(3RD OR 4TH CENT.)
[Roman Martyrology, the Evora Breviary, and others.]
This bishop, an Egyptian by birth, accompanied S. Paul of Narbonne, in
his mission into Gaul. A foolish legend[82] (_fabulosa narratio_ it is
called by Henschenius) is to the effect that he was governor of Egypt
at the time when S. Joseph and the B. Virgin went down thither with the
Holy Child Jesus, to escape the persecution of Herod who sought the
young child's life. On the arrival of the child Jesus in Egypt all the
idols fell, and Aphrodisius, recognising in Him his God, bowed before
Him in adoration, and defended the Holy Family from the rage of the
idolatrous priests. After the Ascension he laid down his prefectship
and went to Antioch where he was baptized by S. Peter, and afterwards
sent with S. Sergius Paulus into Gaul. S. Aphrodisius, however,
certainly lived much later than he is represented to have done.
[82] Related by Peter de Natalibus, lib. iii. c. 218.