Bishop and hermit, who faced the trials and upheavals of his era. Born in Emessa, Syria, Abraham entered a monastery in the city but was forced to flee to Constantinople, now Istanbul, Turkey, because of raids by local pagan brigands. In Constantinople, Abraham entered another monastery, and at the age of twenty-six became the abbot of a community in Kratia. He served in this post for a decade but then resigned and went to Palestine to become a hermit. Ordered back to Kratia by his bishop, Abraham succeeded his superior. He served as Kratia's bishop for thirteen years, but then retired and moved once more again to Palestine. Died: 588 Feastday: December 6.