Holy Abercius, Equal to the Apostles, Bishop of Hierapolis, Wonderworker (+c. 167)

Saint Abercius, equal to the apostles, bishop of Hierapolis, laboured in the second century. Hierapolis in Phrygia was at first inhabited almost entirely by pagans, and the blessed father prayed fervently that their souls might be turned to the way of salvation. Once an angel stood before the saint and commanded him to shatter the idols standing in the pagans’ place of assembly. Moved by divine zeal, the bishop went by night into the temple of Apollo and carried out the heavenly command. When day broke the idol-worshippers learned what had happened and gathered a troop of soldiers to seize Saint Abercius. Well-wishers warned Saint Abercius beforehand and advised him to hide somewhere, but he, burning with the desire for martyrdom for Christ, went out into the city square and publicly exposed the false religion of the pagans. The lawless grew still more furious and made for him gnashing their teeth, but at that moment three young men in the crowd, possessed by demons, suddenly began to howl horribly. The people took fright. And the holy hierarch by the power of prayer drove the evil spirits out of the young men. When they saw this miracle, the godless who had gathered came to their senses, glorified the true God with one accord, fell at Saint Abercius’s feet and asked him to instruct them in the Christian faith. Only a few who fought against God slipped quietly away from the place. The Lord’s chosen one preached until late in the evening, and then blessed the people and told them to prepare for holy baptism.

From that day on Bishop Abercius carried out the heavy duties of a chief shepherd without hindrance, and after hot, healing springs had gushed out of the earth at the saint’s prayer to stop a raging epidemic, the whole of Hierapolis joined the flock of Christ. Some time later the wonderworking hierarch was summoned to Rome, where, against every expectation of the physicians, he healed the daughter of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius (161–180), who lay on her deathbed. After this the grateful autocrat at once stopped the persecution of the Christians and, at Saint Abercius’s request, allotted grain from the state treasury every year to each poor person of Hierapolis.

Besides Hierapolis the holy hierarch Abercius preached in Syria, Cilicia and Mesopotamia, where he converted countless people to Christianity. For his unwearying labours the blessed one was called equal to the apostles. For many years the holy father defended the Church against heretics, strengthened the faith of those who hoped in the Saviour, set those who had gone astray on the right path and healed the sick. And at last, around 167, at the age of seventy-two, he committed his soul to the Lord.