Holy Hieromartyr Abibus of Nekresi (VI)
Saint Abibus of Nekresi came to Georgia in the sixth century with the thirteen Syrian fathers. They had been blessed and sent by the all-holy Theotokos herself. In their Life it is written that they were “well-pleasing to God, lights of the world, chosen vessels full of sweet ointment, men of heaven and angels of earth, enlighteners of the world, the patterns, orders and unerring canons of the monastic life”, and among them Saint Abibus of Nekresi, “a spotless high priest, a goodly fruit, bringing gladness unto us and pouring out our fragrance upon us; a lamp burning on high, a luminary and enlightener of all that beheld him, offering without blemish the Body and Blood of Christ, who offered up himself also as a sacrifice unto Him by the hand of the lawless marzpan”.
The holy father at first lived with the Venerable John and the other brethren on the mountain of Zaden; then, with the blessing of Catholicos Eulavios and of John of Zedazeni, Saint Abibus went down to Nekresi and took up the labour of an apostle. For his grace-filled ministry Saint Abibus “was made… bishop, shepherd of Gaghma-Mkhari together with Didoeti. He converted the greater part of the mountaineers,” writes Vakhushti Bagrationi in the “Kartlis Tskhovreba”.
At that time the fire-worshipping Persians ruled in Georgia and used every means to spread their false religion. In many places they raised altars where fire burned unquenched. The Mazdeans performed their wicked rites with pomp and tried to bend the Georgians to them.
Saint Abibus of Nekresi went tirelessly through the villages and settlements of his diocese, preaching the truth to the Georgians and calling them to stand firm. Once the holy hierarch saw the magi forcing Georgians to bow down to the fire; unable to bear the wickedness any longer, he poured water on the fire and put it out. The enraged magi seized Saint Abibus, beat him cruelly and threw him, half dead, into prison. Then they reported the matter to the Persian marzpan, who was at that time in the village of Rekhi. The marzpan ordered Saint Abibus to be brought to him.
Saint Abibus was a friend of the wonderworker of the Black Mountain, the Venerable Father Symeon the Stylite (commemorated 1 September). The Venerable Symeon had been told by God of Saint Abibus’s coming martyrdom, and he sent the holy father a letter, a blessing and a staff. When Abibus reached the village of Ialdo, a messenger who had come from Antioch met him and handed over the Venerable Symeon’s gift.
The letter and the precious gift gladdened and strengthened the holy hierarch, who was ready for suffering. On the way Georgians met him and offered to set him free. Saint Abibus did not accept the offer.
The hieromartyr asked his tormentors to let him see Saint Shio of Mghvime. The Persians agreed. The holy fathers greeted one another and prayed together. Then the holy bishop asked the wonderworking hermit to pray for him. Saint Shio said to him: “I know, lord father, that thou hast utterly quenched that fire of theirs, in which those lawless ones trusted; but may the Lord grant thee to quench with ease that invisible fire also, which the devil hath kindled against thee for a trial… Know that the affliction they bring shall become unto thee glory that passeth not away, and this thine affliction shall be unto them a fall and a scattering…” The hieromartyr was taken to Rekhi.
The marzpan wrathfully asked the holy bishop, who stood before the tribunal: “Wherefore hast thou set at naught the authority of the king of kings and slain our god?” Saint Abibus answered calmly: “I know no sovereign save our Lord Jesus Christ; and that fire I quenched that I might dispel the delusion of the devil. And I beseech you, turn from that vain service and serve Him alone.” Angered by the bold reply, the marzpan asked again: “I ask thee wherefore thou hast slain our god, and thou wouldest lead us away to thy god?” The blessed Abibus again answered calmly: I have not killed a god, I have only put out a fire. Fire is not a god but a part of nature; fire comes from burning wood, and a little water put it out, because the water proved stronger and killed it. “Now I marvel at this madness of yours: how are ye not ashamed to call that a god whose whole life is but this?” The holy hierarch’s answer enraged the marzpan terribly, and he ordered him to be tortured.
The executioners tortured the blessed Abibus terribly, and at last “dashed out his brains with a stone”. His holy body was dragged outside the city and dishonourably cast out for beasts and birds to tear, and guards were set over it, so that none of the Christians should carry away the saint’s remains and bury them with honour.
By night the priests and monks of Rekhi came and with great honour buried the body of the holy hieromartyr in the monastery of Samtavisi. In the time of Stephanoz, eristavi of Kartli, the incorrupt relics of the holy hieromartyr were translated from Samtavisi to the Samtavro monastery at Mtskheta and laid to rest beneath the holy altar.
