Hawarya Krestos belonged to the higher clergy (
Liqawant) in the court of the Gondarine rulers and to the royal counsellors. As such, he held the title of
Azzaz. Towards the end of the reign of Emperor
Yohannes I, Hawarya Krestos was also granted the title of
Tsehafi Taezaz and would author the Emperor's Chronicles. He also documented the church councils summoned by Emperor
Yohannes I to resolve the doctrinal differences between the theological parties of Qabat and Tewahedo.
Yohannes I died on 19 July 1682 and Iyasu ascended the throne, with the
serag masare Malkea Krestos putting the crown on his head. The
Tsehafi Taezaz's (Hawarya Krestos and
Walda Haymanot) sent sealed letters to various countries to announce the death of
Yohannes I, and that the reign of his son
Iyasu I has begun. On 19 January 1694, during the ceremony of
Epiphany, Hawarya Krestos who was well versed in the art of church poetry, had the honour to improvise
Qene (of the
Mawaddes type) for
Iyasu I. == Notes==