Abibus of Edessa

Abibus of Edessa (

Oriental Orthodox Churches.^[2]

Biography

Early life

Abibus was born in Edessa (modern-day

crown of martyrdom against their will and what respect will one have in our faith if one does not accept it willingly? Death is before man wherever he goes, such is the fate of all children of adam." Not wanting any Christian or non-Christian to have had to endure any suffering due to his search warrant, Abibus complied with the decree and appeared in front of his executioners: "I am Habib of Edessa, the one whom you are inquiring for."^[4]

Torture and discourse with the Governor

During his multiple days of torture, Abibus was subjected to the scourging and combing of five men. When threatened with more gruesome torture by the governor, the saint is quoted as saying: "As a tree that is watered bears fruit, so is my spirit strengthened by torment", frustrated by his powerless efforts, the Governor replied: "Does your faith teach you to hate your own body?", to which Abibus replied: "We do not hate this material body, but we rejoice in the spiritual reality; the suffering of this present time is not worth comparing with the glory that awaits those who embrace Christ."^[5] The governor mockingly replied: "Is this suffering you endure glorious?" Abibus responded: "It is not for you to ask questions, for your unbelief is not worthy to hear the answers to them, as the Scripture teaches us: do not cast that which is holy to dogs, nor pearls before swine."

Execution, burial and hagiographical tradition

Abibus was sentenced to be

burned at the stake.^[6] When walking up to the stake, his mother was forced to walk beside him, dressed in all-white as if going to a feast day. He blessed the crowd before him, to which the crowd responded: "Pray for us in the presence of the Lord!" After this exchange, the martyr entered the fire on his own accords.^[5]

day of their Martyrdom

After the flames were extinguished, his body was found undamaged by his mother and relatives. According to the

Habib-i Neccar Mosque.^[7] Alongside Gurias and Samonas, he is venerated as one of the "avengers of unfulfilled contracts" and a patron saint of firefighters

.

In Euphemia and the Goth

Russian mural depicting the story of Euphemia and the Goth with the relics

of Abibus, Gurias and Samonas in the center

Brief summary

Euphemia and the Goth is a

billeted with a widow named Sophia, whose only daughter, Euphemia, he wishes to marry. Sophia takes him to the tomb of the Confessor Habib, where she makes him promise to protect Euphemia.^[8]

The Goth takes Euphemia to his home only to have her enslaved to his Gothic wife. The Goth tells her to do with the baby as she wishes. Euphemia's infant is then killed by the jealous wife, who put poison in its food. When Euphemia does the same to her, she is shut in the tomb of the wife, but after praying for the intercession of Habib, she miraculously wakes up back next to tomb of Habib and returns to her mother Sophia in Edessa.

The Goth sometime later returns to Edessa and is confronted by Euphemia and Sophia. Both make an

bishop of Edessa Eulogius intervened, the Stratelates of Edessa has the Goth beheaded.^[9]

Feast and other traditions

Feast day

Abibus' individual

christian calendars

, Abibus of Edessa usually has an individual feast-day.

Traditions

In

wedding present or is present at weddings, because the martyr is considered to be the protector of contracts, agreements and pacts for complying with the Emperor's Decree, this is believed to include virtuous and chaste marriages, as well as prenuptial agreements

.

References

^ "Lives of the Saints". www.holy-transfiguration.org. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
^ ^a ^b "Holy Martyrs and Confessors Gurias, Samonas, and Habibus, of Edessa". www.oca.org. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
^ Bishop Grigorios of Mesaoria. "Memory of Holy Martyrs and Confessors Gurias, Samonas, and Abibus of Edessa", Orthodox Times, November 15, 2019
^ Holy Martyrs and Confessors Gurias, Samonas and Abibus, of Edessa Retrieved on 20 Feb 2018
^ ^a ^b Holy Martyrs GURIA, SHAMUNA, and HABIB of Edessa (November 15), retrieved 2023-09-14
^ Monks of Ramsgate. "Abibus". Book of Saints, 1921. CatholicSaints.Info. 2 September 2016 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^ Antiochene (2013-03-29). "Habib-i Neccar and Sham'un". Antiochene. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
^ Gorgias Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Syriac Heritage website
^ The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity website
^ Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἄβιβος ὁ Μάρτυρας ὁ νέος. 2 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.]

Sources

Holweck, F. G. A Biographical Dictionary of the Saints. St. Louis, MO: B. Herder Book Co. 1924.

External links

http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/90209

[1] "Lives of the Saints". www.holy-transfiguration.org. Retrieved 2023-09-14.

[:1-2] "Holy Martyrs and Confessors Gurias, Samonas, and Habibus, of Edessa". www.oca.org. Retrieved 2023-09-14.

[3] Bishop Grigorios of Mesaoria. "Memory of Holy Martyrs and Confessors Gurias, Samonas, and Abibus of Edessa", Orthodox Times, November 15, 2019

[orthodoxy-4] Holy Martyrs and Confessors Gurias, Samonas and Abibus, of Edessa Retrieved on 20 Feb 2018

[:0-5] Holy Martyrs GURIA, SHAMUNA, and HABIB of Edessa (November 15), retrieved 2023-09-14

[6] Monks of Ramsgate. "Abibus". Book of Saints, 1921. CatholicSaints.Info. 2 September 2016 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[7] Antiochene (2013-03-29). "Habib-i Neccar and Sham'un". Antiochene. Retrieved 2023-09-15.

[8] Gorgias Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Syriac Heritage website

[9] The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity website

[10] Great Synaxaristes: (Greek) Ὁ Ἅγιος Ἄβιβος ὁ Μάρτυρας ὁ νέος. 2 Δεκεμβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ.]

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