2nd century
Saint Aristides of Athens
Second-century Athenian philosopher, author of one of the earliest Christian apologies.
Biography
Aristides was an Athenian philosopher from a distinguished family who lived in the 2nd century, during the reign of Emperor Hadrian. He is known as the author of an Apology in defence of Christians, addressed to Hadrian around 124-125, one of the oldest surviving Christian apologetic texts. The complete text, long thought lost, was recovered in the 19th century in Armenian and Syriac translation.
According to church tradition, he converted to Christianity through Saints Dionysius and Hierotheus and was martyred in Athens, where he was hanged in the city's marketplace.