The only survivors of a capture during a voyage back from Persia, cousins Frumentius and Edesius were raised by a prince of Abyssinia and eventually assisted his widow in the government of the state. Frumentius supported Christian merchants and strongly recommended the true religion to the infidels. After release from his duties, Frumentius entreated St. Athanasius to send a pastor to that country, ripe for a conversion to the faith. St. Athanasius ordained Frumentius himself bishop of the Ethiopians. Frumentius returned to Axuma and gained great numbers to the faith by his discourses and miracles. The Abyssinians honor him as the apostle of the country of the Axumites.