The Holy Martyrs Amphian and Edesius were brothers. They lived in the city of Patara (Lycian province) in the family of a pagan city ruler. They were sent to the city of Virit to study pagan sciences. There the brothers believed in Christ and became ardent followers of Him.
The holy brothers left their pagan parents and went to Caesarea of Alexandria, where they found a mentor, Presbyter Pamphilus, and under his guidance began to improve in spiritual life, staying in prayer and studying the holy books.
At that time, by decree of Emperor Maximian (305-313), a zealous pagan and cruel persecutor of Christians, all residents of the city of Caesarea had to perform public sacrifices.
Fleeing from idolatry, many Christians were forced to hide in secret places. Saints Amphian and Edesius were also hiding.
When the ruler of the city of Caesarea was to sacrifice to idols, Saint Amphian fearlessly entered the temple, took the ruler by the hand, who was standing at the pagan altar, and began to convince him to abandon his errors and believe in Christ.
By order of the governor, the soldiers seized Saint Amphian, brutally beat him and threw him into prison. For two days they took the martyr to court, where they beat him with iron rods and burned bunches of flax soaked in oil on his body. A courageous young man who firmly professed the faith of Christ was thrown into the sea with a stone around his neck. Suddenly, a strong storm arose, the body of the martyr was washed ashore by the waves, and the Christians performed his burial. The brother of the martyr Amphianus, Saint Edesius, was also tortured, and then sent to the copper mines.
A few years later, Saint Edesius was released and sent to Alexandria. There he learned about the immeasurable cruelty to Christians of the ruler Hierocles and boldly denounced him. Saint Edesius was tortured and, like his brother, drowned (+ 306).
The Church remembers the Holy Martyrs Amphian and Edesius
15.04.2024, 06:00