The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Aedesius the Martyr
d. c. AD 306 (drowned at Alexandria) · Confessor and philosopher · Martyr of Alexandria · Lycia → Alexandria
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Aedesius the Martyr was
Brother of Apphianus and, like him, a pupil of Pamphilus — a philosopher in dress and discipline who had already confessed through prison and the Palestinian mines. In Alexandria he watched the judge Hierocles hand consecrated virgins to procurers, walked up, and struck him — a deed Eusebius records with something close to satisfaction — and was tortured and drowned as his brother had been. Distinct from Aedesius of Tyre, the Neoplatonist.
Martyrs of Palestine 5 only (Apphianus's brother; one witness for both).
Also listed in martyrs and the great persecution.
Common questions
When did Aedesius die?
Aedesius the Martyr is dated d. c. AD 306 (drowned at Alexandria) in the archive, which places Aedesius in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
Which early sources mention Aedesius?
Aedesius the Martyr is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from Eusebius of Caesarea. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Aedesius from?
The archive associates Aedesius the Martyr with Lycia, Alexandria. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Who were Aedesius’ contemporaries?
The archive links Aedesius the Martyr to 4 other figures, including Apphianus of Lycia, Pamphilus of Caesarea, Eusebius of Caesarea and Emperor Maximinus Daza. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (1)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Martyrs of Palestine 5 (with the Ecclesiastical History)
c. AD 325Seeing the judge condemning the virgins of God to procurers, he rebuked him by word and deed; for which boldness he endured every torment, and was cast into the sea after the manner of his brother.Eusebius of Caesarea · MP 5 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 250 · The Decian persecution, AD 250
- AD 251 · The Novatianist schism, AD 251
- AD 257 · The Valerian persecution, AD 257
- AD 260 · Gallienus’ edict of toleration, AD 260
- AD 268 · Antioch deposes Paul of Samosata, AD 268
- AD 272 · Aurelian awards the Antioch church, AD 272
- AD 301 · Hripsime and her company, AD 301
- AD 303 · The Great Persecution begins, AD 303
- AD 303 · The search of the church at Cirta, AD 303
- AD 306 · The Council of Elvira, AD 306
Place
Places served
The 2 places the sources put Aedesius, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route.
- 1Lyciaprovince only
- 2Alexandria