St. Abercius Marcellus
Feastday: October 22
200
Bishop and
apologist whose
hagiography dates to the second century. The
bishop of Hieropolis in Phrygia, he made a visit to
Rome at the age of seventy-two. In Rome, Abercius was supposedly commanded by Emperor
Marcus Aurelius to rid his daughter, Lucilla, of a demon. Following this event, Abercius is recorded as visiting
Syria and the Euphrates River. The details of Abercius'
life led to debate through the centuries concerning their authenticity and veracity. It is known that Abercius was the
bishop of Heiropolis in the area called Phrygia Salutaris. In the original "Inscriptions of Abercius," an epitaph on a stele now in the Vatican, the saintly
bishop comments on the dazzling
seal of
Baptism that unites Christians everywhere. He speaks of the Holy
Eucharist as well. Later interpretations of this "Inscription" were written in Greek and widely embellished, leading to debate. Abercius appears in Greek records in the tenth century but was not included in St. Jerome's martyrology.
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