He was the brother of Saint Aphian or Amphianus. Aedesius, brother of the blessed Apphian. Because he publicly reproved the wicked judge who delivered to corruptors virgins consecrated to God, he was arrested by the soldiers, exposed to the most severe torments, and thrown into the sea for the sake of Christ our Lord.
The historian Eusebius of Caesarea [5] elaborates Aedesius' story: like his brother, he was a philosopher that converted to Christianity. Aedesius was offended by the enslavement of consecrated virgins who were forced to work in brothels , and so presented himself before the governor, whereupon he was seized by soldiers, tortured, and drowned.
This story is probably confused, [1] and perhaps conflated with that of the contemporary Neoplatonist philosopher, Aedesius.
The account of the Eastern Church says Aedesius and his brother were born in Patara of high-standing pagan parents. Aedesius was punished by being sent to a copper mine in Palestine, and then to Egypt. In Alexandria, he spoke out against Hierocles, who had been forcing Christian "nuns, virgins and pious women" to work alongside prostitutes in brothels. Aedesius' feast day is celebrated on 8 April in the Roman Catholic Church. In Eastern Orthodox Churches, his feast is 2 April.
In art, Aedesius is shown shipwrecked with his brother; [1] the mention of a depiction that has his legs wrapped in oiled linen before he is burned to death is probably a reflection of the Eastern story of his brother's martyrdom. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. For the Neoplatonist philosopher, see Aedesius.
