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Abāmūn of Tarnūt (Saint)
4th Century
Coptic Church
Egypt
A fourth century martyr known only from the brief mention of him made by MĪKHĀ'ĪL, bishop of Atrīb and Malīj (c. 1240), in the Copto-Arabic SYNAXARION (feast day: 27 Abīb).
Tarnūt (with a nonemphatic initial T, contrary to the forms given by E. Amélineau, 1893, p. 493) is situated on the west branch of the Nile, where the road reaches it coming from Wādī al-Natrūn.
When Abāmūn was in Upper Egypt and saw how Christians were being martyred, he presented himself of his own free will to Arianus, govemor of ANTINOOPOLIS, who had him tortured (blows, stringing-up, iron combs, and nails in his body). He then sent him to Alexandria, where many Christians, inspired by his example, offered themselves for martyrdom, including a girl named Theophila, who railed against the governor and his idols. She was cast into the fire, which failed to harm her, and was then beheaded. As for Abāmūn, his limbs were cut off and he was beheaded.
Khalil Samir, S.J.
Note: The DACB uses the transliteration system of the Encyclopedia of Islam (2nd ed.), dropping the diacritical marks on the kha, dtaa, saad, and daad.
Bibliography:
Amélineau, E. La Géographie de I'Egypte à l' époque copte. Paris, 1893.
This article was reprinted, with permission from The Coptic Encyclopedia, vol. 1, copyright © 1991 by Macmillan, New York, U.S.A., edited by Aziz S. Atiya. All rights reserved.
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