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Saint Onuphrius of Gabrovo

Monk, deacon and martyr
Gabrovo, Mount Athos and Chios
Feast day: January 4; June 17 (Sofia source title)

Photographic composite of a fresco of Onuphrius of Gabrovo at left and the Gabrovo church at right.
Photographic composite of a fresco of Onuphrius of Gabrovo at left and the Gabrovo church at right. Image source: Sofia Metropolitanate

A life of faith

Onuphrius was born in Gabrovo and was baptized Matthew. The received life remembers his early monastic name as Manasses and his time at Hilandar on Mount Athos, where he became a deacon. He later received the Great Schema with the name Onuphrius. He traveled to Chios and was killed there in 1818 after publicly professing his Christian faith.

The Eastern Orthodox Church remembers saints in prayer and commemoration. Their lives offer examples for Christians learning to live their faith.

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