SAINT ABADIR AND IRAJA

 

Saints Abadir and Iraja/Ter and Erai

By Edward Matulanya 

Saints Abadir and Iraja (also known as Ter and Erai) are venerated as martyrs in both the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church. Their feast day is commemorated on September 25 in the Gregorian calendar and October 8 in the Julian calendar.

Historical Context and Martyrdom of Saints Abadir and Iraja

According to tradition, Abadir and Iraja were siblings and the children of the sister of Basilides, who is referred to as "the father of kings." The siblings fled from Antioch to Alexandria to escape persecution. There, they were arrested and brought to Antinoe (modern-day Sohag, Egypt), where they were beheaded along with Cluthus, a physician and priest, and an additional 3,685 companions. These companions included several priests and martyrs, such as Apa Paphnutius of Tentyra, Apa Isaac of Tiphre, and Simeon of Thou, among others .

Veneration and Legacy of Saints Abadir and Iraja

The Passion of Abadir and Iraja exists in both Sahidic and Bohairic Coptic texts, with fragments preserved in the National Library of Vienna, the National Library of Paris, and the Vatican Library . Their martyrdom is commemorated in the Copto-Arabic Synaxarion, a liturgical text that records the lives of saints.

In Asyut, Egypt, a church was dedicated to them, reflecting their significance in local Christian tradition . Their story serves as a testament to the early Christian community's resilience and commitment to faith amidst persecution.

References

Odden, P. E. (2008, June 4). De hellige Abadir og Iraja av Antinoë og deres 3.685 ledsagere. Den katolske kirke. Retrieved from https://www.den-katolske-kirke.no/saint/abadir-og-iraja

Orlandi, T. (1991). Ter and Erai, Saints. Claremont Coptic Encyclopedia. Claremont: Claremont Colleges.

Holweck, F. G. (1924). A Biographical Dictionary of the Saints. St. Louis, MO: B. Herder Book Co.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

FAITH OF ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

Image
Image of Catholic Church at Vatican By Edward Matulanya Here are Meaning, believe, founder, sacraments, teaching source, Morals, source of faith, History and key teaching of Roman Catholic Church. 1. Meaning of Roman Catholic Church  The Roman Catholic Church means the universal Christian community under the leadership of the Bishop of Rome (the Pope). 2. Understand the Core Beliefs of the Roman Catholic Faith The Roman Catholic Church belief in one God in three persons ; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], 1997, §234; Matt. 28:19). Catholics hold that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, whose incarnation, death, and resurrection bring salvation to humanity (CCC, 1997, §§461–463; John 1:14). 2. Founder of Roman Catholic Church  The Church, founded by Christ on the apostles with the pope as Peter’s successor, is “the universal sacrament of salvation” (CCC, 1997, §774; Matt. 16:18–19). Salvation is a gift of grace received through faith ...
Read more

TWELVE APOSTLES OF JESUS

Image
  Jesus Christ with twelve apostles at last feast By Edward Matulanya Here are twelve apostles chosen by Jesus, celebration of Eucharist, their mission, their succession, their liturgical Celebration a summary of their lives.  The Catholic Church teaches that Jesus personally chose and appointed the Twelve to share in His mission and to lay the foundation of the Church. Twelve apostles chosen by Jesus  Jesus called his disciples, and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles (Luke 6:13, NABRE). They were to be with Him, to preach, and to have authority to drive out demons (Mark 3:13-19). Celebration of Eucharist At the Last Supper He conferred on them a share in His priesthood and the command to celebrate the Eucharist (Luke 22:19–20; Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], 1994/2019, §§859–860). Catholics hold that this apostolic ministry continues through apostolic succession, with bishops as the successors of the apostles (CCC §§861–862). The Role of Jesus’ Ap...
Read more

SAINT JOSEPH OF CUPERTINO

Image
Saint Joseph of Cupertino  By Edward Matulanya Early life of Saint Joseph of Cupertino St. Joseph of Cupertino was born June 17, 1603, in Cupertino, Apulia (southern Italy). Orphaned before birth and raised in poverty, he struggled with learning and was considered slow by his peers. After repeated rejections from religious communities, he was eventually accepted as a servant by the Conventual Franciscans and later admitted as a friar. Vocational life of Saint Joseph of Cupertino  Despite his lack of education, Joseph was ordained a priest in 1628 after a providentially simple examination. He became famous for extraordinary mystical phenomena, especially levitation during ecstatic prayer. These events attracted large crowds and even the attention of the Inquisition, though he was never condemned. Because the public excitement disrupted community life, Joseph spent much of his later years in seclusion, devoted to humility and prayer. He died on September 18, 1663, in Osimo, Ital...
Read more