Abraham Kidunaia
Abraham Kidunaia | |
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Oriental Orthodoxy | |
| Feast | July 29; October 24; October 29; December 14 |
Abraham Kidunaia (died c. 366) was a
Biography
The Vita of St. Abraham was written by his friend, St. Ephrem.[1]
Abraham was born to a wealthy family near Edessa, during the third century.[2] After receiving an excellent education, Abraham was encouraged to get married. He followed the wishes of his parents, but shortly before the wedding ceremony, he told his bride his desire to dedicate his life to God.[3] His bride accepted this resolution and Abraham retired to a cell near the city, where he walled up the cell door, leaving only a small window open for food to be brought him.
Ten years after he retreated from the world, his parents died, leaving Abraham a wealthy man.
Abraham worked among them for the three years, when fearing that he would begin to desire material possessions he returned to his cell near Edessa where he spent the next fifty years in prayer and penance.[5] He was known never to reprove anyone sharply but always with charity and gentleness.
Around the year 360 Abraham died at the age of seventy after a long life of service to God.[3]
Legend
A popular story recounts that his orphan niece Mary had been entrusted to his care. He built a cell near his own and trained her in learning and piety until she was twenty. At this point, seduced by a false monk, she ran away ashamed and went to Troad, where she wound up a prostitute. For two years he lamented her departure not knowing what happened. When he finally learned where she was, he boldly went and recovered her.
Veneration
The
See also
References
- ^ a b Butler, Alban. "St. Abraham, Hermit", The Lives of the Saints, Vol.III, 1866
- ^ Johnson, Elizabeth. "St. Abraham Kidunaia: the runaway groom", Faith magazine, Diocese of Lansing, Michigan, March 2010
- ^ a b "Abraham Kidunaia", Oxford Dictionary of Saints
- ^ "St. Abraham Kidunaia", Catholic Courier, Diocese of Rochester, March 9, 2008 Archived December 7, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Staley, Tony. "Left the altar for the desert", The Compass, Diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin, March 14, 2003
- ^ Martyrologium Romanum (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 88-209-7210-7). The date was formerly March 16.
External links
- The Life of Saint Abraham, Hermit, by S. Ephraem the Deacon
- Holweck, F. G. A Biographical Dictionary of the Saints. St. Louis, MO: B. Herder Book Co. 1924.
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