(ABOUT A.D. 395.)
[Commemorated on this day by Greeks and Latins alike, though some
Latin Martyrologies note him on the 18th April. Authorities: his
life by Palladius in the Hist. Lausiaca; and Sozomen, lib. iii. c.
14, who calls him Apollonius. Palladius is an excellent authority,
for during his residence among the hermits of the Thebaid, he was
personally acquainted with Apollo.]
This illustrious hermit began his discipline of himself by a solitary
life in the desert, at the age of fifteen. He spent forty years by
himself, and then, called by God to guide the souls of others, he became
head of a congregation of monks in Upper Egypt. In the reign of Julian
the Apostate, hearing that his brother, who was in the army, was
imprisoned for his religion, he went at the head of his monks to visit
him. The tribune entering the prison shortly after, and seeing so many
monks within, ordered the gates to be closed, and vowed he would enlist
them all as soldiers. But in the night an angel came, bearing a lamp,
and opened the doors of the prison and led them forth, and they escaped
with great joy to their beloved desert. About fifty monks obeyed him;
but he did not confine his sympathies to them. Hearing that the country
people were about to fight one another about some trifling subject of
contention, Apollo rushed from his rocks, and flinging himself amongst
them, conjured them not to shed one another's blood. One party promised
to retire, but the other, headed by a redoubted robber, confident in his
powers, held out. Then Apollo turned to the chief and said, "My son, lay
down thine arms, and I will pray God to pardon thy many offences." The
man cast away his weapons, and threw himself at the feet of the abbot.
On another occasion he heard that a village procession of a famous
wooden idol was about to take place; he went down, and kneeling, prayed
God to prevent it. Then the image became immovable, so that neither
priest nor people could take it from its place in the temple. The
priests said, "A Christian has done this." "Yes," said Apollo, "I have
done it by my prayers," and he exhorted the people to forsake the
worship of such vain gods.
One Easter day the community had only some old stale loaves and a few
dried olives, and they lamented that on so great a day they must fast,
as in Lent. "Be of good cheer," said the abbot, "let each ask for what
he likes best, and on such a day the loving God will give it him." But
they would not ask, thinking themselves unworthy of such a favour. But
he said, "Fear not, I will pray." Then they all knelt down, and Apollo
asked, and they said Amen. Now as this response came, behold there
arrived men and asses bringing a present to the monks, and it consisted
of fresh loaves, pomegranates, citrons, honey in the comb, nuts, and a
pitcher of fresh milk, grapes and figs, and large luscious dates
(_nicolai_).
The monks of Apollo communicated every day, and some ate nothing from
communion to communion, living only on this heavenly food. These were
some of the pieces of advice Apollo gave to his monks:--"It behoves us
to be ever joyous, for we ought not to be sad about our salvation. The
Gentiles are sad, the Jews weep, and sinners mourn, all those whose
affections are fixed on earthly things have cause to be agitated in
mind, but not we." And it was so, that the monks were always cheerful
and gay, and if any appeared sad, the abbot knew the cause must be sin,
and he sent for him. "Let the monks communicate every day, for those who
withdraw from the Sacraments, from them God withdraws Himself. But he
who approaches them assiduously receives the Saviour. That is a salutary
saying, 'He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in Me,
and I in him.' Daily, therefore, let the monks prepare themselves, and
daily let them receive it." "Let asceticism," he added, "be secret. I do
not like those who put chains on their necks,--they do it to be seen of
men; let them rather fast in their cells, where no one will know
anything about it."