the account of the eastern church says aedesius and his brother were born in patara of high-standing pagan parents. the brothers converted while studying in beirut, secretly fleeing to caesarea to be taught by a priest named pamphylus. it is reported that amphianus gave himself up to martyrdom, having "a twenty-year-old body but the understanding and greatness of soul of a centenarian." having tried to stop the pagan governor of the area from sacrificing to idols, he was tortured; his legs were wrapped in cotton and burned, and they threw him into the sea with a stone around his neck. 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. the account says aedesius struck the prince, for which he was tortured and drowned in the sea like his brother.