King Isdegerdes of Persia had left the Christians in peace until, in 420, a bishop named Abdas burned down a fire temple. When Abdas refused to rebuild it, the king tore down the churches, and a persecution began that lasted forty years.

The deacon Benjamin was beaten and imprisoned for a year. An imperial ambassador won his release on condition that he would not speak of religion to the courtiers, but Benjamin said he could not hold the truth captive and kept preaching.

Arrested again, he asked the king what he would think of a subject who deserted him to join his enemies. He was tortured with reeds driven under his nails and then a knotted stake, and died in 424.

Thin entry · the 1897 book gives only 89 words. We have not filled the gap with invented detail.

Abdas, a bishop in Persia, with highly intemperate zeal, set fire to a heathen temple and consumed it to the ground. This injudicious act aroused a persecution against the Christians, the King Isdegerdes being greatly incensed against the bishop. Abdas suffered, and is commemorated by the Greeks on the same day, or on May 16th.