Apollinaris Claudius

This article is about the 2nd-century Christian leader and writer. For the 1st-century naval commander, see Claudius Apollinaris.

Saint Apollinaris Claudius
Apologist and Bishop of Hierapolis
Died	2nd century
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church
Canonized	Pre-congregation
Feast	January 8

Saint Apollinaris Claudius, otherwise Apollinaris of Hierapolis or Apollinaris the Apologist, was a Christian leader and writer of the 2nd century.

Life

He was Bishop of Hierapolis in Phrygia and became famous for his polemical treatises against the heretics of his day, whose errors he showed to be entirely borrowed from the pagans. He wrote two books against the Jews, five against the pagans, and two on "Truth". In 177 he published an "Apologia" for the Christians, addressed to Marcus Aurelius, and appealing to the Emperor's own experience with the "Thundering Legion", whose prayers won him the victory over the Quadi. The exact date of his death is not known, but it was probably while Marcus Aurelius was still Emperor.

Eusebius has given us, in his Church History, a fragment of a work composed by Apollinaris Bishop of Hierapolis in Phrygia, in which the following words against montanism occur:

"The faithful of Asia, at many times and in many places, came together to consult on the subject of Montanus and his followers; and these new doctrines were examined, and declared strange and impious".[1]

Nothing survives of his writings except for a few extracts, the longest of which relates to the date of Passover. His feast day is commemorated on January 8.

External links

• Fragments of Apollinaris's writings
• Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Apollinaris Claudius

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: