The Ethiopian saint Samuel of Waldebba riding a lion while carrying a hand cross and a prayer staff.

St Samuel of Waldǝbbā on a deep purple background hits hard 🦁

Ethiopia, 19th c. #saint #samuel #waldebba #lion #ethiopiansaint #africansaint #africanart

Saint Takla Haymanot wearing a monastic habit and praying with uplifted hands. He has six winds: two green, two red, and two blue.

St Takla Hāymānot (ተክለ፡ ሃይማኖት፡), the "Plant of the Faith" 🌱, the Saint with Wings!

Did you know that the Ethiopian saint Takla Hāymānot is also venerated in the Coptic Orthodox Church?

Ethiopia, 18th–19th c. (?) #saint #taklahaymanot #africansaint #africanart

Saint Gabra Manfas Qiddus, dressed in white and holding a hand cross, is sitting in what looks like a red rooster. The bird is identified in a caption in Classical Ethiopic as "Lightning and Thunder". In the background, a blue sky with white clouds is visible.

St Gabra Manfas Qǝddus riding on a lightning bolt (መብረቅ፡) ⚡️

Ethiopia, 20th c. (?) #saint #gabramanfasqeddus #lightning #birds #weatherphenomena #africansaint #africanart

Ethiopian depiction of an Ethiopian abbot from the sixteenth century. He is shown holding a cross and a flywhisk in one hand and an open book in the other.

St Hābta Śəllāse (ሃብተ፡ ሥላሴ፡, "Gift of the Trinity"), a 16th-century abbot of the venerable Monastery of Gunda Gunde… which means that this illumination may have been painted by someone who knew him! 😍

Ethiopia, 16th c. #saint #habtasellase #africansaint #africanart

Manuscript illustration of King Lalibela dressed in light blue and purple, carrying a scepter and wearing a golden crown. On his right and left side, servants holding swords and fly whisks are standing. Above them, there is a braided decorative board.

King-Saint Lalibela (ላሊበላ፡) reigned in northern Ethiopia and Eritrea in the 12th–13th centuries. He is best remembered as a church-builder 👷‍♂️

Ethiopia, 20th c. #lalibela #saint #africansaint #africanking #africanart

Ethiopian depiction of the Ethiopian saint Gabra Heywat, meaning "Servant of the Life". He is shown naked but covered with his own white hair, with a stone in a rope around his neck, and lions and leopards lying at his feet.

St Gabra Ḥǝywat in prayer 🔥

Ethiopia, 18th–19th c. (?) #saint #gabraheywat #gabramanfasqeddus #prayer #lion #bird #africansaint #africanart

Ethiopian depiction of two of the most beloved Ethiopian saints: Tekle Haymanot and Gebre Menfes Qiddus. The former is standing on the left and is portrayed with wings and one leg. At his feet, his disciple, who collected the leg when it fell off due to the saint’s asceticism, is lying. On the left, Saint Gebre Menfes Qiddus is standing clothed only in his own hair and with two lions and two panthers at his feet. Both saints are shown praying with uplifted arms.

The Ethiopian saint squad at your service! 🫡

St Takla Hāymānot (ተክለ፡ ሃይማኖት፡, "The Plant of Faith") 🌱 and St Gabra Manfas Qəddus (ገብረ፡ መንፈስ፡ ቅዱስ፡, "The Servant of the Holy Spirit") 🕊️

Ethiopia, 17th c. (?) #saint #taklahaymanot #gabramanfasqeddus #africansaint #africanart

Examples from the 18th–19th and the 16th c.

#lion #africanlion #mural #africansaint #africanart

"You walk two blocks in that direction, then you turn to the right by the gas station…"

Ethiopia, 18th c. #angel #guide #directions #taklahaymanot #africansaint #africanart

St Takla Hāymānot the Exorcist

Ethiopia, 18th c. #saint #taklahaymanot #exorcist #demons #exorcism #africansaint #africanart

Two Ethiopian saints: Abba Ṣǝḥmā and Abuna ʾAkāla Krǝstos!

Also, why don't more people have snake beards? 🐍

Ethiopia, 19th c. #abbasehma #akalakrestos #africansaint #snakebeard #africanart