Abercius

Abercius bishop of HIERAPOLIS, in Phrygia, was raised to that see about A.D. 164, upon the martyrdom of St. Papias. He suffered great torments from the heathen under Marcus Aurelius, but died in peace during the reign of that emperor. Neither Eusebius nor any other ancient writer makes mention of Abercius, who, according to Baronius, wrote an excellent Book of Discipline, to be observed by priests and deacons, and an apology to Marcus Aurelius the emperor; both of which the cardinal promised to give entire in his Annales, but it was not done. The Greeks, who give him the title of Ι᾿σὰπόστολος, commemorate him on Oct. 22. See Cave, Hist. Lit. 1, 66; Baronius, Annales, A.D. 163, No. 15.