). Shama Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-99944-0-017-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-99944-0-017-1). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church"](https://ethiopianorthodox.org/english/church/styaredbyashenafikebede.html). *ethiopianorthodox.org*. Retrieved 2026-01-02. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Kribus, Bar; Dege-Müller, Sophia (2022-11-08). ["St. Yared in the Sǝmen Mountains of northern Ethiopia: The Ethiopian Orthodox and Betä Ǝsraʾel (Ethiopian Jewish) religious sites"](https://journals.openedition.org/afriques/3564#:~:text=One%20striking%20exception%20is%20Yared,its%20liturgical%20music%20and%20hymns.SnzyzEgmvZR9b2DoiHPEMAPXZz3vzApRPr#:~:text=To%2520the%2520sixteenth%2520century%2520is,their%2520production%2520at%2520this%2520time.&text=Significantly%252C%2520when%2520local%2520hagiography%2520began,and%2520associated%2520with%2520foreign%2520ones.&ved=2ahUKEwi9rObl56aSAxUGVvEDHYsCFmIQ1fkOegQIBxAJ&opi=89978449&cd&psig=AOvVaw29NKAb8KD0f7fo4TXI-EgG&ust=1769434629863000). *Afriques. Débats, méthodes et terrains d'histoire* (in French). **13** (13). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.4000/afriques.3564](https://doi.org/10.4000%2Fafriques.3564). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [2108-6796](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/2108-6796). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Saint Yared Poems > My poetic side"](https://mypoeticside.com/poets/saint-yared-poems). *mypoeticside.com*. Retrieved 2021-08-04. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_8-1) ["About St. Yared - St. Yared Ethiopian Cuisine & Coffeehaus - Indianapolis IN"](http://www.styaredcuisine.com/about.html). *www.styaredcuisine.com*. Retrieved 2020-09-04. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Saint Yared"](https://www.abbayesehaq.com/htm/yared.htm). *www.abbayesehaq.com*. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 2021-08-17. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["The Feast of the Departure of Saint Yared – Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church Sunday School Department – Mahibere Kidusan"](https://eotcmk.org/e/the-feast-of-the-departure-of-st-yared/). Retrieved 2021-08-28. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Shelemay, Kay Kaufman (2022-01-11). [*Sing and Sing On: Sentinel Musicians and the Making of the Ethiopian American Diaspora*](https://books.google.com/books?id=wiNREAAAQBAJ&dq=yared+story&pg=PA52). University of Chicago Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-226-81002-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-226-81002-7). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Tourism Development Potentials of St. Yared Heritages in Aksum: Assessment to Intervention 2018"](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330199795). 11 April 2022. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_13-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_13-1) ["Yared: The Composer of HUMNS"](https://web.archive.org/web/20220925165557/https://piassabooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/e18b9ce18a93-e18aa0e189a0e18b8d.pdf) (PDF). 11 April 2022. Archived from [the original](https://piassabooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/e18b9ce18a93-e18aa0e189a0e18b8d.pdf) (PDF) on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022. ## External links - [A brief History of Saint Yared](http://www.ethiopianorthodoxchurch.org/saint_yared.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170823002909/http://www.ethiopianorthodoxchurch.org/saint_yared.html) 23 August 2017 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) - [Biography of Saint Yared](https://web.archive.org/web/20040601122531/http://www.st-gebriel.org/Styared/gab_yared_music.htm) - By Ayele Bekerie. [Who is St. Yared – the Great and the First Ethiopian Composer](https://web.archive.org/web/20220704215826/https://serafelagi.com/3754-st-yared-the-great-ethiopian-composer/). Tadias Magazine, Nov 29, 2007. - Charles L. Chavis Jr. [Saint Yared](http://www.blackpast.org/?q=gah/saint-yared-505-571) v t e Ethiopian saints by feast day January Abeluzius (15th) Tsahma (24th) March Alef (20th) May Saint Abraham (5th) Yared (19th) Kaleb (28th) Ablak (30th) June Aftse (5th) Guba (5th) Gebre Meskel Lalibela (6th) Garima (24th) July Moses the Black (1st) Giyorgis of Segla (14th) August Tekle Haymanot (17th and 24th) September Dawit II (2nd) Abnodius (3rd) Melki of Clysma (11th) Daysa the Egyptian (12th) Mamas the Martyr (15th) Lebna Dengel (15th) Fasilidas (19th) Yasay (19th) Matronya (20th) Absadi (27th) October Ezana (1st) Saizana (1st) Matlan the physician (4th) Aregawi (24th) Yemrehana Krestos (29th) November Yem’ata (2nd) Baeda Maryam I (8th) Amda Seyon I (26th) December Iyasus Mo'a (5th) Liqanos (7th) Gebre Meskel (8th) Samuel of Waldebba (21st) Frumentius (27th) All months Gabra Manfas Qeddus (5th) Tekle Haymanot (24th) Related topics Giustino de Jacobis (Roman Catholic), Nine Saints • Armenian Apostolic liturgical calendar, Coptic calendar, Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar • Category:Ethiopian saints Authority control databases International VIAF WorldCat National United States Israel Other Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Yared](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yared) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yared?action=history)). 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