It describes the religious conversion and subsequent persecution of Abo, an Arab who converted to Christianity at Kartli and then was martyred at Tbilisi, which was under Islamic rule.
In the 640s, the Arabs first entered the Georgian region through frequent raids until a three-year truce was conceived with the Byzantine Empire to suspend hostilities.
Tbilisi then became the secondary capital of Arminiya while Dvin was the primary one, but the Arabs ruled the region indirectly throughout the seventh century.
The rebels were led by Christian prince Nerse who would then be arrested and imprisoned where Abo's martyrdom begins, Baghdad.
The first chapter provides an analysis of Kartli's economic, political, and religious circumstances under Arab domination in an eschatological perspective that would effect Abo's martyrdom.