St. Amphianus
Amphianus of Lycia
Also known as Aphian, Amphian, Appian, Apian
Feast day: April 2
Death: 305
Martyr, also called Appian and Apian. He was a young man of Christian faith in Lycia, Turkey. He intruded upon a Roman governor's pagan sacrifices in the official residence. Arrested for being a Christian, Amphianus continued his charges of vain idolatry to the governor. For this he was tortured to death.
Amphianus was a young Christian of Lycia, Asia Minor, whose parents gave him the best education possible in rhetoric, law, and philosophy in the famous schools of Berytus, Phoenicia. While he was away at school, he became a Christian. Upon completing his studies, he returned home but was disturbed by the idolatry of his parents. Thus, at the age of 18, he retired to Caesarea, Palestine. There he became a disciple of Saint Pamphilius, who was teaching Scripture.
In May 305, Galerius Maximianus, the chief proponent of the Diocletian persecutions, was declared emperor of the East, which Maximinus Daia governed under him, as Caesar. Letters came to Caesarea from Maximinus Daia ordering the governor to compel everyone to attend public, solemn sacrifices to the civic gods.
The Church historian Eusebius (De Martyr. Palaest., c. 4), with whom Amphianus lived, tells us that, without saying anything to anyone, Amphianus entered the governor's palace and stopped the latter on the point of offering sacrifices to idols. Amphianus, with youthful boldness, reproached him for his crime of idolatry. He was forthwith beaten, arrested and thrown into a dungeon, where he was kept in stocks for two days. As he was flayed, his only answer to all questions was: "I am a servant of Christ." Next the executioners were ordered to set his feet aflame. As his flesh melted like wax, he remained resolute, which struck his persecutors with astonishment.
He was thrown back into prison for three days. During his trial, he persisted: "I confess Christ the only God, and the same God with the Father." Although he was already half-dead, the judge ordered that he be thrown into the sea. Eusebius records that at his execution, the sea and the city were shaken by an earthquake accompanied by a dreadful noise. He writes that it was as if the sea were not able to endure the corpse of the martyr, and threw it up before the gates of the city: all the inhabitants went out to see this prodigy, and gave glory to the God of the Christians, confessing aloud the name of Jesus Christ
Amphianus of Lycia
Also known as Aphian, Amphian, Appian, Apian
Feast day: April 2
Death: 305
Martyr, also called Appian and Apian. He was a young man of Christian faith in Lycia, Turkey. He intruded upon a Roman governor's pagan sacrifices in the official residence. Arrested for being a Christian, Amphianus continued his charges of vain idolatry to the governor. For this he was tortured to death.
Amphianus was a young Christian of Lycia, Asia Minor, whose parents gave him the best education possible in rhetoric, law, and philosophy in the famous schools of Berytus, Phoenicia. While he was away at school, he became a Christian. Upon completing his studies, he returned home but was disturbed by the idolatry of his parents. Thus, at the age of 18, he retired to Caesarea, Palestine. There he became a disciple of Saint Pamphilius, who was teaching Scripture.
In May 305, Galerius Maximianus, the chief proponent of the Diocletian persecutions, was declared emperor of the East, which Maximinus Daia governed under him, as Caesar. Letters came to Caesarea from Maximinus Daia ordering the governor to compel everyone to attend public, solemn sacrifices to the civic gods.
The Church historian Eusebius (De Martyr. Palaest., c. 4), with whom Amphianus lived, tells us that, without saying anything to anyone, Amphianus entered the governor's palace and stopped the latter on the point of offering sacrifices to idols. Amphianus, with youthful boldness, reproached him for his crime of idolatry. He was forthwith beaten, arrested and thrown into a dungeon, where he was kept in stocks for two days. As he was flayed, his only answer to all questions was: "I am a servant of Christ." Next the executioners were ordered to set his feet aflame. As his flesh melted like wax, he remained resolute, which struck his persecutors with astonishment.
He was thrown back into prison for three days. During his trial, he persisted: "I confess Christ the only God, and the same God with the Father." Although he was already half-dead, the judge ordered that he be thrown into the sea. Eusebius records that at his execution, the sea and the city were shaken by an earthquake accompanied by a dreadful noise. He writes that it was as if the sea were not able to endure the corpse of the martyr, and threw it up before the gates of the city: all the inhabitants went out to see this prodigy, and gave glory to the God of the Christians, confessing aloud the name of Jesus Christ
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