St. Pachomius Library: Gurias, Shamuna (Samonas), Habib (Abibus)

Sts. Gurias, Samonas, and Abibus the Deacon

(Syriac GURYA, SHAMUNA, and HABIB)
III/IV Centuries
The martyr Gurya was an ascetic at Edessa, and nothing is known of his life before his arrest during the persecutions of Diocletian. He and his friend, Shamuna, were, according to St. Jacob of Serugh, old men at the time of their martyrdom. The pair are said to have endured three days of torture, including having been hung upside down, before Musonius, the procurator of Antioch, ordered them beheaded. The fellow ascetics were buried together.
Deacon Habib, a martyr under Licinius, is said to have been buried in their tomb and is honored with them.
Karen Rae Keck

Catholic Patron Saints Index:

Mar Guria: --- Syriac Computing Institute
Holy Martyrs and Confessors Gurias, Samonas and Abibus, of Edessa --- St. John, DC
Martyrdom of Habib the Deacon One of the last martyrs before the Edict of Toleration. Pratten translation from Syriac, 1871. --- SPL
St. Jacob of Serugh: Homily on Guria and Shamuna: --- NA
St. Jacob of Serugh: Homily on Habib the Martyr: Compares Habib, who was burned at the stake, to the Three Young Men; compares his turning himself in to the authorities to Jesus's actions in Gethsemane. He is like incense purifying the air from the foul incense of paganism. There is a long and moving account of his mother's emotions on witnessing her son's "wedding" to martyrdom. --- NA
St. Symeon Metaphrastes: Menologium, November 15: Gurias, Samonas, et Abibus, MM. PG 116:127.
- Martyrdom of the Holy Confessors Shamuna, Guria, and Habib: --- NA

3
Return to St Pachomius Library.