Abai

Holy Martyr Abai was a martyr in Syria, killed in the time of the Persian king Shapur II.

He is a saint in the Syriac Orthodox Church, where he is commemorated on 1 October. He was killed by his father, Adorpirozgerd, who later became a Christian; he was killed together with five thousand other martyrs, among them his mother, Astina (Hwarta). He is mentioned in the legend of Saba Pirgushnasp, a child martyr, son of the governor of Beth Arabaye, killed also under Shapur II. The years of his life are approximately 335 to 385. He is not to be confused with the Syriac saint Abhai.