An Investigation of the Ancient Manuscript of Ratu~A HaYmanot as a Source of Historical, Religious and Cultural Events
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Date
2007-03
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Addis Ababa Universiy
Abstract
This thesis concerns the study of the ancient manuscript, " R:}(ufa Haymanot." The reason
why this manuscript is selected is that it consists of immense collections of annual
homilies attributed to Ratu\'a Haymanot (the writer), Aksumite Bishops, and foreign
Archbishops and to an unknown writer. The other reason that led to this study is the fact
that the manuscript of Retuahaymanot has not been critically studied as there is no
published work or thesis on it. The focus of the study is on both forms and contents of the
MSRHT the manuscript ofTana Qirqos (MSRHT) and theillanuscript ofHayq Estifiinos
(MSRI-IH). The researcher formulated a hypothesis that the manuscript of Ratufa
Haymanot could be a very rich source of historical, religious and cultural events.
The method used for the study is a comparative method where the two manuscripts were
compared for their similarities and differences between them. Regarding similarities, the
entire homilies of both manuscripts deal with similar concepts and show punctuations,
numbers and graphic marks. Concerning their differences, each manuscript has
independent characteristics. The manuscript of Tana Qirqos is different from modem
Geez texts and its accusative and genitive structures are ambiguous.
The MSRHH, on the other hand, preserves the ancient forms of Geez orthography and
caihgraphy. Regarding the s ite o{ quotations, bOlL m3l~ยท~scr .. pts use the same style. The
quotation mark of the MSRI-IH is a star (*) while that in the MSRHT is an inverted
coma (l). The placement of the punctuations of the MSRHH is found inside the columns
and at the left margins. Numbers differ from recent Geez writings since they show no
bars on top and bottom of numbers while modem writings use bars. There are sound
changes in nouns and adjectives in both MSRHT and MSRHH.
The content 311alys is deals with historical, religious and cultural events. The historical
events cover the history of famous persons such as Meropius, Ella Amida, Ezana, Abba
Salama, Constantine the Great, Queen Helena, Mark the evangelist, St.Mary and
Abraham. In the religious study, the Biblical words, phrases sentences, and paragraphs
are studied with metaphorical and literal explanations. Many express ions that refer to
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theo logical questions have been given logical explanations. For example, the question,
"Why was Christ crowned with thorn?" is explained in terms of the fact that the thorn
symbo lizes the cursing of the earth and that the earth becomes new and its fruit blessed.
The other explanation refers to why Christ was born in a manger. The writer of MSRH
says that Chri st was born in the wilderness in order to teach us never to seek honor and
high statu s, never to worship idols, but to know God. The explanation for the question
why Chri st washed the feet of His disciples is explained according to the MSRH, with
refercnce to the power of the disc iples to go and preach the Gospel without fatigue.
Ethiorian cultural features are reflected in several parts of the homily which re late to
weekly and annual holidays. The celebrations are classified into God's and Saint's
hol idays To cclebrate God 's holiday is a supernatural law that eyery human being should
observe, and the ceremonial feasts of the Saints are considered as implements of moral
virtu e.
The study shows that the manuscript ofR:>tu!'ii Haymanot is a great source of historic a i,
relig ious and cultural values.
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Keywords
Manuscript of Ratu~A HaYmanot