ST. ABASKHIROUN OF QALIN

Synaxarium

Coptic Date: 7 Paone

Resource: 

https://sttekla.org/2020/06/st-abaskhiroun-the-soldier/ 

Story

On this day, the honorable St. Abaskhiroun, who was from the city of Qalin, was martyred. He was one of the soldiers of Arianus, governor of Ansena (Antinoe). When the Edict of Diocletian to worship the idols was issued, St. Abaskhiroun arose in the middle of the people present, exposed the infidelity of the Emperor, and cursed his idols. They seized him and shut him up in the prison, which was in the palace of the Governor, in Asyut. Five other soldiers agreed with him to shed their blood in the Name of Christ. Their names were: Alfius, Armanius, Arkias, Peter, and Cranius. When they came before the Governor, he cut off their girdles, tortured them, crucified some and cut off the heads of the others. As for St. Abaskhiroun, the Governor tortured him with different kinds of tortures, but the Lord comforted him, strengthened him, and healed his wounds. The Governor brought a sorcerer, whose name was Alexander. He gave St. Abaskhiroun some deadly poison, saying; 'O master of the powers of darkness, manifest in this christian your powers.' The Saint took the poison, made the sign of the cross over it, and drank it, but no harm came upon him. The sorcerer marveled, and he believed in the God of St. Abaskhiroun. The Governor cut off the head of the sorcerer, and he received the crown of martyrdom. The governor was furious and continued to torture Abaskhiroun mercilessly by blinding his eyes and even throwing him in a furnace. However, God did not leave the saint alone and even sent Archangel Michael to comfort him. Archangel Michael drew his wings over Abaskiroun’s eyes and healed him. He tortured him extensively, then he was ordered to cut off his head, and he received the crown of martyrdom.
In Abaskhiron's hometown of Qallin (in the north of Egypt), the believers had a tradition where they celebrated group weddings for their sons and daughters. While they were together celebrating their weddings in St. Abaskhiron's Church in Qallin, some evildoers surrounded the church planning to kill everyone inside. The congregation asked for the intercession of St. Abaskhiron, who miraculously transported the entire church with its people, a tree and the well to another village called Biho (in the south of Egypt), which is where the church exists today.
May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.