(ABOUT A.D. 390.)
[Greek Menæa. Authority:--The Philotheus of Theodoret, c. 17.]
Abraham was a native of Cyrus in Syria, and a monk, who, moved by
desire to spread the kingdom of God, visited the Lebanon in the
quality of a merchant buying nuts. And whilst there he collected the
Christians into his hut, and together they recited the divine office
in a low tone. But when the heathen heard the subdued strains of
music, they supposed that they were engaged in incantations, and
assembled about the house, then climbed upon the roof, broke it, and
poured down dust and sand upon those within, to choke and bury them.
However some of the elders of the village interfered, and the
half-stifled Christians were drawn out of the house, and bidden to
depart. After this the taxgatherers of the Emperor came round, and the
people being hardly able to pay, Abraham went to Emesa and begged the
money, and then, returning, paid the tax for the whole village,
thereby completely conciliating the barbarous people, who at once
insisted on his remaining among them, and teaching them the way of
God. He accordingly sought priest's orders, and became their pastor
for three years, till he was elected Bishop of Charan. In his new
position he remained a monk, living on lettuces and water, and never
using a bed for rest, nor fire for warmth. Every night he chanted
forty hymns, interspersed with prayer, and slept seated in his chair.
The Emperor Theodosius visited him, having heard of his fame, and
found him a poor old man in a country smock, unable to speak a word of
Greek.