Abda and Abdjesus


Abda and Abdjesus were two Christian bishops who were martyred at Kashkar under Shapur II on 16 May, in either 366 AD or 375 AD. They were first placed between heavy boards to crush their bones, and later beheaded.
There may have been a political aspect to the persecution, since the king was attempting to establish Mazdeism as the state religion and judged Christians as the natural allies of the Romans. In 339-340 the king began the prosecution with the help of Jews and Magi of bishop of Seleucia and Ctesifonte, Simeone Bar Sabbã, having accused him in the friendly support of Roman Empire. The historian Sozomen wrote about 22 martyrs who were tortured together. In his book he mentioned Abdas and Abdjesus in 15-th and 16-th places in his list of martyrs. This information is worth of trusting because it was written in less than 100 years after their death. Some of the martyrs were first interrogated by the king himself but later he charged his brother Ardashir to continue. He urged the martyrs to deny Christ and worship the Sun, but they were firm in their faith.
Their feast day is commemorated on 16 May according to the Martyrologium Romanum, the Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church, and in the Syrian Church as well.

Other Martyrs with Abda and Abdjesus

The biographical text Ausgewählte Akten Persischer Märtyrer by Oskar Braun also mentions the names of several of the other martyrs, including:
;Priests
;Deacons
;Monks
;Unnamed virgins.