Ethiopian prayer book
Summary: The text contains the book of Psalms (leaves 5 recto - 127 recto), selected biblical prayers and canticles (leaves 127 verso - 140 verso: Exodus 15:1-9 - Deuteronomy 32, 1:21, 22-43 - 1 Samuel 2: 1-10 - Isaiah 26, 38 : 1-20, 26 - 2 Chronicles 33 : 1-13 - Jonah 2: 1 - selections from Daniel - Habakkuk 3:1-19 - Luke 1: 47-55, 68-79 - Luke 2: 25-32, Songs of Songs (leaves 141 recto - 150 recto), daily readings in praise of Mary, Mother of Jesus (leaves 151 recto - 163 recto). Each section is marked by an ornamental banner illustration.
The date of the manuscript is not included, but can be infered from two of the illustrations on leaves 86 recto and 99 verso, which mention the name of a commander of Ethiopian forces in World War II, loyal to Emperor Haile Selassie. The name of the general is clearly written above the illustrations as as Dejazmach (commander) Mengesha Jembere along with his son's name also identified as Mamo Mengesha.
The name of the scribe is given in the last four lines of the text (leaf 163 recto) as Merigeta Haregewoin with his baptismal name Woldemaria. Merigeta is the title of a liturgical authority in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church: ʼO ʼegeziʼo ʻeqabani waʼadehanani ʼemakara śegā wanafesa laṣaḥafihu, Marige̓tā Ḥaragawayene, Wasema ṭemeqatuya Waledamareyāme.
There are 5 miniature paintings: King David playing the harp (full page, leaf 4 recto), Uriah the Hittite speaking to David (half page, leaf 11 verso), Division of Jesus' garments below the crucified Christ (full page, leaf 19 recto, covered by an attached green cloth); Commander Mengesha Jebere reading a sacred text, attended by his servant who is holding a rifle (half page, leaf 86 recto), Mengesha Jembere and his son Mamo Mengesha shooting and killing enemy soldiers (full page, leaf 99 recto).
Ge'ez manuscript volume on parchment.
Ḥaragawayene, Marige̓tā
Ethiopia
Ge'ez
Prayer books
Devotional literature
YaʼItyop̣yā ʼortodoks tawāḥedo béta kerestiyān
Prayers and devotions
Twentieth century
164 unnumbered leaves (leaves 1-3, 164 blank)
29 cm
Text
manuscripts (documents)
MSS 462
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