In Orthodoxy there are not so few holy martyrs and miracle workers, revered by believers and the church itself. Much is known about the life and deeds of some, and extremely little is known about the circumstances under which others grew up and came to the adoption of Christianity.
One of these saints, whose circumstances of life is not known too much, is Abraham the Bulgarian. Reviews of the miraculous resolution of life problems after prayer at his icon prompt many people to pilgrimage to the relics.
Who is this man?
Very little information has been preserved about the childhood and adolescence of the saint. Everything that is known about him is drawn from the Laurentian Chronicle, named after one of the monks who composed it. It dates from about the XIV century and is currently stored in one of the libraries of St. Petersburg.
Abraham of Bulgaria - the miracle worker and the holy Russian Orthodox Church, according to this annals, was not a Slav. The chronicler describes this person as speaking a different, not Russian language. Presumably, the saint was a Bulgarin. How else do they call this people - Volga or Kama Bulgarians. These are the ethnic ancestors of the Bashkirs, Chuvashs, Tatars and other peoples.
The place and date of death of the saint are known for certain. This man died at the beginning of the XIII century, on the first of April. This happened in 1229 in the town of Bulgar, that is, on the territory of the Volga Bulgaria.
What did he do during his lifetime?
St. Avraamy of Bulgaria, according to the annals, was a very wealthy man, even rich. He was engaged in trade, that is, he was a merchant. Judging by the mention in the annals that Abraham traded practically throughout the Volga region, things were clearly going well with him.
He conducted trade with representatives of the Russian merchants. Presumably, it was thanks to such business connections and relations that the future saint not only learned the Russian language, but also became interested in the Christian worldview.
Was he always a Christian?
Abraham Bulgarian was not brought up in the Christian tradition. Presumably, this man grew up within an Islamic culture. It is likely that under the influence of communication with representatives of the Russian merchants, the future saint not only learned about the basic tenets of Christianity, but also accepted it.
Of course, speaking of the influence of the Orthodox merchants on the worldview of the future saint, one should not understand it as pressure. Merchants of all nationalities, including Russian merchants, at all times were distinguished by tolerance and calmly conducted business with Gentiles. Most likely, the worldview of Christians was closer to the state of mind and corresponded to the personal qualities of the future saint than the religion in which he grew up.
What distinguished this person?
Avraamy of Bulgaria did not look like his one-man. According to the annals, he was full of compassion and was distinguished by meekness of temper. The mercy of the future saint to other people was not limited to kind words or prayer for them. As our contemporaries would say, Abraham was actively involved in charity work. This man supported those who were less fortunate in life than he, not only with kind words, but also with deeds.
Based on this, it becomes clear for what internal reasons the future saint was sincerely drawn to Christianity. Mercy, caring for others, helping the poor and heartfelt kindness are integral parts of the Christian worldview, however, like so much more.
What did he do afterwards?
About how Abraham the Bulgarian lived after the adoption of Christianity, not much is known for certain. This man did not leave his studies and continued to conduct successful trading throughout the Volga. However, after the sacrament of baptism, Abraham not only did business, that is, traded, but also conducted active missionary work, preached, talked about Jesus and Christianity in general.
When exactly the future saint was touched by the grace of God and he was baptized, it is not known for certain. However, this man received his name Abraham just after the adoption of the Christian faith. Unfortunately, the name by which the future saint was named at birth is not mentioned in chronicles.
How did this man die?
Continuing to engage in commercial affairs after the adoption of holy baptism, Avraamy of Bulgaria, of course, was at home more than once, and was not only on the road. Of course, like any wealthy man, he owned the land, was the owner of the estate.
Much more is known about the death of the future saint than about his life. And the point is not that Abraham accepted a martyr's death. Witnesses of his death and all that preceded it were merchants, merchants from Murom. It was Murom who bought the body of the future saint and buried it according to Christian custom.
The future saint in the Great Bulgars died. In those days, this city was the capital, and it hosted major trade fairs - the "aga bazaars." Traders from all over the place gathered there, presenting their goods and, as they say now, concluding deals.
Of course, the future saint, who actively preached the ideas of Christianity and was engaged in missionary affairs, could not miss the opportunity to tell about the Lord, because the bazaar gathered a large number of different people. Moreover, Abraham did not think that anything should be feared, because he was on his native land.
Speaking to a crowd of people with a sermon, the future saint Abraham of Bulgaria faced not only a lack of understanding on the part of his compatriots, but also rejection, as well as overt aggression. From time immemorial, people have tried to change the worldview of their neighbors, which did not correspond to their own views, feelings or beliefs. The victim of this type of behavior was the future saint.
At first, of course, he was persuaded. Of course, the purpose of persuasion was to renounce the Lord, to return to religion, in the framework of which Abraham grew and was brought up. But, faced with the firmness of faith, and it is quite possible that with a new, more private sermon, people began to threaten him. These threats, according to the testimonies of the Murom merchants, did not relate to the health and life of the future saint. They promised to seize property from him, to take away the land and the house.
Threats had no effect, moreover, the future martyr Abraham the Bulgarian, probably in the heat of feelings, recklessly declared that he would not regret not only his property, but also his own life for believing in the Lord. Most likely, such a statement became a kind of catalyst, an impetus for splashing aggression. They began to beat the saint. They beat him so that not a single area was left on his body without damage, even all the bones were broken.
Despite such serious injuries, life remained in the saint's body. Then the tormentors, having beaten their one-man, threw him bleeding into the prison cell. But even on the verge of death, suffering bodily intolerably, Abraham did not deny the Lord. In those moments when the future saint was conscious, he praised the name of Christ and exhorted the guards to accept the true faith by preaching to them.
Of course, such resilience did not arouse understanding among the tormentors. On the first day of April, Abraham was taken out of town to the old well, and executed. The execution was also difficult. Limbs were gradually cut off to the martyr - they started with the hands, then the forearm line came up. Thus he was deprived of arms and then legs. But even drowning in his own blood, Abraham praised the name of the Lord and begged him to forgive the executioners. Tired of bullying, the tormentors cut off the future saint's head.
Murom merchants, who witnessed both the unsuccessful sermon on the market square and the painful execution, buried the martyr. Abraham was buried on a special graveyard for local Christians, and soon miracles began to work near his grave, rumors of which quickly spread not only in Bulgaria, but also in the Russian principalities.
When did they start to read it?
When exactly the veneration of this saint began, it is impossible to say. Probably during the first year, as soon as miracles taking place near the grave were noticed.
At the time of the death of the martyr, the Bulgars fought with the Russian principalities. This war was rather sluggish and lasted for six whole years. There were practically no military operations, there were separate "demonstrative" battles and many local minor skirmishes that ended in robberies.
At reign in Vladimir in 1230 was George Vsevolodovich. It was to him that an embassy from the Volga region arrived with a request for peace. The prince agreed, but in return demanded the transfer from the lands of the “wicked” relics of the Christian martyr. They were transferred to Vladimir, in one of the monasteries. Probably, this transfer can be considered the beginning of the veneration of the saint by the Orthodox Church, although at that time the temple of Abraham of Bulgaria or at least the chapel were not built. But the relics in the thirteenth century were revered as miraculous.
How does this saint help?
Believers come to him with various requests. Of course, there are certain traditions that have evolved over centuries over the kind of prayers that Abrahamius of Bulgaria hears. How does this saint help? Of course, in the first place, in the conduct of commercial affairs.
The merchants considered the martyr to be their patron even before the invasion of the Mongol-Tatar hordes, and it is still customary among devout businessmen to pray before making any deals or purchasing goods to this saint. That is, Abraham patronizes entrepreneurs, people who have any relation to trade - shop owners, sellers, administrators.
However, the good power of the saint is not limited to this. From time immemorial it has been commanded to pray for help, being in distress. The saint helps to improve material affairs, to find prosperity, own shelter and stable prosperity.
In addition, they come to the image of Abraham with prayers for the healing of sick children, granting them success in learning and vitality. The archives of the Orthodox Church have preserved written evidence of miraculous healings both during the worship of the relics and during prayer before the image of the holy martyr.
When does the church recall the saint?
Akathist Abraham Bulgarian is served on the day of his death, that is, the first of April. The readings mention his short life, tells of martyrdom and deed in the name of the Lord.
Particular attention is paid to this saint in the churches of Vladimir, Kazan and the town of Bolgar, which ceased to be a village only in the 90s of the last century. It is located on the site of the ancient Volga capital, in which he accepted his martyrdom as a saint. It is also believed that the ancient city of Bulgars is not only the place of the death of Abraham, but also its native land.
Besides the fact that the akathist Abraham of Bulgaria is recited on the first day of April, the saint is venerated in the churches of Kazan, Vladimir and Bulgar for the next week.
Are there any special icons?
Miraculously, to which the faithful from all corners of Rus came to bow, an icon was found containing interspersed relics of the saint.
This image has a difficult fate. On the day when the church of St. Abraham of Bulgaria opened its doors for parishioners in a village on the site of the ancient Bulgars, Theognostus, bishop of Vladimir, presented him with an icon with relics. This event happened back in 1878.
Subsequently, in 1892, the ministers of the church from the Bulgarians appealed to the higher clergy with a request to transfer from Vladimir an old wood carcass in order to adequately present the miraculous image to believers. The petition was granted, and starting in May of that year, the icon was in constant access for worship in cancer.
However, when the image was created, how the relics appeared in it is unknown. The only thing that is known about this icon is that it was unusually old, but the colors shone like new.
Unfortunately, in the post-revolutionary years, the miraculous icon was lost. Her fate is still unknown.
How to pray for prosperity?
Praying to the patron saint of those involved in commercial affairs is necessary sincerely and with pure thoughts. He does not patronize the thirst for profit. During his lifetime, he spent his income on good deeds, supported the poor and helped everyone who needed it to get on their feet.
Accordingly, he should pray with good intentions, and not with the desire to simply cash in, get rich:
“Holy Martyr, Abraham! I appeal to you for help and in the hope of your protection in my affairs and worldly concerns. Do not leave, saint, my prayer, hear and grant prosperity to my house, prosperity and success in your endeavors. Not for money-grubbing and without stinginess in my heart, with open thoughts and good goals, I ask for your help. Bless and save, protect and help, Saint Abraham. Amen".
How to ask for the gift of health?
You need to pray for healing, believing in your own words. It is not holy relics that work miracles, and not spoken words, but a person’s faith in the power of the Lord.
“Abraham, the holy martyr of the Lord! I beg you to save my child (name) from the sorrows and pains. I pray to bestow the health and joy with which children are filled. Do not leave, saint, in an hour of calamity, dashing trials. Help to overpower the burden of excessive, to overcome the evil ailment. Intercede for us before the Lord, begged to send health. Amen".