Monastic Life and Miracles

St. Takla Haymanot loved praying to Christ with great effort! After training with monks like Iyesus Moa, he went to a desert in Showa, tradition says called Geda, building a small rock cell to stay close to God. Some say he prayed day and night, making many bowings—maybe even 7,000 nightly! He stood so long, tradition says for seven or 29 years, that his right leg broke off from the strain. Takla kept praying on one leg with a staff, showing his love for Christ, depicted in EOTC art.

His faith made him joyful, even when it was hard. Tradition says Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and Archangel Michael appeared through Christ’s grace, promising him a place with the saints. Monks admired him, and some say a relic of his prayer is kept at Debre Libanos, a holy place he founded, per The Churches of Ethiopia. For kids, Takla’s story, taught in Sunday school, shows loving Christ with all your heart makes you strong.