The Gädla Krəstos Śämra (circa 1450–1508) describes the life and acts of a female saint of the Ethiopian church, Krəstos Śämra. This work is a little-studied example of the Gəˁəz hagiographic tradition. It reveals significant details about the literary characteristics of this genre including styles and formulaic depictions used as devices to address theological and ethical considerations from within the matrix of the monastic culture. These devices also serve to make the ascetic spirituality intelligible to the laity by establishing saints as exemplars worthy of emulation. As one of only a few hagiographies dedicated to an indigenous female saint, the Gädla Krəstos Śämra also offers rare insight into the role and depiction of women in medieval society and religiosity in Ethiopia. Of particular interest in this hagiography are unique narrative episodes including Krəstos Śämra’s murder of her maidservant, her fulfillment of her demand that she abandon her infant son, and her incredible journey to offer reconciliation and salvation to the devil himself.