Abraham (Copt)
Encyclopedia
Abraham is an abbot
and saint
of the Coptic Church. His feast day in the calendar of saints
of the Coptic Church is February 12.
He was born in Farshut, near the modern city of Hiww. His parents, who were Christians and locally important figures, died when Abraham was twelve. The next year, Abraham tried unsuccessfully to persuade his sister to retain her virginity
.
Thereafter, Abraham left to join the monastery of Pachomius
. This monastery was at the time under the direction of Pshintbahse. There Abraham devoted himself to trying to achieve the monastic ideals.
Abraham was elected abbot of the monastery on the death of Pshintbahse. Shortly thereafter, Justinian I
requested that Abraham be brought to Constantinople
, in an attempt to bring those monks who still rejected the decision of the Council of Chalcedon
into communion with the greater church. The exact time of this event is unknown, but it is believed to have been between 535 and 548. Abraham chose to bring with him four monks. Upon arrival, Justianian summoned them and informed them that they would either accept the decision of the Council or lose their positions. Abraham refused to entertain the idea.
Theodora
tried to persuade Justinian to change his mind, seemingly to no avail. Abraham himself stated in a letter to his monks that he preferred to remain in exile rather than subscribe to a faith contrary to that of Athanasius. Abraham did return to Egypt, however, possibly due to persusasion from Theodora.
Upon Abraham's return to Pbow, he found a number of the monks were themselves disputing whether to accept the decision of the Council. Those who agreed to do so eventually won out, partially with the support of the imperial envoy, Pancharis.
After being forced out of Pbow, Abraham set up a new monastery at Farshut with two other monks from Pbow. The number of monks grew, however, making it necessary for the buildings to be expanded. He also founded a convent
of nuns at roughly the same time.
Late in life, Abraham received a vision in which Pachomius, Petronius, and Shenouda the Archimandrite appeared to him, informing him of his upcoming death and the name of his successor, Theophilus of Farshut.
Some people have suggested that this Abraham might be identical to the Abraham of Scetes
commemorated in the same calendar on January 4.
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
and saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
of the Coptic Church. His feast day in the calendar of saints
Calendar of saints
The calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the feast day of said saint...
of the Coptic Church is February 12.
He was born in Farshut, near the modern city of Hiww. His parents, who were Christians and locally important figures, died when Abraham was twelve. The next year, Abraham tried unsuccessfully to persuade his sister to retain her virginity
Virginity
Virginity refers to the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. There are cultural and religious traditions which place special value and significance on this state, especially in the case of unmarried females, associated with notions of personal purity, honor and worth...
.
Thereafter, Abraham left to join the monastery of Pachomius
Pachomius
Saint Pakhom , also known as Pachome and Pakhomius , is generally recognized as the founder of Christian cenobitic monasticism. In the Coptic churches his feast day is celebrated on May 9...
. This monastery was at the time under the direction of Pshintbahse. There Abraham devoted himself to trying to achieve the monastic ideals.
Abraham was elected abbot of the monastery on the death of Pshintbahse. Shortly thereafter, Justinian I
Justinian I
Justinian I ; , ; 483– 13 or 14 November 565), commonly known as Justinian the Great, was Byzantine Emperor from 527 to 565. During his reign, Justinian sought to revive the Empire's greatness and reconquer the lost western half of the classical Roman Empire.One of the most important figures of...
requested that Abraham be brought to Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, in an attempt to bring those monks who still rejected the decision of the Council of Chalcedon
Council of Chalcedon
The Council of Chalcedon was a church council held from 8 October to 1 November, 451 AD, at Chalcedon , on the Asian side of the Bosporus. The council marked a significant turning point in the Christological debates that led to the separation of the church of the Eastern Roman Empire in the 5th...
into communion with the greater church. The exact time of this event is unknown, but it is believed to have been between 535 and 548. Abraham chose to bring with him four monks. Upon arrival, Justianian summoned them and informed them that they would either accept the decision of the Council or lose their positions. Abraham refused to entertain the idea.
Theodora
Theodora (6th century)
Theodora , was empress of the Roman Empire and the wife of Emperor Justinian I. Like her husband, she is a saint in the Orthodox Church, commemorated on November 14...
tried to persuade Justinian to change his mind, seemingly to no avail. Abraham himself stated in a letter to his monks that he preferred to remain in exile rather than subscribe to a faith contrary to that of Athanasius. Abraham did return to Egypt, however, possibly due to persusasion from Theodora.
Upon Abraham's return to Pbow, he found a number of the monks were themselves disputing whether to accept the decision of the Council. Those who agreed to do so eventually won out, partially with the support of the imperial envoy, Pancharis.
After being forced out of Pbow, Abraham set up a new monastery at Farshut with two other monks from Pbow. The number of monks grew, however, making it necessary for the buildings to be expanded. He also founded a convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
of nuns at roughly the same time.
Late in life, Abraham received a vision in which Pachomius, Petronius, and Shenouda the Archimandrite appeared to him, informing him of his upcoming death and the name of his successor, Theophilus of Farshut.
Some people have suggested that this Abraham might be identical to the Abraham of Scetes
Abraham of Scetes
Abraham of Scetes was a monk who became a saint of the Coptic Church.He was born the son of a wealthy landowner in Egypt, and became a monk under Saint Jonas. He had a vision of Christ riding the chariot of the Cherubim. He died after eighteen years of suffering from an illness at Djirdjeh. His...
commemorated in the same calendar on January 4.
Further reading
- Atiya, Aziz S. The Coptic EncyclopediaThe Coptic EncyclopediaThe Coptic Encyclopedia is an eight-volume work covering the history, theology, language, art, architecture, archeology and hagiography of Coptic Egypt. The encyclopedia was written by over 250 Western and Egyptian contributing experts in the field of Coptology, history, art and theology and was...
. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1991. ISBN 0-02-897025-X - Holweck, F. G. A Biographical Dictionary of the Saints. St. Louis, MO: B. Herder Book Co. 1924.