Imae of Yāred

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one God. In the beginning of the discourse on the image of Yāred, I begin to write a new discourse on your image. Illuminate my mind and the eye of my heart, and with my tongue write a new tongue. Salutation to the memory of your name, one and blessed, in the mouth of the Creator God. The psalm of blessing, Yāred, like Abraham the friend. I beseech you at every time, in the morning and in the evening, that you may save me from falsehood and ruin. Salutation to the hair of your head, which is not cut for the sake of the bald, and in which there is no place for the loss of the crown. Priest Yāred, of the heavenly altar, where you received the right hand of the strong Father. Lead me with you, that I may be in peace. Salutation to your head, whose hair is curled, above all the crowns, adorned, that you may bring, Yāred, to the God of righteousness, the offering. The Lord gave understanding to your mind, and on your head he placed wisdom. Salutation to your face, which surpasses the sun in beauty, and the full moon of the night, the messenger. Teacher of the faith, Yāred, preacher of the resurrection of Christ. Save me and conceal me from the tongue of the deceitful people, for the small one is more bitter than all.

Salutation to your eyebrows, which shade your eyes, each one like a lock of hair, as it is compared. Where you were born, Yāred, in the midst of the city of Aksum, from the seat with the king in joy and delight, why did you renounce the abundance of the world? Salutation to your eyes, like sweet wine, for the contemplation of a new ordinance. Great Yāred, chief of priests, Father ʾUttasedanī, where the mystery is, and grant me a portion that I may learn your teaching. Salutation to your ears, which brought the word of praise when the heavens appeared. Blessed Yāred, as your struggle is known, by your grace and your conduct they who are blessed bless you, all who have seen and all who have heard. Salutation to your jaws, which utter the words of the prophets, while they ask for mercy from God the First. Priest Yāred, equal to Saul and equal to Kefā, my soul asks you from the passage of times, having cast aside, and in your bosom I have received a refuge. Salutation to your nostrils, the fragrance of a cherub which they diffused when the Spirit anointed you where the saints are. So that they may hear, Yāred, the sound of your voice, the enemies and women followed after you, and they proclaimed your deeds to all.

Salutation to your lips, whose name is God of praise, and to the Daughter of Zion, the queen whom she called Hā. In your prophecy, Yāred, salutation and joy, like a cloud after it spread over the world, it became life and it became counsel. Salutation to your mouth, which was filled like a fountain, a sprout of abundance and law. Priest Yāred, father of the righteous, grant me a portion of the blessing of Jacob, who is woven, that I may praise you with him on the path. Salutation to your teeth, which have no likeness, which are whiter than crystal. Having heard, Yāred, the word of the poor in the street, you say, "Like them on earth, Hallelujah," and salutation to Mary, in whom is the stone. Salutation to your tongue, which revealed the hidden in Zion, the temple. Priest Yāred, since you sanctified the world, there is none like you who passed before, and there is none who will come like you again. Salutation to your word in Zion, the proclamation, the praise of God which you proclaimed without defect. With you, Yāred, were the elders; they came to hear you in the assembly and the council, and the king arose from the throne of the sanctuary.

Salutation to your breath, which was filled with the fragrance of the Holy Spirit, Yāred the priest, full of grace, to your word when you consecrated it in the sanctuary of Zion, you proclaimed hope to every soul. Salutation to your throat, which drew water from the well while fasting for the sake of penance, venerable Yāred, priest of the Resurrection, you scattered my enemies as one scatters ashes, when they cried out against me and gathered in assembly. Salutation to your neck, like a palm tree and a mother, which put on a garment of majesty, Yāred the hymnist, lord of great melody, to your image this I complete, let the birds proclaim the names of the names. Salutation to your shoulders, the steps of those who fasted within the holy book, Yāred the priest, of the lineage of Elijah and of the lineage of Ezra, without knowing the joy and work of the kingdom, as a suppliant, your servant prays for the completion. Salutation to your breast, which was adorned with the embroidery of silk, inscribed with the color of gold, Yāred, your glory surpassed the glory of the angels, as Ephesus and Tigris spread within the heart of all, the utterance of your word exceeded in truth.

Salutation to your neck, by his will and favor, which was adorned for the pilgrim who fasted his forty days, without faltering, Yāred, in the melody of three words. The martyrs and the righteous who lived and died, their glory is your story for this world. Salutation to your bosom, which embraced upon him, for the cherub, the word of his sanctification, which proclaims, Yāred, the resurrection of Christ. Now at his feast, rejoice now, for he is great and a man of honor. Salutation to your hands, which slew a man who had sinned, while he abandoned the bow and the javelin and the shield. Honorable Yāred, for the treasury of Aksum, the priest of the house. Pray, bring us together for the seed of its priests, as they dwell in unity within it. Salutation to your feet, firm as a foundation, by the power of prayer, which you drank, Yāred, at the sanctuary of Zion the holy. The drink of the Spirit which the apostles drank, while they were gathered together in the house. Salutation, salutation to your horn from the wood, for the angel of the beast. Yāred, my father, full of wisdom and understanding. Protect me, your servant, until I reach my inheritance, and do not let me be touched by pain and disease.

Salutation to your neck, by his will and favor, which was adorned for the pilgrim who fasted his forty days, without faltering, Yāred, in the melody of three words. The martyrs and the righteous who lived and died, their Salutation to your neck, which gathered for man the measure of sins, and to your standing, Yāred, in the field of shadow, on my account I beseech you when he comes, that he may forgive us, the word of the Father, the Lord. Salutation to your forearms, which hasten the gift, like a womb that sows; I have offered a ransom, Yāred, for your image, a speech; accept my thought, the treasure of priesthood; others cannot hinder. Salutation to your fingers, which were adorned for writing, the abundant commandment of God, while you were called, Yāred, by lips and mouth; cast me to where you cast the three birds, while wings are shaken with a wing. Salutation to the palms of your hands, which dwell above, from the flesh of the fingers, the ordinance of the nail; as I praise you, Yāred, before the face of all, the hidden; the angel of death came, he does not cast me to the grave; Father, pray for me, you. Salutation to your chest, on which he lay on sackcloth; the Lord turned it into a golden flower; priest Yāred, counsel of the elders and children; save me from hesitation, that I may not fall, and do not bring me into a deep pit.

Salutation to your belly, a tablet upon which is inscribed the abundance of praise and a guide. For my sake, Yāred, your tongue is like a custom. Pray to Mary and to her son Jesus, that they may save me from falsehood and debt. Salutation to your heart, which knew the measure without ceasing the salutation, while you heard, Yāred, the name of Mary. For the prophecy from the speech of the mouth of man was silenced, and the child then stood. Salutation to your kidneys, which the Lord tested with the radiance of light. Of noble conduct in all things, Yāred the priest, save me by your prayer from the affliction of this time and from the threat of the evil Satan. Salutation to your mind, which devised no small evil counsel. Yāred the priest, near to me here, make sweet by your prayer what is bitter in my throat, and fill my mouth with the praise of God. Salutation to your loins, which were not shaken by fear, while you made God king. Your name, Yāred, like Yāred, son of Baraka, for the resurrection of Christ you await the day of the bright and pure, this Pascha, this Pascha.

Salutation to your interior, hidden, which is not seen. O my Lord, Yāred the priest, in the word of a good psalm. As you celebrate the great resurrection of Christ, you have drunk the path of the heavens, the life-giving sea. Salutation to your waist, in the midst of the angels, which they adorned. The Lord, the head of understanding, with whom you sat, Yāred, with the king in friendship. When they saw you as you sang a hymn, all the troops marvelled in wonder. Salutation to your loins, where the belt of the Gāgā is fastened. For the abundance of righteousness and grace, Yāred the priest, teacher of many, eloquent one. For the district of Aksum, your city, and your children by flesh, pray that its order and law may be sanctified. Salutation to your knees, above the thighs, which are bent. While it is proclaimed, blessed Yāred, who did not know the work of transgression. That the voice of your mouth may be heard as a sound, all the kinds of birds have run towards you. Salutation to your thighs, which bowed down for prostration. Before the face of Christ the Word. Yāred the priest, preacher of the New Gospel. You have received a nature from the cherubim. For the district of Aksum, you have consecrated it with psalmody and chant.

Salutation to your legs, which are both slender, while I kiss them one by one. You have been immersed, Yāred, on this day of your feast. Pray that you may save me from the snare of the deceitful enemy, at the place of Mary the virgin, daughter of Matti. Salutation to your knees, like the word of the prophet David, which sins have bent. When you say, Yāred, holy and pure, you have risen from the earth to the height of a cubit, before the ark of the God of Zion, where the Law is. Salutation to your loins, that the commandment of the Gospel may be fulfilled, on the journey of the path which they have not wearied. For the people of Aksum, Yāred, while you trusted them, you took their salutation from them, and your salutation left them. Salutation to your fingers, which are inscribed on the city of the limbs, while with him it may be in union. The righteous Yāred, as your deed told, from a small tree you were carved, a work, and because of this you were deemed worthy to learn the psalter. Salutation to the nails of your feet, which stone did not hinder, and which did not stumble, Yāred the priest, sweet of tongue. When you went to dwell toward the north, the people of Aksum were found in great sorrow.

Yāred, priest, you stood for Adam. Salutation, salutation, with all your limbs, every one of flesh and blood, which I have named and named by their name, each one of them, slender in stature. Salutation I say to the existence of your body, a wall, whose enclosure is hail. Yāred, priest, noble of lineage, rouse me by your prayer from the sleep of grievous malice, that I may praise Christ the One. Behold, I have offered from my small gift a hymn to your image. Say to me, Yāred, why to me? Accept only, and raise me to the heavens, as Christ accepted the sacrifice of Abel.