Saint Abibus of Edessa

Abibus of Edessa (Syriac: ܚܒܝܒ ܐܘܪܗܝܐ, romanized: Ḥabbīḇ Ōrhāyā; Greek: Άβιβος της Εδέσσης; Church Slavonic: абиб от едеса; Arabic: حبيب الرهانيا, romanized: Ḥabīb al-rhanīyya; c. AD 307–322), also known as Abibus the New, Habib the Deacon or Saint Habibus the Martyr, was a 4th-century Syrian Christian deacon, confessor and martyr, who according to the Martyrdom of Habib the Deacon, was executed at Edessa by immolation under Roman Emperor Licinius. He is venerated as a saint by the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches. Abibus was born in Edessa (modern-day Urfa, Turkey), in the Roman province of Osroene, in about AD 307 to Christian parents and worked as a tradesman during his early years. He was ordained a deacon at age 14, which was considered a legal adult in classical antiquity. The Emperor made a decree to have Abibus arrested for his preaching and spreading of Christianity. Due to the large jewish and pagan support he received, Abibus was quoted as having said: "If I remain in secret, others will be forced to receive the crown of martyrdom against their will and what respect will one have in our faith if one does not accept it willingly? Death is before man wherever he goes, such is the fate of all children of adam." Not wanting any Christian or non-Christian to have had to endure any suffering due to his search warrant, Abibus complied with the decree and appeared in front of his executioners: "I am Habib of Edessa, the one whom you are inquiring for." During his multiple days of torture, Abibus was subjected to the scourging and combing of five men.