[1] He was executed under the orders of shah Yazdegerd I after refusing to rebuild a Zoroastrian fire temple that he had destroyed.

After Abdas reached adulthood, he was ordained a Christian priest, and built up in his hometown a monastery and a school, which grew to have around 60 teachers.

Abdas is supposed to have helped Maruthas in driving out a demon from King Yezdegerd's son.

In c. 419-420, Abdas, in cooperation with a band of Christian priests and laymen, levelled a Zoroastrian fire temple, for which they were summoned to court to answer for their actions.

Yazdegerd I reputedly asked Abdas; "Since you are the chief and leader of these men, why do you allow them to despise our kingdom, to transgress against our command, and to act in accordance with their own will?