Illustrations: 39 miniatures. Fol. 1v: Four miniatures, each of equestrian saints with ornate border. Upper left one holding a spear; upper right, one slaying a bull; lower left, one holding a spear; and lower right, one holding a spear. Further miniatures on fol.s 2r (4), 2v (4), 26v (2), 43v (1), 60r (4), 60v(4), 67r (4), 91v (3), 120r (4), 120v (4), and 155r (1).

This Synaxarium (Senkessar) contains the collection of the lives of saints from the history of the Ethiopian Christian church and the lives of Ethiopian saints with the lectures to be read at their anniversaries, similar to a martyrology of the Roman church. This codex covers the second half of the year, from Mäggabit to Pagwemen (August to December). Every vita is followed by Salam stanzas (Ethiopian poetry). The beautiful miniatures in vibrant colors are executed in the so-called first and second Gondar style and are based on well-known representations from different stylistic periods. The first images of saints on horseback cite a 17th-century folded parchment leave from the Gondar region (cf. Heldman et al., African Zion: The Sacred Art of Ethiopia , 1996 no.103), the 8 miniatures at the beginning of the 8th quire are based on a codex for the Passion Week from the latter half of the 15th century (ibidem, no. 89). The same goes for the 8 miniatures at the end of the quire (Annunciation, Crucifixion, the Ethiopian Saint Gäbrä Mäfäs Qeddus) and the 8 images at the end of the 14th quire with miracles of the Virgin Mary (ibidem, no. 90). The image of Mary covering almost a whole page at the end of the codex and the portraits of the apostels cite similar representations in known older manuscripts (ibidem, no.11). The small ornamental drawings in black and red ink used as paragraph separators are a characteristic style called "Art of Säwa," developed in the Säwa region at the end of the 18th/beginning of the 19th century. This supports the estimated date of the codex: the text was probably written at the end of the 18th or beginning of the 19th century in the Gondär region and the miniatures were added at the same time.

Ornamental drawings in red and black ink are present in a few places to indicate paragraph breaks. They are in the style of the "Art of Säwa," which emerged in Säwar Province at the end of the 18th/beginning of the 19th century (cf. Chojnacki, Major Themes in Ethiopian Painting. Äthiopische Forschungen 10 (Wiesbaden 1983), pp. 469-524. (Description provided by Veronica Six, Hamburg.)

The codex was commissioned by Häbtä Kiros for himself and his wife Sergutä Sellase, the scribe's name is given as Henbaba Dengel.

Owner: Məhərka Giorgis, Sərgutä Səllasse, Häbtä Kiros.

Scribe: Hənbabe Dəngəl.

Purchase, Harteveld Livres Anciens.