Brothers in Faith: The Story of the Martyrs of Amphian and Edesius

Around 306, two Christian brothers, Amphian and Edesius, natives of the Lycian city of Gaga, were executed in Palestine. Both came from a wealthy pagan family and were educated in Beirut, where they converted to Christianity.
Returning to his homeland, Amphian soon left his father’s home and went to Caesarea. There, the brothers became close to the presbyter Pamphilus, a theologian and future martyr, and under his leadership studied the Holy Scriptures and engaged in spiritual practices.
The reason for the death of Amphian was the decree of Emperor Maximin Daya, obliging residents of cities to publicly make sacrifices to pagan gods. When the ruler of Caesarea Urban was preparing for such a rite, Amphian broke through the guard and grabbed his hand, urging him to renounce idolatry. The soldiers brutally beat the young man and threw him in prison. During interrogations, he was tortured with iron hooks, then wrapped in oily cloth and set on fire. After being tortured, he was drowned in the sea with a stone around his neck. According to sources, after the execution, the body was thrown ashore by waves at the city gate.
Edesius was baptized before his brother. After Amphian’s death, he was also tried, tortured and sent to copper mines in Palestine. After the expiration of the term of imprisonment Edesius was in Alexandria. Upon learning that the local ruler Jerome was giving Christian virgins to brothels, he publicly hit the official. After that, he was tortured and executed like his brother, drowned in the sea.