Yemrehana Krestos

Yemrehana Krestos ( by Francisco Álvares referred to as "Abraham" ) was 1039-1079 Negus Nagast ( Emperor ) of Ethiopia and a member of the Zagwe Dynasty. Taddesse Tamrat reports that he was the son of Germa Seyum, the brother of Tatadim. The Italian scholar Carlo Conti Rossini, however, published in 1902 a document was consequently Yemrehana Krestos the successor Na'akueto La'abs, followed the Yetbarak on the throne.

According to the description Taddesse Tamrats, he had a close and trusting relationship with a priest, more than any other king of Ethiopia. He is said to have insisted to lead the country, according to the apostolic canon.

Yemrehana Krestos was the first hewn stone church building in Ethiopia. These bears his name and is about 19 kilometers northwest of Lalibela. In his Prester John of the Indies Alvares left a description of the church at the beginning of the 16th century. Taddesse suggests that the construction of this church in connection with the visit of an Ethiopian delegation was the Caliph Saladin in 1173. It is on record that this brought about a letter and many gifts to the caliph. In the Gadla Yemrehana Krestos there is a paragraph that describes how it Yemrehana Krestos managed to get the door palace of the Caliph for his church. A list of various other rock churches that are attributed to this king, found in Paul B. Henze's book.

Alvares held the tradition that Yemrehana Krestos established the tradition to hold rival on the imperial throne on Amba Geshen.