What's included
The courseware currently comprises three sequential lessons and a printable reference, taking a complete beginner from the shapes of the script to reading an entire prayer in Ge'ez (ግዕዝ).
Who made this
The Open Sacred Languages Courseware was developed and published by Abyssinian Orthodox University as part of its Open Education program.
Credits
Author / Instructor: His Eminence Abuna Frumentius, Th.D., D.D. — Metropolitan Archbishop, Caribbean Archdiocese of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church; President and Chancellor, Abyssinian Orthodox University.
Liturgical advisor: Abba Yared, an Ethiopian Orthodox monk trained in Classical Geʼez and the Tewahedo liturgy at Debre Damo Monastery.
Published by: Abyssinian Orthodox University, Open Education program, 2026.
A note on the romanization: there is no single standard for writing Ge'ez in the Latin alphabet; this series uses a common scholarly system and treats it as a pronunciation aid. Where sacred texts are quoted, they follow the usage of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.
How it's licensed
Unless otherwise noted, every part of this courseware — lessons, charts, and downloadable files — is released under one open license, so you may use and build upon it freely:
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. You are free to share (copy and redistribute in any medium or format) and adapt (remix, transform, and build upon the material) for any purpose, even commercially — provided you give appropriate credit, link to the license, and indicate if changes were made.
In practical terms, these are the freedoms the license guarantees — the "5 Rs" of open educational resources:
How to cite
When you use or adapt this material, please credit it. The simplest correct attribution names the title, the author/source, the link, and the license:
Replace each highlighted field with the correct details. If you translate a lesson into another language, that translation is an adaptation — please note it as above and keep the original attribution.
Contributions & contact
We welcome corrections, translations, and collaborations from educators, clergy, and learners. To suggest an improvement, contribute a resource, or propose a partnership, contact the Open Education office at Openedu@AbyssinianOrthodox.university.
"Knowledge kept open is knowledge kept alive."