Who Was St. Yared?

Around 505 AD, St. Yared’s story began in Aksum, Ethiopia’s holy city of stone churches and bustling markets, where Christian faith thrived. Tradition says he was born to devout parents—his father, a scholar, and his mother, a prayerful woman—growing up with the rhythms of liturgy and the scent of incense. As a child, Yared was curious, often near St. Mary of Zion, captivated by priests chanting in Ge’ez. School was hard; he stumbled over letters and verses, unlike his quick-learning friends, but his heart was full of love for Christ, humming little tunes that would shape Ethiopia’s worship.

Tradition says life in Aksum was simple for Yared. His family wasn’t rich, and he helped with chores like fetching water or tending goats, learning humility. One day, tradition says, he sat by a well near St. Mary of Zion, watching a cantor practice hymns. Too shy to join, he prayed for courage, and a breeze seemed to encourage him, as if guided by God. This moment hinted at his future—music would be his path. From Aksum’s streets to its holy altars, Yared’s early years shaped a boy whose faith would grow, preparing him to sing for Christ in ways no one expected.