St. Avramius (Abraham) Smolensky, a preacher of repentance and the coming Last Judgment, was born in the middle of the 13th century in Smolensk from wealthy parents who had 12 daughters before him and prayed to God that He would grant an heir to their family and their entire estate.
Even at a very young age, the spiritual direction of the boy was visible, who shunned children's games, grew up in the fear of God and had a penchant for fasting and prayer. From an early age, Abraham was assigned to a college, where he attracted attention for his talent and extraordinary curiosity. In his spare time, he loved going to church, where he sang and read beautifully. As a young man, he aspired to a secluded and pious life. His parents offered him marriage as the sole heir, but he declined their offer because he was looking for another life.
After the death of his parents, which soon followed, he, following the example of the saints, whose lives he loved to read, distributed his property to churches, monasteries and the poor, dressed in sackcloth and began to walk around the city like a beggar and a fool, asking God to show him the way to salvation. Soon, at the suggestion of God, he entered the monastery of the Mother of God as a monk, located six versts from Smolensk, at a place called "Selishche". With patience and meekness, the young monk zealously performed all the feats of obedience, spent his time in fasting and prayer, adorned himself with monastic virtues, and diligently studied the Holy Scriptures. The Writings, lives and teachings of the Holy Ascetics and patristic works. Studying all this, the Monk Abraham learned edifying lessons not only for himself, but also for others who sought edification from him. 
For more than 30 years he labored in the monastery, when the abbot convinced him to accept the rank of presbyter in 1198. Ordained a presbyter and chosen as a confessor, the monk, having adorned himself with "priestly babble," did not omit a single day without celebrating the liturgy and preaching the word of God. He had to endure a lot of slander and persecution from people who were jealous of his influence on the people. They armed the abbot himself against Abraham, and he was forbidden to have conversations with the people. And after 5 years, the monk was forced to move to the poor Holy Cross Monastery in Smolensk itself. But people began to flock here in droves to the monk for guidance. 
The saint was strict with himself and his spiritual children. He preached tirelessly in the church and to those who came to his cell, conversing with rich and poor alike. He strictly observed during the divine service that none of the brethren and the people allowed themselves to converse in church, for he considered this to be sacrilege and performed the divine service with special reverence.
The Monk Abraham experienced many demon temptations, visible and invisible, during his asceticism, for the human enemy appeared to him in terrible images, thinking to frighten him, but he was always overcome by the monk's prayer. Then, unable to act personally on the saint, the devil instigated a slander against him in the city that the monk preached heresy, lived uncleanly, and covered up dark deeds with outward holiness. These rumors reached Bishop Ignatius, and the whole city became confused. The city's nobility and clergy demanded that the bishop bring the monk to justice. They offered to drown or burn the ascetic. At that time, the prince and the boyars happened to be at the bishop's. At the trial of the prince and the bishop, the monk denied all false accusations, but despite this, he was forbidden to practice the priesthood and transferred to his former monastery in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos. And so various troubles opened up in the city: drought and diseases. Prayer services were performed in vain – nothing helped. Then the priest Lazarus appeared to Bishop Ignatius and asked for permission to serve the Monk Abraham, otherwise even greater misfortunes would befall the inhabitants. Bishop Ignatius allowed St. Abraham asked him for forgiveness for wrongly condemning him and praying for the city and the inhabitants. The humble monk himself asked the bishop to pray. Returning to his cell, the Monk Abraham devoted himself to fervent prayer, and suddenly it began to rain heavily and the drought ended. Then everyone became personally convinced of the righteousness of the monk and began to respect him highly.
Bishop Ignatius passed away at a very old age, and Blessed Abraham did not have much time left to stay on earth. More than before, he inspired the brethren to remember death and to pray day and night so that they would not be condemned at the judgment of God. The Monk Abraham died before 1224, having lived in monasticism for 50 years.
Already at the end of the 13th century, a service was composed for St. Abraham, together with his disciple, St. Ephraim. The terrible Mongol-Tatar invasion, which was God's punishment for sins, not only did not stifle the memory of St. Abraham of Smolensk, but reminded people of his call to repentance and remembrance of the Last Judgment.