The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313
Apollonius the Martyr
d. c. AD 185 (beheaded under Commodus) · Roman senator · Apologist before the Senate · Martyr · Rome
The Ante-Nicene Church
Who Apollonius the Martyr was
A Roman of senatorial rank denounced under Commodus, who — granted the extraordinary liberty of a formal defense — read the faith's case before the Senate itself, and was beheaded by its decree when he refused to abandon it. Eusebius calls him renowned among the faithful for learning and philosophy; Jerome ranked the lost Apologia among the church's treasures. The most aristocratic martyrdom of the second century.
Also listed in martyrs.
Common questions
When did Apollonius die?
Apollonius the Martyr is dated d. c. AD 185 (beheaded under Commodus) in the archive, which places Apollonius in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
What did Apollonius write?
Apollonius the Martyr has 1 catalogued writing in the archive: The Apologia before the Senate.
Which early sources mention Apollonius?
Apollonius the Martyr is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Eusebius of Caesarea and Jerome. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Apollonius from?
The archive associates Apollonius the Martyr with Rome.
Writings (1)
The Apologia before the Senate
His defense speech, preserved inside his acta (Greek and Armenian)So far as it rests with me, I live gladly; yet death for the Lord's sake I do not fear: for a true word cannot be killed.Read the interlinear source text →
Primary-source mentions (2)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Ecclesiastical History V.21
c. AD 325Apollonius, a man renowned among the faithful for learning and philosophy… delivered before the whole senate a most eloquent defense of the faith for which he was witnessing, and was beheaded, as by decree of the senate.Eusebius of Caesarea · V.21 · source text
On Illustrious Men 42
c. AD 393Apollonius, a Roman senator under the emperor Commodus… composed a notable volume in which he gave an account of his faith, and read it in the senate; he was beheaded for Christ.Jerome · 42 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 117 · Symeon and Ignatius martyred, AD 117
- AD 135 · Bar Kokhba crushed; Aelia Capitolina, AD 135
- AD 144 · Marcion expelled at Rome, AD 144
- AD 156 · The New Prophecy erupts, AD 156
- AD 177 · Persecution at Lyon and Vienne, AD 177
- AD 180 · The Scillitan martyrs, AD 180
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Apollonius.
- 1Rome