From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

April 18: Saint Apollonius the Apologist
(died 186)

member of the Roman elite. Apollonius had found the truth of Christ,
and was unable to deny his faith and confidence in the Lord, earning
him a martyr's death. His heroic defense of the truth, and
unwillingness to compromise his beliefs to save himself, is an example
and inspiration to both civic leaders and the faithful throughout the
world!

Apollonius had spent years in study and was extremely familiar with
the major philosophers and schools of thought in the second century
Roman empire. He developed an interest in the Jewish scriptures and
this led him to Christian writings. Eventually, Apollonius converted
to Christianity because of the witness and testimonies of the early
Church members, but continued to study the beliefs and convictions of
those he had left behind, hoping to bring them to conversion with
himself. As a member of the Roman Senate, he knew well the law
forbidding the practice of Christianity. However, he felt drawn to
live a life rich in the grace and love of Christ, and was confident
that the Roman rulers would not punish him for this.

Apollonius had been baptized, fully embracing his faith. During this
period of time, the Emperor Commodus had informally halted the
persecution of Christians, out of regard for his Empress Marcia, who
was an admirer of the Faith. The laws of his father, Marcus Aurelius,
who had persecuted Christians, had not been repealed officially,
however. Therefore, when one of Apollonius' slaves publicly accused
him of being a Christian, he was arrested under the laws of the time.
The slave, for his part, was condemned to have his legs broken, and
also be put to death, as the anti-Christian laws of Marcus Aurelius
also ordered the accusers of Christians to be put to death.

Apollonius was brought before the courts to defend himself. As
Perennis, the Praetorian prefect who had arrested him, brought
Apollonius to his trials he pleaded with him to renounce his faith. He
insisted that if he said the words and apostatized, even if he "didn't
mean it,=E2=80=9D those in power were all too willing to find him not guilt=
y
of the crime. He reminded Apollonius that the punishment for being a
Christian was death and insisted that the right course of action for a
senator like Apollonius was to renounce his faith and maintain his
influence and power in the world.

Apollonius, of course, refused to renounce his faith before the court,
and was led to the Senate to defend himself before his peers. This was
the moment that Apollonius had been counting on, and he eloquently
testified to his faith before his friends and colleagues. He ended his
great testimony by praying, "O Lord Jesus Christ, give us a bit of
your spirit so that we might be helped to obey your teachings to: make
peace over anger, join in pity with others and for others, temper our
desires, always increase in love, put away our sorrow, cast aside our
foolish pride, not love vengeance, and not fear death. Help us to
trust our spirit to God the Father who lives and reigns with You and
the Holy Spirit now and forever."

Perennis, as well as his fellow Senators, could not understand why
Apollonius wasn't taking the easy and reasonable way out of death and
yelled at him, "Are you determined to die today?"
Apollonius responded, "Oh no." He continued, "I very much enjoy life
but my love of life does not make me afraid to lose it. There's
something better waiting for me: eternal life! There is something
better given to the person who has lived well on earth."

Apollonius admonished the listening crowd to cast aside their pride
and self-obsession, but they were unwilling to pay the price of faith.
He was convicted for his crime not because the senate was willing to
convict one of its own but because he was unwilling even to pretend
not to trust God. For his crime his legs were crushed and he was
beheaded. He died a martyr who had been given a rare chance to preach
the Gospel to his executioners.

Saint Apollonius' Apologia, or defense of the faith, is considered =
one
of the most priceless documents of the early Church. Four separate
sources record his historical debate in front of the Roman Senate,
including Saint Eusebius and Saint Jerome, as well as Greek and
Armenian texts which were discovered late in the 19th century.
-- by Jacob


Bible Quote:
Since we have a kingdom nothing can destroy, let us please God by
serving him with thankful hearts, and with holy fear and awe. For our
God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:28-29)

Saint Quote:
How can a man say he believes in Christ if he doesn't do what Christ
commanded him to do?
--St. Cyprian of Carthage


<><><><>
At the Hour of the Crucifixion

O Jesus Christ, our God and Saviour, who art great in mercy and abundant in
the gifts of Thy bounty, Thou who because of our sins didst of Thine own
will endure at this hour the sufferings of the Cross and of death, and who didst abundantly grant the gifts of Thy Holy Spirit to the blessed apostles=
,
make us also, we beseech Thee, O Lord, to be partakers of Thy divine gifts,
of the forgiveness of our sins, and of receiving the Holy Ghost. Amen.
FROM THE LITURGY OF THE ARMENIANS

We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee, because by Thy Holy Cross Thou
hast redeemed the world.

THE RACCOLTA

--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)