A collection focusing on the birth of Mary to Saints Joachim and Anna, celebrating her predestination before the foundation of the world.
Below is a translation of selected praises from the Wudase Mariam. (Note: This is a representative excerpt, not the full 42 sections.)
Section 1: Opening Praise "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. For you have borne the Savior of our souls. O Mary, the golden censer, the dawn of the true light, we magnify you."
A Hymn of Intercession (Section 12)
"O my Lady, the Holy Theotokos, I take refuge in your protection. Do not despise my prayer, but hear me and save me. For you are the mother of the True Light, and I, a sinner, bow before you. Deliver me from the fire of Gehenna, and make me worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven. By your holy intercession, O Mary, ark of the covenant, pray for us."
Praise of Her Virtues (Section 27)
"You are the garden enclosed, the sealed fountain. You are the vine that bore the grape of eternal life. You are the fleece of Gideon, wet with the dew of the Spirit. Rejoice, O Tabernacle of the Most High. Rejoice, O Palace of the King of Kings. Rejoice, O Land of Promise flowing with milk and honey."
A Prayer for Protection (Section 40)
"Cover me with the shadow of your mercy, O Mary. Be a wall of fire around me and my family. Drive away evil spirits and evil dreams. Let no harm come near my dwelling. For you crush the head of the serpent, as the Archangel Gabriel proclaimed."
Prayer for Forgiveness and Mercy
To be recited after the praises:
"O Mother of God, do not remember my sins. I have sinned against heaven and before you. But you are the mercy-seat of the world. Stretch out your holy hands to your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and say to Him: 'My Son, for the sake of the milk you nursed from me, forgive this sinner.' He will not refuse you, for He honors you above all creation. Amen. Let it be to me according to your word."
Closing Doxology
"Praise be to the Father, who chose you. Praise be to the Son, who dwelt in you. Praise be to the Holy Spirit, who overshadowed you. One God, forever and ever. Amen."
Q: Is the Wudase Mariam considered Scripture? A: No. It is a liturgical and devotional text, like the Psalms are canonical but the Wudase Mariam is not part of the biblical canon. However, it is deeply revered.
Q: Can a Catholic or Protestant read the Wudase Mariam? A: Yes. While it is specifically Orthodox Tewahedo, Roman Catholics (especially those who pray the Rosary) will find it spiritually enriching. Protestants who honor Mary as “blessed among women” may also appreciate it, though they should understand its high devotional style. wudase mariam in english pdf
Q: Is there an audio version to accompany the PDF? A: Yes. Search YouTube for “Wudase Mariam English audio.” Many diasporan priests have recorded readings. Listen alongside your English PDF to learn pronunciation of key Ge’ez exclamations like “O Sakota!” (O Pure One!).
Q: How long does it take to recite one day’s section? A: Approximately 20-30 minutes if reading slowly and prayerfully.
A word of caution: not all PDFs are created equal. Several problems plague online versions:
"In the West, the rosary is a circle. In Ethiopia, the Wudase Mariam is a ladder. Composed over 700 years ago, this collection of 7 gates and 33 prayers (one for each year of Christ’s life) does not simply praise Mary—it constructs a vertical universe. To read it is not to learn theology; it is to ascend through seven heavens by the sound of Geez syllables. This PDF is not a translation. It is a map of that ascent."
Here is the content for a document titled "Wudase Mariam: The Praise of Mary in Ethiopian Tradition" , formatted for a PDF. You can copy this text into a word processor (Word, Google Docs) and save as PDF. A collection focusing on the birth of Mary
Document Title: Wudase Mariam – An Introduction & English Translation Subtitle: The Liturgy of Praise to the Virgin Mary in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
A traditional Wudase Mariam consists of three primary sections, each divided into liturgical readings known as Anaphora or Me’raf (hours), similar to the Psalms of David. There are 31 sections – one for each day of the month.