Synaxarium - Book of Saints (Sənkəssar)

The Synaxarium, known in Ge'ez as the Sənkəssar, serves as the comprehensive "Book of Saints" for the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, chronologically detailing the lives, martyrdoms, and miracles of holy figures. Structured according to the Ethiopian calendar, it contains specific entries for every day of the year, ensuring that saints are commemorated on the exact anniversary of their repose or major miracles. While originally based on the Coptic Synaxarium, the Ethiopian version was extensively expanded to include a vast number of local Ethiopian saints, righteous kings, and monks, distinguishing it as a unique repository of national religious history. Liturgically, the relevant entry is read aloud during the daily service (usually after the reading of the Acts of the Apostles), serving to instruct the faithful in virtue and invoke the intercession of the commemorated saints. The text acts as a living testament to the continuity of the Holy Spirit's power, demonstrating that holiness is accessible in every generation. Ultimately, the Sənkəssar functions as a spiritual bridge, daily uniting the congregation on earth with the "cloud of witnesses" in heaven.