Saint Apollinaris the Apologist

Saint Severin of Noricum

WITHIN THE OCTAVE

SIMPLE / WHITE

The Mass of the Feast of the EPIPHANY is said.

SAINT APOLLINARIS THE APOLOGIST
Bishop and Martyr
(Historical)

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

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.

Nothing survives of his writings except for a few extracts, the longest of which relates to the date of Passover.

SAINT SEVERINUS OF NORICUM
Hermit, Archbishop
(Historical)

Severinus of Noricum (ca. 410-482) is a Roman Catholic saint, known as the "Apostle to Noricum". It has been speculated that he was born in either Southern Italy or in the Roman province of Africa, after the death of Attila in 453. Severinus himself refused to discuss his personal history before his appearance along the Danube in Noricum. However, he did mention experiences with eastern desert monasticism, and his vita draws connections between Severinus and St. Anthony of Egypt.