Antipas, Bishop of Pergamos, Saint Martyr

Antipas lived in the time of the Apostles, as he was a disciple of Saint the Apostle John the Theologian, and he became bishop of Pergamos. He was old when the pagans seized him after the demons announced to them that they could no longer accept their sacrifice because Antipas’s prayer would push them out of the city. This frightened them and angered them, so they arrested Antipas and handed him over to the governor, who sought to force him to disbelieve in Christ and return to worshiping idols. The ruler’s argument was that idolatry was ancient, while Christianity was the religion of useless people, and its Christ was eliminated because he broke the law.

The governor's argument was of no use. After some discussion, the saint of God was thrown into the belly of a heated bronze bull, into which, as was said, sacrifices to idols were thrown, and he died.

It is noteworthy that the date of his death is not completely specified. Some say around the year 83 or 93, the time of Domitian, and some say around the year 68 AD, the time of Nero.

Whatever the case, his shrine in Pergamos has been a pilgrimage site and a hospital for the sick throughout the ages, especially for those suffering from toothache.

وقد كتب عنه يوحنا الإنجيلي في الرؤيا الكلام الآتي على لسان المسيح الذي قاله لملاك كنيسة برغامس، وهو: “لم تنكر إيماني حتى في الأيام التي كان فيها انتيباس شهيدي الأمين الذي قتل عندكم حيث يسكن الشيطان” (رؤ 2″ 13)

The church celebrates it on April 11

Troparia in the fourth tune
You became similar to the apostles in their circumstances and a successor in their chairs, and through your work you found promotion to the revolutionary, O you who meditate on God. For this reason, you followed the word of truth with integrity and struggled for the faith to the point of blood, O martyr among the priests, Antipas. So intercede with Christ God to save our souls.