Saint Abo

Also known as: Abo of Tblisi
Abo of Tibileli
Memorial: 8 January
Profile: Grew up Muslim. Perfumer to Nerses, the prince of Kartli, a region of eastern Georgia. As a young adult he became convinced of the truth of Christianity, but was afraid to convert openly as Georgia was under Muslim rule. For political reasons, his prince had to seek shelter in Khazaria north of the Caspian Sea, an area free of Muslim control; Abo and 300 other members of the court accompanied him, and Abo was baptized there. The prince and his party returned to Tblisi in 782, and for a few years Abo lived quietly as a "closet" Christian. However, in 786 he was exposed as a Christian, and tried for being a renegade from Islam. He confessed his faith at trial, was imprisoned, and martyred.
Born: 8th century at Baghdad, Iraq
Died: beheaded 6 January 786 at Tblisi, Georgia; his body was burned on the edge of cliff, and his bones thrown off a bridge into the Kura River; his biographer, a contemporary named John Sabanisidze, swears a pillar of light was seen rising from the water the next day
Canonized: Pre-Congregation
Additional Information: Life of Abo [russian]
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