Work dossier · summary and historical context
The Supplications (Mastabqwe) is an anonymous Geʿez liturgical prayer preserved in the Ethiopic betmas manuscript tradition. Likely used in the Ethiopian Orthodox Täwaḥədo tradition, it functions as a general preparatory prayer before liturgical actions. The text includes responsive cues (Y. Ka., Y. Di., Y. Ḥe.) and petitions for intercession, with parallels to Coptic Horologion night prayers. Its date is uncertain, probably medieval (13th–15th centuries), but it may incorporate earlier material. The edition lacks critical apparatus, limiting assessment of textual fluidity.
The Supplications exemplifies the fluid, anonymous nature of Ethiopic liturgical prayers and their connections to broader Oriental Orthodox traditions. Its parallels with the Coptic Horologion highlight the shared liturgical heritage of the Täwaḥədo and Coptic churches. The text also illustrates the use of responsive cues and intercessory petitions in medieval Ethiopian worship.
The Supplications (Mastabqwe) belongs to the Ethiopian Orthodox Täwaḥədo tradition, which developed in the Aksumite and medieval periods. The text is preserved in the betmas manuscript tradition, a collection of Geʿez liturgical prayers often transmitted orally before codification. No firm date can be assigned; it likely originates from the medieval period (13th–15th centuries), though it may incorporate earlier material. The prayer's structure—with responsive cues and petitions for intercession—parallels Coptic and Syriac liturgical forms, reflecting the shared heritage of Oriental Orthodox liturgies. The anonymous authorship is typical of such prayers, which were often composed and adapted within monastic communities. The text's use as a general preparatory prayer before any liturgical action suggests a monastic context, possibly for nocturns or vigils. The edition does not provide variant readings, so regional or chronological variations remain unknown.
Apparatus · what the pipeline recorded
| Coptic | Rendering | Count | First |
|---|---|---|---|
| no glossary terms recorded | |||