Ethiopic · Hagiography · The translation was carried out around 1400 by , a monk of , according to the colophon of the translation present in .
Anonymous · betmas
Work dossier · summary and historical context
The Ethiopic Synaxarion is a liturgical hagiographical collection of saints' lives arranged by day of the year, used in the Ethiopian Orthodox Täwaḥədo Church. It derives from the Copto-Arabic Synaxarion, adapted and expanded in Ethiopia from the 14th century onward. The core compilation dates to the 14th–15th centuries, with later additions. The present edition (betmas) is based on a 19th-century manuscript. The text is read daily in Ethiopian liturgy and has been translated into Amharic and English. This edition lacks critical apparatus on manuscript variants or the full Copto-Arabic source; textual divergences remain unmarked.
The Ethiopic Synaxarion is a key witness to the adaptation of Coptic hagiography in Ethiopia, illustrating the transmission of Christian literary traditions across linguistic and cultural boundaries. It remains central to Ethiopian Orthodox liturgy and piety, shaping the annual cycle of saint veneration. Its study illuminates the history of Ethiopian Christianity, manuscript culture, and the integration of Egyptian ecclesiastical heritage.
The Geʿez Synaxarion was translated around 1400 CE by a monk of an unspecified monastery, according to the colophon of the translation present in the source manuscript. It is rooted in the Coptic tradition, with compilers identified as Abba Michael, bishop of Atrib and Malig, and Abba John, bishop of Burulus—Egyptian sees in the Nile Delta. The compilation date is given as 963 of the Era of the Martyrs (1246/1247 CE), anchoring its redaction in the 13th century. The text was adapted and expanded in Ethiopia from the 14th century onward, reflecting the liturgical and hagiographic needs of the Ethiopian Orthodox Täwaḥədo Church. The present edition is based on a 19th-century manuscript, indicating ongoing transmission and use. The Synaxarion prescribes daily reading of saints' acts and celebration of their commemorations, highlighting its liturgical function throughout the ecclesiastical year.
Apparatus · what the pipeline recorded
| Coptic | Rendering | Count | First |
|---|---|---|---|
| no glossary terms recorded | |||