03 — The Return and the Open Confession
The baptized Abo returned with Nerse’s household to Tbilisi and, for about three years, lived openly and fearlessly as a Christian in the Arab-ruled city, despite knowing the penalty for apostasy. This section follows that open confession, his eventual arrest, the demand that he return to Islam, and his steadfast refusal.
Tradition: Georgian Orthodox
The two files of this section carry Abo from the safety of the north back into mortal danger, and to the threshold of martyrdom. The first treats the return to Tbilisi (c. 782) and the roughly three years in which Abo confessed Christ openly — attending the Church, encouraging the Christians, and not concealing that he, an Arab and a former Muslim, had become a Christian. The second treats his arrest, the emir’s demand that he recant and return to Islam, and his refusal, which set the martyrdom in motion.
Files
| File | Description |
|---|---|
| living-openly-as-a-christian.md | The return to Tbilisi c. 782 and the roughly three years of open, fearless Christian life despite the danger |
| arrest-and-the-demand-to-recant.md | The arrest; the demand that he return to Islam; his steadfast refusal |
See Also
- 02 — The Conversion — the baptism in the north that preceded the return
- 04 — The Martyrdom — the death to which the refusal led