Apollonius of Interamna

Holy Martyr Apollonius of Interamna (Italy) is commemorated together with Holy Hieromartyr Valentine, bishop of Interamna, the martyrs Proculus and Ephebus and the righteous Abundius. They are commemorated on 12 August.

Saint Valentine was bishop of the city of Interamna in Umbria (Italy). He received from God the gift of healing diseases, calling on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the time of Emperor Aurelian (270 to 275), three young men, Proculus, Ephebus and Apollonius, came from Athens to Rome to study the sciences and settled in the house of their teacher, Craton. Craton's son, Chaeremon, injured his back, which bent so much that the young man could no longer straighten up. For three years he went to various physicians, without benefit. In the end Craton invited Bishop Valentine to pray for his sick son. Arriving in Rome, the hierarch shut himself in a room with the young man and prayed earnestly all night. The next morning the young man came out of the room perfectly healthy. The news of the wonder spread through Rome and many began to turn to the Christian faith, among them the son of the city prefect, named Abundius. The prefect, a fanatical pagan, turned all his anger on Saint Valentine. They forced him to renounce the faith and bow to idols. Failing, they threw him into prison. There he was visited by Craton's pupils, who had accepted Christianity. But soon Saint Valentine's head was cut off. After him Craton's pupils also suffered: Proculus, Ephebus and Apollonius, for spreading the Christian faith. Abundius buried them beside the tomb of the holy hieromartyr Valentine.