Saint Yared
Saint Yared is the legendary 6th-century Ethiopian saint who founded the liturgical music tradition of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Born in Axum, Yared was a slow learner as a child who often ran away from his studies. One day, inspired by watching a caterpillar persistently climb a stalk after repeated falls, he returned to his studies with renewed dedication. He was later taken to Heaven where three Holy Spirits taught him the arts of vocal performance, composition, and poetry. He created the five-note scale system (zema) and composed the Deggua (hymn book), inventing musical nota