Saint Apollinaris of Hierapolis

Saint Apollinaris was one of the most eminent bishops of the 2nd century. He was the author of an apology, that is, a defense of the Christian religion. He addressed it to Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Shortly before, the emperor had received news of a victory over the Quadi, a pagan people living in what is now Moravia. One of the imperial legions, the Twelfth, was made up mostly of Christians. When the army was dying of thirst, the soldiers of this legion fell to their knees and began to ask God for help. At once rain fell, and the troops, aided by a thunderstorm, defeated the Germanic tribes. The emperor gave the Twelfth Legion the name “Thundering” and eased the persecution against it.

It was precisely to protect his faithful from persecution that Saint Apollinaris, then bishop of Hierapolis in Phrygia, addressed his apology to the emperor, asking for his protection and reminding him of the grace he had received from God through the prayers of Christians. Marcus Aurelius issued an edict forbidding anyone, under pain of death, to accuse Christians on account of their religion. The date of Saint Apollinaris’s death is unknown; the bishop probably gave up his soul to God before the emperor, who died in the year 180.