Baring-Gould’s sources: Roman Martyrology. Usuardus, Ado, Notker, &c. Authority JERAPION, eighth bishop of Antioch in succession from the apostles, ruled the church of Antioch in Syria at the time when Montanism was making some progress, and many were bewitched by Themistion, Alexander, and the prophetesses Maximilla and Priscilla. Apollonius, an ecclesiastical writer of the time, composed a treatise against the Montanists, and made a special onslaught upon Alexander, who seems to have been a clever rogue, who took up the cause of Montanism, not from conviction, but for the sake of his own private advantage. Maximilla and Priscilla were doubtless sincere fanatics — hysterical, vain, excitable women, whose foolish ravings were mistaken by their followers for the utterances of the Holy Spirit, and were as seriously regarded by the Catholics as the deliverances of a demon. Serapion wrote to Caricus and Ponticus on the matter, enclosing the treatise of Apollinaris, and formally condemning Montanism. His letter was signed by several other bishops. One appended his name thus, “^Elius Publius Julius, bishop of Debeltum, a colony of Thrace; as sure as God lives in heaven, the blessed Sotas, in Anchialus, wished to cast the demon out of Priscilla, but the hypocrites would not allow him.”

Serapion was elected bishop of Antioch about 189, and died in 2 1 1. He wrote, in addition to the letter to Ponticus and Caricus, a treatise against Domninus, who having given way in persecution, had turned Jew, and a treatise on the Gospel of S. Peter, which was used in the church of Rhossus, in Cicilia. Taking it for granted, as he says, that all in his diocese held the same faith, without perusing this Gospel, he sanctioned its use, saying, u If this be the only thing that creates difference among you, let it be read.” But he was speedily made aware that this Gospel was not orthodox in its tendency. It was found favourable to Docetic opinions, if not by its statements, at least by its omissions. It was whispered that if it had an apostolic parentage, it had heretical sponsors. Serapion thereupon borrowed the Gospel, read it, and found it was even as had been reported. “ Peter,” said he, “ we receive with the other apostles as Christ himself,” but this Gospel was, if not apocryphal as to its facts, at all events heretical as to its teaching.1 Thereupon he wrote his book against it.

1 See an account of this Gospel in my volume, " The Lost and Hostile Gospels,* oet 3a] 5. Marcellus. 719