Baring-Gould’s sources: Roman and almost all Latin Martyrologies, also the Greek Mensea. Authority i — Eusebius, in his History of the Martyrs of Palestine, c. 4 Eusebius was an eye-witness of what he describes.] jjURING the persecution of Maximinus Caesar, afterwards Emperor, in Palestine, among many other sufferers, Apphian, “ that blessed and innocent lamb,” as Eusebius calls him, “ presented a wondrous example of solid piety towards the One true God, and was made a spectacle to all men before the gates of Caesarea.” He was born at Pagas, in Lycia, and he studied at the great legal school of Berytus, where says Eusebius, “notwithstanding the enticements of youthful passions, he rose superior to all, and was neither corrupted in morals by the vehemence of his animal nature, nor by his association with young men, but embraced a modest and sober life, walking honestly and piously, and ruling his conversation as one who had embraced the Christian Faith.” After his return to Pagas from Berytus, he met with great persecution in his family, because his father and kindred did not approve of his strict conduct: and at last finding it impossible to endure their perverse manners any longer, he scarcely fled away, and came to Caesarea, when •S'. Apphian.

The became a disciple of Eusebius [Eusebius of Caesarea (d. c. 339), the first historian of the Church], the historian and chroni der ot his passion. “There associated with us, he studied the Holy Scriptures as much as possible in so short a time, and having prepared himself most cheerfully by the proper exercises and discipline, he finally made so illustrious an end, that it could not be witnessed again without amazement"

Apphian was then aged only twenty, and when persecution broke out, moved by zeal rather than by discretion, he interrupted the governor, Urbanus, whilst he was making libations, by seizing his right hand, and denouncing the worship of idols. He was immediately taken and scourged by the soldiers, and having been covered with wounds, was cast into prison. There he was stretched for a night and day, on the rack. On his next appearance before the judge, “he exhibited an invincible fortitude in bearing pain and horrid tortures. His sides were not only once or twice, but often furrowed and scraped to the very bones and bowels, and he was so beaten about the face and neck, that those who had known him well did not recognise his bruised and swollen face. But as he did not yield even to this, they covered his feet with linen steeped in oil, and, at the command of the governor, the tormentors applied fire to them. The sufferings which this blessed youth then endured, seem to me to exceed all power of description. The fire, after consuming his flesh, penetrated to the bones, so that the humours of the body, liquified like wax, fell in drops; but as he did not yield even to this, his antagonists at.a loss to account for his superhuman perseverance, committed him again to prison. He was summoned again the third day before the judge and still declaring his fixed purpose of professing Christ, already half dead, he was thrown into the sea, and drowned. “What happened immediately after this, would scarcely be credited by any who had not seen it with his own eyes. All the inhabitants of Caesarea were witnesses of the fact we relate. As soon as the holy youth was cast into the sea, suddenly a roaring and crashing sound were heard in the sea and air; and the earth and city were shaken. And at the same moment, the sea cast up the body of the martyr before the gates of the city. This took place on the fourth of the nones of April, on the day of the preparation, or Friday.” This was either April 5th, a.d. 306, or April 2nd, a.d. 308.