The Departure of Abba Abraam, Companion of Abba Gawarga

On this day the blessed St . Abraam departed . His father was a pious man, merciful and kind to thepoor . Because of his piety and good nature, he was entrusted to look after the treasury of hisvillage, as well as that of the neighboring villages . When Egypt suffered a famine, he gave all hehad to the needy .174As for St . Abraam's mother, she lived in the fear of God and Satan envied her, and provoked anevil man against her . As a result, he accused her to the Persians who captured and took her toPersia . During her captivity, one night she saw in a vision, one who told her; "you shall return toyour country ." Shortly thereafter, the vision was fulfilled and she returned to her country, Egypt,safely .After her husband's death, she wanted her son, Abraam, to be married, but he refused and told herof his desire for monastic life, and she rejoiced . As she bid him farewell at the outskirts of the city,she lifted up her arms toward heaven and prayed saying, "Please Lord, accept him from me as anoffering ."St . Abraam went to the wilderness of Sheheet (Scetis), where he became a monk and a disciple ofSt . Yoannis, the Archpriest of the wilderness .Abba Abraam led an extremely harsh monastic life, exerting himself with long fasts and manyworships . One day, St . Abraam saw the roof of his cell opened and the Lord Jesus came down,riding a heavenly chariot, and the Cherubim were praising Him . Abba Abraam knelt down in greatfear and the Lord blessed him . Then the Lord Christ ascended to heaven . A sign remained in theroof of his cell as a commemoration of this visitation . His cell was near the cell of his spiritualfather Abba Yoannis, which is known by "Babgeeh" . An angel of the Lord used to visit AbbaAbraam from time to time to comfort him .One day he went to Mount Orion where he met with St . Gawarga . St . Gawarga came back withAnba Abraam to the wilderness of Sheheet and stayed with Abba Abraam until the day of theirdeparture .After the departure of Abba Yoannis to heaven, Abba Abraam became ill for 18 years . When thetime of his departure drew near, Abba Abraam received the Holy Mysteries . Anba Yoannisappeared to him in the spirit and told him that the Lord Christ had prepared for him a heavenlybanquet . Abba Abraam departed in peace at the age of 80 .His prayers be with us and Glory be to our Lord forever . Amen .