A Hymn of Praise to

  St. Abanoub the martyr   

1-    Hail to a Great Martyr:                    Perfect, pure, and wise:

       Unto him is due honor:                       Hail to Saint Abanoub.

2-    He was born in Naheesa:                    From Mary ti-agia:

       And his father was Makara:               Hail to Saint Abanoub.

3-    And after he was twelve                    They went to heaven above:
And left him with Christ’s love:          Hail to Saint Abanoub.

4-    He went to the church of the righteous:   For the Holy Mysteries:

       With virtue and meekness:                 Hail to Saint Abanoub.

5-    In the sermon, the priest mentioned:   The deeds of Diocletian:

       And his persecution:                          Hail to Saint Abanoub.

6-    So the saint went and sold:                All his comforts, money and gold:

       From the poor he did not withhold:     Hail to Saint Abanoub.

7-    The saint prayed to the Lord:            To see the Roman governor:

       For a martyr’s honor:                        Hail to Saint Abanoub.

8-    To him appeared an angel:                  Sent by Emmanuel:

       And promised a crown of martyrs:     Hail to Saint Abanoub.

9-    Lashes the governor ordered:             Four times on his body:

       And his innards were revealed:          Hail to Saint Abanoub.

10-  He was healed by the angel:               From the governor delivered:

       He quickly rose strengthened:            Hail to Saint Abanoub.

11-   The governor was angry:                    And imprisoned him instantly:

       With other Christians unjustly:          Hail to Saint Abanoub.

12-  He encouraged all the prisoners:        To become believers:

       They said, “We are Christ’s people!    Hail to Saint Abanoub.

13-  The governor gathered them:             And massacred them all:

       Thousands he caused to fall:              Hail to Saint Abanoub.

14-  And he hung Abanoub:                       On the high mast of his ship:

       They headed to Attrib:                     Hail to Saint Abanoub.

15-  The saint’s nose and mouth bled:         But the angel cared for him:

       And removed his restraints:               Hail to Saint Abanoub.

16-  The governor was in fright:                 And his soldiers lost their sight:

       They believed on Christ the Light:       Hail to Saint Abanoub.

17-  They proclaimed their new faith:        So the Lord blessed their way:

       Through the prayers of their saint:    Hail to Saint Abanoub.

18-  They confessed Christ to all:            The True God, to Him they call:

       With Him they could not fall:            Hail to Saint Abanoub.

19-  The governor was enraged:              From their amazing faith:

       He killed them in his rage:                 Hail to Saint Abanoub.

20-  He summoned the holy saint:            To the midst of the rulers:

       His faith they could not taint:            Hail to Saint Abanoub.

21-  They ordered his torture:                Hot irons on the youngster:

       They burned his members:                Hail to Saint Abanoub.

22-  Jesus came and healed him:              And saved from the irons his limbs:

       The saint’s faith would not dim           Hail to Saint Abanoub.

23-And they cut off his legs:                    And also severed his hands:

       To end his final stand:                       Hail to Saint Abanoub

24-  He was healed by the angel:               And from the governor delivered:

       He quickly rose strengthened:            Hail to Saint Abanoub.

25-  After severe tortures:                      And many bitter cruel deeds:

       He gained the crown of martyrs:        Hail to Saint Abanoub.

       In the tune of Qen `vran

The mention of Your name is on the mouths:       Of the believers:
Everyone proclaims:  O God of Abanoub, help us all!