The book is considered to be one of the most important and popular books of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and is widely used by the faithful for personal devotion and communal worship. The book is also a rich source of Ethiopian culture, history, and theology, as it reflects the beliefs, values, and traditions of the Ethiopian people.
The book is divided into 18 chapters, each containing a different theme and style of prayer and hymn. Some of the chapters are:
Chapter 1: The Praise of Saint Michael, which describes his attributes, virtues, and roles as the leader of the heavenly hosts, the defender of the church, and the intercessor for the souls.
Chapter 2: The Supplication to Saint Michael, which asks for his mercy, protection, guidance, and blessings in various situations and needs.
Chapter 3: The Intercession to Saint Michael, which requests his intervention and advocacy for various groups of people, such as the sick, the poor, the oppressed, the sinners, and the departed.
Chapter 4: The Miracle of Saint Michael, which narrates how he saved a young man from being killed by a lion.
Chapter 5: The Story of Saint Michael and the Dragon, which tells how he defeated a dragon that was terrorizing a city.
Chapter 6: The Story of Saint Michael and the Emperor Constantine, which recounts how he appeared to the emperor in a dream and instructed him to build a church in his honor.
Chapter 7: The Story of Saint Michael and the King of Ethiopia, which relates how he helped the king to win a battle against his enemies.
Chapter 8: The Story of Saint Michael and the Queen of Sheba, which reveals how he guided the queen to visit King Solomon and learn from his wisdom.
Chapter 9: The Story of Saint Michael and the Prophet Elijah, which explains how he assisted the prophet in his ministry and ascension.
Chapter 10: The Story of Saint Michael and the Virgin Mary, which illustrates how he announced to her that she would conceive and bear the Son of God.
Chapter 11: The Story of Saint Michael and Jesus Christ, which demonstrates how he served and worshiped him throughout his life, death, resurrection, and ascension.
Chapter 12: The Story of Saint Michael and the Apostles, which shows how he supported and inspired them in their mission and martyrdom.
Chapter 13: The Story of Saint Michael and Saint George, which depicts how he accompanied and encouraged him in his combat with a dragon.
Chapter 14: The Story of Saint Michael and Saint Tekle Haymanot, which describes how he blessed and healed him from his wounds.
Chapter 15: The Story of Saint Michael and Abba Samuel of Waldebba, which reports how he visited and conversed with him in his monastery.
Chapter 16: The Story of Saint Michael and Abba Estifanos of Gwendagwende, which details how he appeared and spoke to him in his cave.
Chapter 17: The Story of Saint Michael and Abba Gebre Menfes Kidus, which chronicles how he instructed and empowered him to perform miracles.
Chapter 18: The Conclusion of Dersane Michael, which summarizes the main themes and messages of the book and invites the readers to praise and honor Saint Michael.
The book is available in PDF format in both Ge'ez and Amharic languages. You can download it from these links or listen to it on SoundCloud .
We hope that this article has given you some insight into the book of Dersane Michael and its significance for the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the Ethiopian people. May Saint Michael bless you and protect you always. Amen.
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