Babylas

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Arm reliquary of Saint Babylas (1467), now in Philadelphia

Babylas († around 253 in Antioch ) was Bishop of Antioch as the successor of Zebinus . He died a martyr during the persecution of Christians by Decius or one of the subsequent emperors. The most important source for his life and martyrdom is the Historia ecclesiastica of Eusebius of Caesarea . The beginning of his term of office is usually dated to the year 240 (according to other information: 237). According to legend, his martyrdom is due to the fact that he prevented the emperor from entering a Christian church as long as he did not repent for his deeds. The next day, Babylas and his students Urban, Prilidian and Eppolonias, who were still children, and their mother Christodoula had been arrested and mistreated. Babylas insisted on being buried in his chains; he died of the injuries sustained prior to his execution. This report by John Chrysostom or the acts of martyrs is, however, not considered to be credible. The motive that a bishop denies an emperor access to the church is already encountered in Eusebius, who relates it to Philip Arabs in Historia ecclesiastica, VI, 34 . Only the fact of the martyr's death itself is certain. It also remains uncertain whether this took place under Decius, around 250/51, or later in 253. Babylas was replaced in the episcopate by Fabius of Antioch .

Babylas is venerated as a saint . His feast day is January 24th in the Catholic Church and September 4th in the Orthodox Church . He became the main patron saint of Antioch. His grave soon became a popular place of pilgrimage. The Christian emperor Constantius Gallus then had the bones of Babylas transported to Daphne, a suburb of Antioch, and he built a church there. His brother, Emperor Julian , is said to have prayed to the pagan god in the neighboring Temple of Apollo, but the proximity of Saint Babylas prevented an answer, whereupon Julian returned the man's bones to their old place. In the Middle Ages they came to Cremona in Italy as relics , where they are venerated to this day. One arm was part of the reliquary treasure of Brunswick Cathedral , an arm reliquary was made for it in 1467 , which later became part of the Welfenschatz and is now in the Philadelphia Museum of Art .

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predecessor Office successor
Zebinus Bishop of Antioch
240–253 		Fabius
personal data
SURNAME Babylas
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Bishop of Antioch
DATE OF BIRTH 2nd century or 3rd century
DATE OF DEATH at 253
Place of death Antioch