Justin Martyr

Saint Justin Martyr was born around AD 90–100 at Flavia Neapolis in Samaria, near ancient Shechem, into a Greek family. Restless in his search for truth, he studied the leading philosophies of his day—Stoicism, Aristotelian thought, Pythagoreanism, and especially Platonism—yet found none that could fully satisfy his longing to know God. A providential conversation by the seashore with an aged Christian, who pointed him to the prophets and to Christ as the true Light, led Justin to embrace the faith and to dedicate himself to Christianity as the “true philosophy.” Wearing the philosopher’s cloak, he traveled and taught, eventually founding a school in Rome. In his surviving Apologies and his Dialogue with Trypho, Justin defended Christians against persecution and showed how the Logos had been at work even before the Incarnation, preparing hearts for Christ. Denounced and brought to trial under the prefect Junius Rusticus, Justin and his companions refused to sacrifice to idols and were beheaded around AD 165. He is venerated as a martyr and patron of philosophers. His feast day is June 1.