From the Prologue of Ochrid
Two young men, two brothers by birth. From the city of Patara, of distinguished but pagan parents. When they were studying the secular sciences in the city of Berytus they were somehow enlightened by the Spirit of God, and having recognized the falsehood of paganism they perceived the truth of Christianity. And when they returned home, they could no longer live with their pagan parents and kinsmen but secretly fled to Caesarea in Palestine, to the priest Pamphilus, known for his holiness and spiritual learning. Under Pamphilus they were instructed in the law of God day and night and practiced Christian ascetic labors. Of Amphianus it is said that in body he was twenty years of age, but in understanding and magnanimity a centenarian. When the persecution began, in the time of Maximinus, many Christians fled the city and hid themselves, while others voluntarily and joyfully gave themselves into the hands of the torturers, that they might suffer for the name of Him Who had first suffered for them. Amphianus was among these latter. He came fearlessly into the pagan temple, where the governor Urban was offering sacrifices to idols, and seized the governor by the hand with which he held the sacrifice, and cried out to him to cease from the service and sacrifice to dead idols and to acknowledge the true God. Some who heard these words and saw such great courage in Amphianus repented and received the Christian faith. But the enraged governor cast Amphianus to the torments. Among other tortures they wrapped his feet in cotton and set them ablaze. But when he remained alive, they cast him into the sea with a stone about his neck; and the sea rose up and cast the body of the martyr back into the city. Edesius was first sent to the copper mines in Palestine, and then taken to Egypt. In Alexandria he was filled with holy zeal against a certain governor Hierocles, who in the marketplace had gathered Christian nuns, maidens, and honorable women, and was distributing them to the most shameless debauchers for their mockery — Edesius was filled with holy zeal and struck the dishonorable governor across the face. For this he was tortured and drowned in the sea, as was his brother Amphianus. Like two innocent lambs they were sacrificed for Christ, around the year 306, and departed to the wondrous courts of the Lord.
“He came fearlessly into the pagan temple, where the governor Urban was offering sacrifices to idols, and seized the governor by the hand with which he held the sacrifice, and cried out to him to cease from the service and sacrifice to dead idols and to acknowledge the true God.”
