A new reader, Krista, brightened my day, and she was kind enough to let me share her story. Here’s what she wrote:
Approximately 6 and a half years ago, my husband and I found out we were pregnant with a girl (our second daughter, in fact). Over the course of the next several months as my due date approached, we tossed around names for our new little girl. As an Orthodox family and in staying with the tradition of the church, we wanted to choose a name of a saint. Of course not just any saint, but one whom our daughter could relate to and emulate her own life after. We kept “running” into the name Abigail. We met a sweet girl named Abigail at friend’s party. Then we saw the story of an amazingly courageous and kind girl named Abigail on a TV program … and it went on and on.
But the questions were always: Firstly, does the Orthodox Church recognize Abigail as a saint or fore-mother of Christ, and secondly, does an icon even exist? We searched and searched, emailed friends, clergy, and even monastics to find out more … Finally, just before our daughter was born, not only did we get confirmation by a priest monk in WV that Abigail is most definitely recognized by the Orthodox Church but I was able to find an icon as well!
Fast forward to present day: We obviously adore the name Abigail and the story of Holy Mother Abigail has become a family favorite. Although we have meet several other Orthodox women and girls named Abigail, it has always made us a bit sad that our daughter cannot walk into an Orthodox Church and “find” her saint painted on a fresco of the church or an icon hanging on the wall (unless it is in our home, of course). Our other children are Sophia and Luke, two very popular and easily recognizable saints in the Church. To say the least, we were so amazed and delighted when my sister-in-law stumbled across your book! My daughter is going to be over the moon when she receives it!!
Thank you so very much for writing this book! It is going to mean a great deal to my sweet, amazing little girl named Abigail!
From my Abigail to yours — you’re very welcome, Krista! I have always liked the story of Abigail and been sorry that more Orthodox don’t choose her as a saint. When I had the idea for this book, I always knew that my main character would be Abigail, but I imagined that it would be difficult to find an icon of that, which ended up providing one of my Abigail’s motivations to set out to acquire hers. It sounds as if your little girl was in exactly the same place, and so it makes me very happy to see her looking so pleased with her icon of St. Abigail. Isn’t it wonderful the blessings that God brings?
Fr. David Wooten
January 1, 2018 - 12:45 am ·A lovely blog post! A question for you, though. When do you commemorate your Abigail’s names day? I’m thinking perhaps a Sunday prior to Christmas for the forefathers and foremothers?
admin
January 3, 2018 - 12:28 am ·That’s a really good question! I went and did a quick check on the OCA website, which is pretty exhaustive for saints’ days, and I couldn’t find her. But then, I couldn’t find King David, either. I wonder if you’re right — that they’re all just included as ancestors(?)
Fr. David Wooten
January 7, 2018 - 2:40 am ·Well, David is my patron saint, and he is definitely commemorated the Sunday after nativity. Perhaps Abigail is the Sunday before, when the fathers of the church that kept the faith in waiting for the messiah are all commemorated?
Seraphima
October 26, 2018 - 2:29 pm ·I too, am looking for the Feast day of St Abigail, Queen in the Old Testament. My grandaughter is Abigail, and she wants to know when her Nameday is. Also, what is the book you mentioned in your post that your Abigail received. Our Abbie has a birthday coming up, and i’d love to get her a book about her saint. thank you