MEMORIAL OF SAINT APOLLINARIS OF HIERAPOLIS, BISHOP – FEAST DAY ~ JANUARY 8TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Apollinaris of Hierapolis, Bishop.
SAINT APOLLINARIS OF HIERAPOLIS, BISHOP: Saint Apollinaris Claudius (2nd c.), also known as Apollinaris the Apologist was a bishop in what is today Turkey. He was a Christian leader and writer of the 2nd century. He was one of the most illustrious Bishop of Hierapolis in Phrygia of the 2nd century who became famous for his polemical treatises against the heretics of his day, whose errors he showed to be entirely borrowed from the pagans. In 177 A.D. he published an “Apologia” for the defense of Christians, addressed to the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, and appealing to the Emperor’s own experience with the “Thundering Legion”, whose prayers won him the victory over the Quadi, a people inhabiting the country now called Moravia. One of his legions, the twelfth, was composed chiefly of Christians. When the army was perishing for want of water, the soldiers of this legion fell upon their knees and invoked the assistance of God. The result was sudden, for a copious rain fell, and aided by the storm, they conquered the Germans. The emperor gave this legion the name “Thundering Legion” and mitigated his persecution.
It was to protect his flock against persecution that St. Apollinaris addressed his apology to the Emperor to implore his protection and remind him of the favor he had received from God through the prayers of the Christians. In light of this miracle, Apollinaris requested the Emperor’s protection of Christians from persecution. St. Apollinaris’ work earned him the moniker, “Apollinaris the Apologist.” St. Appolinaris had written many excellent treatises against the heretics but none of his writings is still in existence. His writings are largely lost, and what we know of his work comes to us from other early Christian writers including St. Jerome and Eusebius. Eusebius, St. Jerome, Theodoret, and others speak of him in the highest terms and great eulogies and they furnish us with the few facts that are known of him. The exact date of the death of St. Apollinaris is not known, but it probably occurred before that of Emperor Marcus Aurelius and the Roman Martyrology mentions him on the 8th of January.
PRAYER: God, You made St. Appolinaris an outstanding exemplar of Divine love and the Faith that conquers the world, and added him to the roll of saintly Pastors. Grant by his intercession that we may persevere in Faith and love and become sharers of his glory. Amen🙏