E02088: The Martyrdom of *Apollinaris (bishop and martyr of Ravenna, S00331) is written in Latin, presumably in Ravenna, between the 5th and the late 7th c. It narrates the foundation of the Christian community in Ravenna at the time of the emperor Claudius by Apollinaris, a disciple of *Peter (the Apostle, S00036) sent from Rome to Ravenna. It describes Apollinaris’ numerous healing miracles, his trials in front of local judges, his exile and miracles in Moesia, Thracia and Dalmatia, his return to Ravenna and death at the time of Vespasian at the hands of a pagan mob in Classe, and finally his burial in a sarcophagus outside the walls of Classe.

Martyrdom of Apollinaris (BHL 623)

Summary:

§ 1: At the time of the emperor Claudius, Peter comes to Rome from Antioch with many other Christians. Peter preaches among Jews at the synagogue about Jesus the son of God and many Jews and Romans believe in him and are baptised.

§ 2: Much later, Peter sends Apollinaris, his fully instructed disciple, to Ravenna to preach about Jesus, bestowing on him the Holy Spirit and the pontificate (pontificatum), blessing him with a prayer asking Jesus Christ to send an angel to help him in his task.

§ 3: Close to Ravenna, Apollinaris stays with an Asiatic soldier named Herenaeus who asks him to heal his blind son to demonstrate what he preaches and thus convince him. Apollinaris heals the boy in front of everyone with a prayer and a sign of the cross on his eyes. The blind man and all his family believe, and are baptised in a river close to Ravenna.

§ 4: The tribunus militum, who has a wife named Tecla, gravely ill for many years, hears about Apollinaris’ miracle from Herenaeus. The tribunus asks Herenaeus (who wonders whether Apollinaris is Greek rather than Roman, although he comes from Rome) to secretly bring Apollinaris to his house.

§ 5: Apollinaris arrives at the house praying to God for help. As Apollinaris preaches about Jesus Christ, the tribunus asks him to heal his wife, whose paralysis has for many years resisted all attempts to cure it, to demonstrate Jesus’ power.

§ 6: Apollinaris heals her with a prayer and she proclaims Jesus as God. The tribunus and all his household believe and are baptised, while many other pagans receive the faith.

§ 7: Apollinaris lives in the tribunus’ house in Ravenna and secretly preaches about Jesus to the many who visit him; aristocrats entrust him with the Christian education of their sons and he celebrates mass and performs baptisms with his disciples for those who believe in the house. Within twelve years he ordains two priests (Adheretus and Calocerus) and two deacons (Marcianus and Leocadius/Eleucadius); he establishes six clerics with whom he chants psalms night and day.

§ 8: As Apollinaris’ fame grows, he cannot hide anymore. The judge Saturninus summons him and interrogates him in front of the pontiffs of the capitolium of Ravenna. Apollinaris states that he is Christian and speaks about Christ. Saturninus complains about Apollinaris’ preaching and tells him about Jupiter and his temple; Apollinaris however replies that he knows nothing about these.

§ 9: The pontiffs bring Apollinaris to the temple with its many riches, but Apollinaris retorts that these riches should be given to the poor. The priests and the crowd severely beat him and throw him into the sea, leaving him almost dead. His disciples rescue him, hide him in the house of a Christian widow and cure him.

§ 10: Six months later, a noble man named Bonifatius, from the city of Classe, suddenly becomes dumb. Finding no cure, he hears that Apollinaris is still alive and sends his wife to ask for help. As he arrives at the house, a possessed girl tries to send him away, but Apollinaris chases the devil from her. He comes into the house and meets Bonifatius.

§ 11: Apollinaris heals Bonifatius with a prayer to Jesus Christ. Bonifatius praises God, more than five hundred people believe in Jesus Christ and are initiated by Apollinaris.

§ 12: A few days later, some possessed pagans catch Apollinaris and severely beat him with sticks, forbidding him to speak about Jesus. Apollinaris loudly proclaims that Jesus is God; they refuse to hear him and force him to stand on burning coals, but he holds fast. They throw him out of Classe and forbid him to enter the city. Apollinaris preaches about Jesus Christ outside the walls.

§ 13: Numerous Christians from the city come to him. Apollinaris celebrates mass in a hut (tugurium) not far from the walls and performs baptisms in the sea. Several years later, Apollinaris goes to [the province of] Aemilia, instructing people secretly. In the meantime, the priest Calocerus administrates the Church in Ravenna. Soon after, Apollinaris comes back from Aemilia.

§ 14: At that time Rufus, patricius and consul has the military command (ducatus) over Ravenna. As his only daughter is ill, he hears about Apollinaris and asks that he should come to his house. As Apollinaris comes with clerics, the daughter dies. Rufus is irritated against the gods who refused to save his daughter and wonders if Apollinaris can help. Apollinaris asks Rufus to swear that he will allow his daughter to follow her saviour Jesus Christ; he agrees.

§ 15: Apollinaris resurrects the girl with a prayer to Jesus Christ. She stands up and proclaims that God is great and Apollinaris is his servant. All Christians rejoice, she is baptised with her mother and their household, in total three hundred and twenty-four people; many pagans also believe in Christ.

§ 16: Rufus fears the emperor and secretly cares for Apollinaris. His daughter becomes a consecrated virgin. Pagans tell the emperor that someone from Antioch spreads the name of Jesus Christ in Ravenna thanks to magic and has many followers, including Rufus. The emperor writes to the vicarius Messalinus to make sure that Apollinaris either adheres to the gods or is sent into exile. Messalinus brings Apollinaris to his residence (praetorium) and interrogates him in front of the pontiffs of the capitolium. Apollinaris states that he comes from Antioch and is a Christian and disciple of the Apostles.

§ 17: As Apollinaris explains who Christ is, Messalinus notes that gods cannot die nor suffer. Apollinaris tells him of the incarnation of Christ. Messalinus finds it hard to believe.

§ 18: Apollinaris further explains the two natures of Christ to Messalinus: the flesh (caro) suffered, but God remained immortal and without suffering. Apollinaris then tells him about the resurrection, and the miracles performed by his disciples. Messalinus refuses to follow gods that are not accepted by the Senate. He asks Apollinaris to come to the capitolium and offer incense to Jupiter, otherwise he will be beaten and sent into exile.

§ 19: Apollinaris replies that he will not offer incense, but only honour Jesus Christ. The priests remark that Apollinaris appropriated the function of pontiff (pontifex) that is theirs, to seduce the crowds. Messalinus orders Apollinaris to be beaten in order to bring him to sacrifice to the gods. As he is beaten, Apollinaris shouts that he is Christian and will not change his mind. One of the priests suggests that Apollinaris should be tortured on a rack. When this is done, Apollinaris continues to confess Jesus Christ.

§ 20: Messalinus asks about the rewards expected by Apollinaris for his sufferings. Apollinaris quotes Mathew 24:13 about the salvation offered to those who believe, and endure to the end. All those present admire Apollinaris. Messalinus orders Apollinaris to be tortured again and boiling water to be poured on his wounds, before sending him on a boat to Illyricum into exile, bound with a heavy iron weight. One of the torturers, who had been particularly ferocious towards Apollinaris, is taken by a demon and dies.

§ 21: Apollinaris asks Messalinus to believe in Jesus Christ, but Messalinus orders Apollinaris’ mouth to be crushed with a stone. The Christians that are present are upset; they attack the pagans and kill more than two hundred of them. They plan to kill Messalinus as well, who goes into hiding after ordering Apollinaris to be sent to jail with a heavy weight, his feet stretched, and left with no care until he dies. An angel comes at night, terrifies the guards and comforts Apollinaris. On the fourth day, the judge hears that Apollinaris is still alive; he secretly puts him in chains on a boat and sends him into exile. Three members of Apollinaris’ clergy join him and take care of him.

§ 22: Meanwhile, the Church in Ravenna is administered by priests and deacons and the congregation grows. As the exiles sail near Corinth, the boat hits the land and is broken by a storm. Only Apollinaris with his clerics and two soldiers survive. As the soldiers ask Apollinaris what they should do, he tells them to be baptised. They renounce idols and are baptised.

§ 23: They travel, arrive in Moesia and preach, but nobody receives them. The brother of an important man catches leprosy. Apollinaris asks him to believe in Jesus Christ to be healed; he accepts. Apollinaris heals him; he renounces idols, believes and is baptised. The man then travels to the Danube and converts many there.

§ 24: Apollinaris escapes from pagans to Thrace and stays there several days. There is a temple of Serapis in a city: during Apollinaris' stay the god offers no response to the offerings being made and says that it is because of Apollinaris who hinders him through his preaching. People find Apollinaris and interrogate him, he tells them that he is a Christian sent into exile from Ravenna.

§ 25: Apollinaris is beaten and taken to the sea. The governor (rector) of the province is asked to provide a boat to send him back to Italy. After three years, Apollinaris arrives back in Ravenna, Christians rejoice; he performed many miracles on his way along the Dalmatian coast.

§ 26: After a long time, as Apollinaris celebrates mass on the suburban estate of the senator Pyreneus (suburbano Pyrenei senatoris), pagans rush at Apollinaris, catch him, beat him and bring him to the forum. The pontiffs of the capitolium refuse to bring him to Jupiter but instead send him to Apollo, followed by a crowd of Christians and pagans. When they arrive there, pagans explain to Apollinaris that Apollo is their god and protector of the city.

§ 27: Apollinaris tells them that when the temple will be destroyed, Jesus Christ will offer protection in the same place