• Martyrdom of Saints Abadir and Irai his sister


Martyrdom of Saints Abadir and Irai his sister
On this day we commemorate the martyrdom of Saints Abadir and Irai his sister who were the children of Wasilides, the Prime Minister of Antioch.

Abadir was appointed in his father's position. He had a room

wherein he prayed and the Lord Jesus appeared to him in the middle of the night and told him: "Rise up, take your sister Irai and go to Egypt to receive the crown of martyrdom and I will instruct a man whose name is Samuel to take care of your bodies and prepare them for burial". The Lord blessed him and went up into heaven. This vision was seen by his sister also and she heard a voice saying: "Harken to your brother and do not transgress his command". When she woke up she trembled and she went to her brother and told him about the vision, declaring that she would not disobey him. They vowed to each other to go and shed their blood in the name of the Lord Jesus.

When their mother knew that she ripped her garments, she and her handmaidens, and they pleaded with Abadir not to become a martyr. He promised his mother that he would not go to Diocletian seeking martyrdom. Her heart was soothed, not knowing his intention of going to another place to become a martyr.

Every night he used to change his apparel and go disguised to give water to the prisoners all night, and he asked the door-keeper not to tell anyone.

After this he saw a vision to remind him of travelling. He took his sister and went to Alexandria, then they came to Cairo and they went to St. Abekragon who recognized them and blessed them. From there they went to Tomwah and then to El-Ashmunin where they met with Samuel the Deacon. The following day he went with them to Ansena, and they confessed the Lord Jesus before Arianus the Governor, who tortured them severely. Meanwhile, St. Abadir prayed and entreated God to strengthen his faith and the faith of his sister Irai.

The Lord took their souls and carried them up to the heavenly Jerusalem and they saw the eminent ranks of luminous habitations of the righteous; then he brought them back to their bodies.

The Governor adjured Abadir by his God to tell him his name and who he was. The saint replied: "Swear to me that you shall not change what you have decreed" and the Governor did. He said: "I am Abadir El-Esfehselar". The Governor cried out, saying: "Woe to me my Lord, why did you not let me know that you are my master and let me go so far as to condemn you to all these severe tortures?" The saint replied: "Fear not because you too are about to receive a crown of martyrdom because the Emperor will seek for me and will not find me, and he will hear that you have killed me. Then he will call you and torture you and you will die in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And now make haste to finish".

Straightaway the Governor ordered that their heads be cut off. The believers wrapped up their bodies in fine apparels and Samuel the Deacon took them to his house until the days of persecution were ended and a great church was built for them.

May their intercession be with us. Glory be to God forever. Amen.