Hawarya Krestos Explained

Hawarya Krestos (died 4 May 1700) was a member of the Gondarine court and royal chronicler.

Biography

Hawarya Krestos belonged to the higher clergy (Liqawant) in the court of the Gondarine rulers and to the royal counsellors. As such, he held the title of Azzaz. Towards the end of the reign of Emperor Yohannes I, Hawarya Krestos was also granted the title of Tsehafi Taezaz and would author the Emperor's Chronicles. He also documented the church councils summoned by Emperor Yohannes I to resolve the doctrinal differences between the theological parties of Qabat and Tewahedo.^[1]

Yohannes I died on 19 July 1682 and Iyasu ascended the throne, with the serag masare Malkea Krestos putting the crown on his head. The Tsehafi Taezaz's (Hawarya Krestos and Walda Haymanot) sent sealed letters to various countries to announce the death of Yohannes I, and that the reign of his son Iyasu I has begun.^[2]

On 19 January 1694, during the ceremony of Epiphany, Hawarya Krestos who was well versed in the art of church poetry, had the honour to improvise Qene (of the Mawaddes type) for Iyasu I.^[1]

Notes and References

1. Book: Uhlig . Siegbert . Bausi . Alessandro . Yimam . Baye . 2003 . Encyclopaedia Aethiopica: D-Ha . Hawarya Krestos . Harrassowitz . Wiesbaden . 1049 . 9783447052382 .
2. Book: Alāf Sagad, Zenahu la negus negast . 1955 . Annales Iohannis I, Iyāsu I, Bakāffā . Louvain L. Durbecq . 60-61 . 1244212657 . Le seräg masare Malke’a Krestos mit la couronne sur sa tête; lanai Hawarya Krestos et l’azai Walda Haymanot, qui étaient sahafe te’zaz, envoyèrent dans les divers pays des lettres scellées pour annoncer que son père Ÿohannes élait mort, et que le fils de celui- ci régnait à sa place. li n'y eut pas alors de trouble ni de confusion dans la capitale ou dans le pays; mais la tranquillité, le calme et la paix régnèrent parlout, comme auparavant. . The seräg masare Malke'a Krestos put the crown on his head; lanai Hawarya Krestos and the azai Walda Haymanot, who were sahafe te'zaz, sent sealed letters to the various countries to announce that his father Ÿohannes was dead, and that his son reigned in his place. There was then no trouble or confusion in the capital or in the country; but tranquility, calm and peace reigned everywhere, as before. .