Abraham of Kratia

Who was Abraham of Kratia?

Abraham of Kratia was a Christian monk from Syria. He is recognized as a saint in the Christian church, with a feast day of December 6.

He was born at Emesa in Syria. The community there was dispersed shortly later by nomadic raiders. Abraham himself fled to Constantinople. When he was only twenty-six years old, he was made the abbot of the monastery of Kratia in Bithynia. Some ten years later, he secretly left for Palestine seeking a quieter life. He was subsequently made to return to his monastery, where he also was shortly thereafter made the local bishop of Kratia. About 525 he again left for Palestine, and remained there for the rest of his life, living a life of religious contemplation. He died on December 6, which would later be his feast day, in a year after 543.