ON S. APOLLO BISHOP AMONG THE GREEKS, AND S. ALEXIUS BISHOP OF BITHYNIA.
From the Menaea and Synaxaries.
CommentaryApollo Bishop, among the Greeks (S.)
Alexius, Bishop in Bithynia (S.)
D. P.
Uncertain whether both are to be ascribed to Bithynia: These two holy Bishops are so joined, that yet we cannot certainly define, whether each pertains to Bithynia. For in the printed Menaea and in Maximus Bishop of Cythera ἐν βίοις ἁγίων, these things in Greek are read at the end of this day: "And memory of the holy Apollo the Bishop, but of Alexius Bishop of Bithynia." In the ancient Ms. Synaxary of the Church of Constantinople these are written thus. "And memory of our holy Father Apollo the Bishop:" and again, with a new red letter at the beginning; "And of Alexius Bishop of Bithynia." We have also noted both to be represented as Bishop in the Greek Menaea of the Ambrosian Library of Milan, in the book signed O 148, the former is also referred on the following day, but whether the same difference there is preserved, or they are referred jointly, as if both pertaining to the same Bithynia, our memory does not suggest to us; nor is it of such importance that we should order it more laboriously investigated. Especially since in the Dijon Synaxary, found by us with Petrus Franciscus Chiffletius, on the following day the same (as I judge) Saint Apollo Bishop is placed, without a companion, and without mention of Bithynia in this manner. "The holy M. Apollos Bishop, in peace is consummated." as having died in peace. Saint M. Apollo, Bishop, is consummated in peace. But it appears from the aforesaid, that the Greeks indifferently write ὁ Ἀπόλλων, τοῦ Ἀπόλλωνος, and ὁ Ἀπολλὼς τοῦ Ἀπολλῶ; and so with the name written and declined in Acts XVIII and XIX and thereafter, in Paul's Epistles to the Corinthians and to Titus, is found the famous Apollo, of whom at the beginning of this day I treated, nor can I persuade myself, that one and the same is here noted. For him, by usual custom, the Greeks would not have simply called Bishop, but Apostle; nor would they have dismissed without a prolix encomium, to be taken from the Scriptures: but that this is much younger is also persuaded by the title "of our Holy Father," in the Paris Synaxary specially added, nor accustomed to be given to Apostles or their disciples. But that in the Dijon M is prefixed, a mark of martyrdom; this seems rather to have fallen out through the scribe's inadvertence, than to have been done by design: since the same is said to have rested in peace. In the same Synaxary are added these verses, denoting no martyrdom unless spiritual, the continual constituting Christ's; bearing.
"How sweet truly is your yoke, my Christ, / which living he underwent, dying Apollos says."
O how sweet, my Christ, is your yoke, / Apollo dying said, which living I bore.