The word "Abanoub" is derived from "Panoub", meaning "gold". He was born in the city of Nehisa (District of Talkha). His parents were pure and merciful and they reared him in the fear of God. When Diocletian incited the persecution against the Christian, St. Apanoub was twelve years old, and he desired to shed his blood for the Name of Christ.

One day he went to the church, and he heard the priest teaching the believers, strengthening them in the Faith, warning them from worshipping the idols, and encouraging them to deliver themselves over to death for the sake of the Lord Christ. He returned to his house, and set before him all what his father had left him of gold, silver, and apparels and told himself it is written, "The world is passing away, and the lust of it." (I John 2:17) Straightway he rose up, and gave all his money to the poor and needy, then went to Samanoud, walking along the river bank. He confessed the Name of the Lord Christ before Lucianus the governor, who tortured him severely. Then he hung him up upon the mast of his ship head downwards. The governor sat down to eat and to drink, and the vessel which was in his hand became a stone. The angel of the Lord came down from heaven, released the saint, and wiped up the blood that was running down from his nose and mouth. The governor and his soldiers were greatly disturbed. Strong winds blew, that made the ship to sail fast to Athribis. When they arrived, the soldiers unfastened their belts, and cast them before the governor, then confessed the Lord Christ and they received the crown of martyrdom.

The governor of Athribis tortured St. Apanoub (Abba Nob) severely, then sent him to the city of Alexandria. There, he was tortured until he delivered up his pure soul and received the crown of martyrdom. St. Julius El-Akfahsi was present, he wrote the biography of St. Apanoub, took his body and sent it with some of his men to his hometown Nehisa.

Many churches were built in his name. Many signs and miracles were manifested from his body which is now located in his church in the city of Samnanoud.

كلمة "أبانوب" مشتقة من "بي نوب" التي تعني "الذهب". ولد بقرية نهيسة (مركز طلخا) في القرن الرابع، من أبوين تقيين هما مقارة ومريم، فقدهما وهو في الثانية عشرة من عمره، فصار حزينًا لأيام كثيرة. دخل الكنيسة في أحد الأعياد وسمع الكاهن يحث الشعب على احتمال الضيق والاضطهاد بفرح. ركع أمام الله يطلب عونه، ثم انطلق إلى سمنود متهللًا بالروح منتظرًا الإكليل السماوي.

في سمنود: طاف الصبي المدينة فرأى الكنائس مهدمة والناس يشتمون المسيحية. كان يصلي طالبًا عون الله، ثم أرسل له رئيس الملائكة ميخائيل ليواسيه ويؤكد له القوة والشفاء عند الشهادة أمام الوالي.

أمام الوالي: تكلم أبانوب بجرأة، وأغتاظ الوالي فأمر بضربه، فجاء رئيس الملائكة يشفيه. أُلقي في السجن ففرح به المسيحيون، وفي اليوم التالي ربط على صاري المركب. شفي الوالي بعد أن صلى أبانوب.

في أتريب (بنها): عذبه الوالي بالجلد والزيت المغلي والنار، فظهر له السيد المسيح ومعه ميخائيل وجبرائيل فشفاه. رغم التعذيب كان مصدر بركة لنفوس كثيرة قبلت الإيمان، وتقدم كثيرون للشهادة بفرح.

إلى الإسكندرية: أوفده الوالي مقيدًا إلى الإسكندرية، فطرد روحًا شريرة من امرأة فآمنت بالسيد المسيح، وقتلها أحد الجنود. أمام أرمانيوس اعترف بالإيمان ونجا من الثعابين. وأخيرًا قُطع رأسه على صخرة عالية، ودفنه القديس يوليوس الأقفهصي في نهيسة، وسجل حياته.