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Born wealthy near Edessa, Syria. Forced into an arranged marriage at an
early age. During the wedding festivities, Abraham fled. He walled himself
up in a nearby building, leaving a small hole through which his family
could send in food and water, and by which he could explain his desire for
a religious life. His family relented, the marriage was called off, and he
spent the next ten years in his cell.
After a decade of this life, the bishop of Edessa ordered him from his
cell. Against Abraham's wishes, the bishop ordained him, and sent him as a
missionary priest to the intransigently pagan village of Beth-Kiduna. He
built a church, smashed idols, suffered abuse and violence, set a good
example, and succeeded in converting. the entire village. After a year, he
prayed that God would send the village a better pastor than he, and he
returned to his cell. It is from his success in Kiduna that he became
known as Kidunaia.
He left the cell only twice more. Once a niece, Saint Mary of Edessa, was
living a wild and misspent life. Abraham disguised himself as a soldier,
which he knew would get her attention, and went to her home. Over supper
he convinced her of the error of her ways; she converted and changed her
life, and he returned to his cell. His final trip out was his funeral,
attended by a large, loving throng of mourners. His biography was written
by his friend Saint Ephrem.
Born
c.296 at Edessa, Mesopotamia
Died
c.366 of natural causes
Canonized
Pre-Congregation
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