Episode 2462: St. Aristides

St. Aristides, also known as Aristides the Athenian, was an early Christian philosopher and apologist who lived during the 2nd century AD. He is best known for his "Apology," a defense of the Christian faith, which he presented to the Roman Emperor Hadrian around 125 AD. This work is one of the earliest known Christian apologies and aimed to defend Christianity against misconceptions and criticisms, while also providing a reasoned explanation of Christian beliefs.

Aristides was a philosopher from Athens, and like other early Christian apologists, he used his background in philosophy to engage with the intellectual culture of the time. His Apology is written in a straightforward, reasoned style, presenting arguments for the existence of God and the truth of the Christian faith, while also criticizing the pagan religions of the Roman Empire. He divides humanity into three groups: idolaters, Jews, and Christians, emphasizing the moral superiority of Christians and the reasonableness of their faith.

Aristides' work was lost for many centuries and was rediscovered in 1878 when a complete Greek manuscript was found in a monastery in Mount Athos. Prior to that, it was known only through references in the writings of later Christian authors. His Apology survives today in several forms, including Greek, Armenian, and Syriac translations.