In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, One God. Amen!
Saint Yared is a monastic saint in the Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox tradition who lived in the late fifth and early sixth centuries. He is renowned for composing the foundational three melodies that form the basis of the hymnology used in the liturgical services of both the Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Churches.
As a young boy, Saint Yared faced great difficulties in his studies. His teacher, Abba Gideon—a priest and kinsman—served at the Church of Saint Mary of Zion in the holy city of Axum, northern Ethiopia. Overwhelmed and discouraged by his struggles, the young Yared eventually ran away from his studies and his teacher.
During his flight, he rested beneath a tree and observed a small worm repeatedly attempting to crawl up the trunk to reach its fruit. Each time the worm fell, but it persevered without giving up until it finally succeeded. Inspired by the determination of the worm, Yared resolved in his heart to return to his studies with the same perseverance.
He went back to Abba Gideon, humbly repenting and saying, “Forgive me, O father, and dispose of me as thou wish.” Abba Gideon, being a humble and spiritual man, accepted Yared back and prayed fervently to God to enlighten the mind of his young student. God, seeing both the prayers of Abba Gideon and the humility and perseverance of Yared, granted the boy divine illumination. Yared excelled in his studies, becoming a brilliant scholar of both the Old and New Testaments. He was ordained a deacon at a young age and, through divine inspiration, composed hymns that remain central to Orthodox liturgical worship to this day.
Saint Yared stands as a profound example of perseverance, humility, and faith. He is an inspiration and intercessor for all who labor diligently in their studies for the glory of God and His heavenly Kingdom.
May his prayers be with us all. Amen.