A fourth-century martyr known only from the brief mention of him made by Mikhail, bishop of Atrib and Malij (c. 1240), in the Copto-Arabic Synaxarion (feast day: 27 Abib). Tarnut (with a nonemphatic initial T, contrary to the forms given by E. Amélineau, 1893, p. 493) is situated on the west branch of the Nile, where the road reaches it coming from Wadi al-Natrun. When Abamun was in Upper Egypt and saw how Christians were being martyred, he presented himself of his own free will to Arianus, governor of Antinoopolis, who had him tortured (blows, stringing-up, iron combs, and nails in his body). He then sent him to Alexandria, where many Christians, inspired by his example, offered themselves for martyrdom, including a girl named Theophila, who railed against the governor and his idols. She was cast into the fire, which failed to harm her, and was then beheaded. As for Abamun, his limbs were cut off and he was beheaded.


Amélineau, E. La Géographie de l'Egypte à l’époque copte. Paris, 1893.