Abraham of Bulgaria
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Saint Abraham of Bulgaria | |
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.jpg) Saint Abraham of Bulgaria | |
| Died | April 1, 1229 Bulgar |
| Venerated in | Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Feast | March 9 and April 1 |
Abraham of Bulgaria (Russian: Авраамий Болгарский; died April 1, 1229) was a Christian convert from Islam later made a martyr and saint of the Russian Orthodox Church.
He was born in Volga Bulgaria, amongst the Muslim Volga Bulgars in what is now Tatarstan, Russia. He grew to become an Islamic merchant, and was good and kindly towards the destitute.[1] He later converted to Christianity. Muslims persistently persuaded him to renounce Christ, but Abraham was unshakable in his faith and was truncated by the sword (quarted) for his conversion by his compatriots on 1 April c. 1229 at the Volga bank. The saint was buried by Russian merchants in the Christian cemetery in Bulgar (the capital of Volga Bulgaria). Grand prince of Vladimir Georgy Vsevolodovich ordered the transfer of the body of Abraham to Vladimir.[2]
Soon, according to the chronicle testimony, the city of Bulgar (Bolgar) was burnt as a punishment "for the blood of the martyr of Christ". On the spot of execution of Abraham of Bulgaria a healing spring appeared. A local legend says that the first person to be healed by this source was a man of the Mohammedan religion. [3]
His relics are venerated at Vladimir on the Klyazma. Laurentian Chronicle contains the registry about this event that took place on 9 March 1230.
His feast day is celebrated on March 9, the translation of relics, and is also commemorated on April 1.
References
- ^ "Martyr Abraham of Bulgaria", Orthodox Church in America
- ^ АВРААМИЙ [АВРАМИЙ БОЛГАРСКИЙ (in Russian)] Retrieved on 28 Feb 2018
- ^ Святой источник (Saint spring) Retrieved on 28 Feb 2018
External sources
- Holweck, F. G. A Biographical Dictionary of the Saints. St. Louis, MO: B. Herder Book Co. 1924.
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