Abel the Patriarch
- 23 January
- 9 December (in Eucharistic Prayers)
- 20 March (Orthodox calendar)
- 26 December (Armenian calendar)
- 28 December (Coptic calendar)
- 2 January (Syrian Orthodox calendar)
Profile
Old Testament patriarch. Second son of Adam and Eve. Shepherd. First human being to die, and the first murder victim, killed by his brother in a fit of jealously after Abel had been given God’s favour.
- murdered by his older brother Cain
Readings
The man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have produced a man with the help of the LORD.” Next she bore his brother Abel. Abel became a keeper of flocks, and Cain a tiller of the soil. In the course of time Cain brought an offering to the LORD from the fruit of the soil, while Abel, for his part, brought one of the best firstlings of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not. Cain greatly resented this and was crestfallen. So the LORD said to Cain: “Why are you so resentful and crestfallen? If you do well, you can hold up your head; but if not, sin is a demon lurking at the door: his urge is toward you, yet you can be his master.” Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out in the field.” When they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. – Genesis 4:1-8
MLA Citation
- “Abel the Patriarch“. CatholicSaints.Info. 23 January 2023. Web. 25 April 2024. <>