Saint Abraham, Bishop of Caria

Commemorated on February 14

Saint Abraham, Bishop of Caria, lived during the mid-IV and early V Centuries, and was born in the city of Cyr. In his youth he entered a monastery. Later he chose as the place for his ascetic deeds Mount Lebanon, where he lived as an hermit. The Monk Abraham suffered much vexation from the pagans, who wanted to expel him from their area. Besides this, the impoverished inhabitants of the nearest village constantly came to him for hand-outs, disrupting his solitude, but the monk patiently endured their visits and gave them everything, which had been offered him. The Christian inhabitants of this village built a church and they fervently besought Saint Abraham to accept the priesthood and become their pastor. The monk fulfilled their wish. Having encouraged his flock in the faith, he left them in place of himself another priest, and he again retired to a monastery. For his deep piety he was made bishop of Caria; his pastors the saint constantly taught by his God-pleasing life. From the time of his accepting of the priesthood, he never used cooked food. The emperor Theodosius the Younger wanted to meet the bishop and made him an invitation. Having arrived in Constantinople, Saint Abraham soon died. His remains were solemnly transferred to the city of Caria and there given over to burial.