The Apologists · AD 130–180

Liberian

d. c. 165 · Martyr · Companion of Justin · Rome

The Apologists

Who Liberian was

The last named of the six condemned with Justin, who declared himself “a Christian, worshipping and adoring the one true God.” Refusing to sacrifice, he was led out with the company to be beaten and beheaded, the sentence recorded in the same transcript: “Let those who have refused to sacrifice to the gods be scourged and led away.” A layman whose whole surviving record is one act of confession.

Verified single attestation

Acts of Justin only.

Also listed in martyrs and under marcus aurelius.

Common questions

When did Liberian die?

Liberian is dated d. c. 165 in the archive, which places Liberian in the Apologists (AD 130–180). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.

Which early sources mention Liberian?

Liberian is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from Court transcript (Recension A). Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

Where was Liberian from?

The archive associates Liberian with Rome.

Who were Liberian’s contemporaries?

The archive links Liberian to 2 other figures, including Justin Martyr and Paeon. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.

Primary-source mentions (1)

Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

Acts of Justin and Companions 4–5

c. AD 165
Liberian said, ‘I too am a Christian, for I worship and adore the only true God.’
Court transcript (Recension A) · 4–5 · source text

Connected in the archive

People

Events in this lifetime

Place

Places served

The one place the sources put Liberian.

  1. 1Rome

See this place on the atlas →