Abraham Kidunia
Also known as Abraham Kidunaia
Born near Edessa, Mesopotamia;
Died Edessa, Mesopotamia, 366;
Feast day: March 16
feast day on the Byzantine Calendar is October 29. Abraham's surnamed "Kidunaia" derives from the name of his parish at Beth-Kiduna. He was born into a wealthy family near Edessa. Although Saint Abraham felt called to the religious life, he bowed to the wishes of his parents to marry. Immediately after the wedding feast, which led up to the ceremony, he informed his bride of his vocation, and fled from a life of privilege and a promising marriage to live as a hermit in the nearby desert. His friends, who searched for him for 17 days, found him in his cell at prayer. He begged them to leave him there. When they agreed, he walled up the door to his cell, except for a small window through which he could receive the food needed for sustenance.
He spent his whole time in adoring and praising God, and tearfully imploring his mercy. He sole earthly possessions consisted of a cloak, a piece of sackcloth which he wore, and a little vessel out of which he both ate and drank. He lived alone in this penitential state for fifty years, daily drawing renewed vigor from them and growing in wisdom. Eventually he attracted many who sought his spiritual guidance. Ten years after he had retired to the desert, his parents died leaving him their great estates. Abraham commissioned a virtuous friend to distribute the revenues to the poor.
At the entreaty of his bishop, Abraham was ordained a priest and appointed as a missionary preacher to Beth-Kiduna, a pagan hold- out. After enduring ill-treatment at the hands of the towns inhabitants, he succeeded in completely converting them to Christianity through his prayers, tears, and patient endurance after three years. He was always afraid of getting too involved in the world, so after a year of instructing the neophytes and ensuring they were supplied with priests and other ministers, he went back to his cell.
A popular cultus sprang up immediately upon his death. His life was written by Saint Ephrem, who was his personal friend and admirer. The episodes connected with his niece Saint Mary are now considered spurious
Also known as Abraham Kidunaia
Born near Edessa, Mesopotamia;
Died Edessa, Mesopotamia, 366;
Feast day: March 16
feast day on the Byzantine Calendar is October 29. Abraham's surnamed "Kidunaia" derives from the name of his parish at Beth-Kiduna. He was born into a wealthy family near Edessa. Although Saint Abraham felt called to the religious life, he bowed to the wishes of his parents to marry. Immediately after the wedding feast, which led up to the ceremony, he informed his bride of his vocation, and fled from a life of privilege and a promising marriage to live as a hermit in the nearby desert. His friends, who searched for him for 17 days, found him in his cell at prayer. He begged them to leave him there. When they agreed, he walled up the door to his cell, except for a small window through which he could receive the food needed for sustenance.
He spent his whole time in adoring and praising God, and tearfully imploring his mercy. He sole earthly possessions consisted of a cloak, a piece of sackcloth which he wore, and a little vessel out of which he both ate and drank. He lived alone in this penitential state for fifty years, daily drawing renewed vigor from them and growing in wisdom. Eventually he attracted many who sought his spiritual guidance. Ten years after he had retired to the desert, his parents died leaving him their great estates. Abraham commissioned a virtuous friend to distribute the revenues to the poor.
At the entreaty of his bishop, Abraham was ordained a priest and appointed as a missionary preacher to Beth-Kiduna, a pagan hold- out. After enduring ill-treatment at the hands of the towns inhabitants, he succeeded in completely converting them to Christianity through his prayers, tears, and patient endurance after three years. He was always afraid of getting too involved in the world, so after a year of instructing the neophytes and ensuring they were supplied with priests and other ministers, he went back to his cell.
A popular cultus sprang up immediately upon his death. His life was written by Saint Ephrem, who was his personal friend and admirer. The episodes connected with his niece Saint Mary are now considered spurious
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