Saint Abo of Tblisi

Biography

Saint Abo of Tblisi, also known as Abo of Tibileli, Abo of Tiflis, and Abo the Perfumer, was born in the 8th century in Baghdad, modern-day Iraq. Growing up, he was raised in the Islamic faith, but later in life, he became convinced of the truth of Christianity. However, due to Georgia being under Muslim rule at the time, openly converting to Christianity was a capital offense. As a young adult, Abo served as the perfumer to Nerses, the prince of Kartli, a region in eastern Georgia. In 782, for political reasons, Nerses and his court had to seek shelter in Khazaria, a region north of the Caspian Sea that was free from Muslim control. Abo, along with 300 other members of the court, accompanied the prince to Khazaria. During his time in Khazaria, Abo made the decision to embrace Christianity fully and was baptized there. After a few years, Nerses and his party were able to return to Tblisi in 786. Abo, who had lived as a "closet" Christian during their absence, decided to openly profess his faith upon their return. However, the consequences of his conversion were severe. In 786, Abo was exposed as a Christian and subsequently tried for apostasy for leaving Islam. Despite the risks, Abo fearlessly confessed his faith during his trial. As a result, he was imprisoned and ultimately martyred for his Christian beliefs. After Abo's execution, his body was burned on the edge of a cliff, and his bones were thrown off a bridge into the Kura River. The next day, a pillar of light was witnessed rising from the water by Abo's contemporary and biographer, John Sabanisidze, adding an element of miraculous significance to his martyrdom. Although no specific representation is known for Saint Abo of Tblisi, he is venerated and recognized as a saint within the Catholic Church. His feast day is celebrated on January 6th. While he remains patron-less, his story serves as an inspiration of courage and unwavering faith, particularly in the face of religious persecution. Although not officially canonized by the Catholic Church, Saint Abo of Tblisi is regarded as a saint and holds the honor of being recognized as such even before the formal establishment of the canonization process. His martyrdom and steadfast commitment to Christianity demonstrate his sanctity and devotion to the faith.