Saint Apollinaris of Hierapolis (also known as Apollinaris the Apologist, and Saint Apollinarius Claudius) was a second century bishop of Hierapolis, Phrygia (modern Turkey). He was held in high esteem by other early saints including Saint Jerome. He wrote "Apologia", a defense of the faith to the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. The work was a reminder to that emperor of a miraculous victory that resulted from the prayers of Christian soldiers, and of his promise of protection for Christians.
Saint Apollinaris worked and wrote against all the major heresies of his time, refuting them by destroying the heresy's philosophical roots. According to Saint Jerome he was a prolific writer, having written six books, but, most of his work has been lost over the centuries, existing only in fragments. He died around (sources vary) 175-178 A.D.
Below is from Saint Jeromes "Lives of Illustrious Men" :
Apollinaris the bishop - Apollinaris, bishop of Hierapolis in Asia, flourished in the reign of Marcus Antoninus Verus, to whom he addressed a notable volume in behalf of the faith of the Christians. There are extant also five other books of his Against the Nations, two On truth and Against the Cataphrygians written at the time when Montanus was making a beginning with Prisca and Maximilla.
