Ethiopic Manuscript 053 · Manuscript Migration: The Multiple Lives of the Rubenstein Library's Collections

The main text of Ethiopic MS 053 begins with the Life of Tekla Haymanot, continues with Geneology and Miracles, and contains three different unfinished prayers, probably written by different hands. The volume was purchased from Sam Fogg Rare Books and Manuscripts in 1994.

Ethiopic MS 053 [10r], Life and miracles of St. Tekla Haymanot

Ethiopic MS 053 [10v], Life and miracles of St. Tekla Haymanot

This codex also contains this modern (20th-cent.) color print on page 10, with the stations of the cross and Jesus' Crucifixion, which was a later addition sewn onto the folio with thick thread (as shown here.) When and why would this image have been added?

St. Tekla Haymanot (1215-1313) was a venerated Abuna of the Ethiopian tradition who established the Debre Libanos monastery in the Shewa region of Ethiopia in 1284 CE.

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Gay Byron, Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity, Howard University, studied the Ethiopian Manuscript Collection as a Duke Humanities Unbounded Visiting Faculty Fellow in 2021-2022 and continues her research and publications in Ethiopic Manuscripts.

Brogan Hannon, Doctoral Student in the Religion Department, Duke University, assisted Gay Byron in researching the Ethiopic Manuscripts during the 2021-2023 Manuscript Migration Lab.