Athenagoras of Athens
Greek philosopher and Father of the Church (c.133–c.190)
Feast: 24 July (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Who they were
Athenagoras was an Athenian philosopher of the second half of the second century who became a Christian. Almost nothing else is known about his life.
Two of his works survive: a written plea for fair treatment of the Christians addressed to the Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Commodus about 176 or 177, which answers the charges of atheism, immorality and cannibalism and gives an early clear account of the unity of God and of the Trinity; and a treatise on the resurrection of the body, the first full treatment of that teaching in Christian writing.
The miracles
The Catholic Encyclopedia does not describe any miracles or a formal cause.
Why that counted as sanctity
A second-century Athenian philosopher who wrote a reasoned defence of the Christians.
Connected on this site
- Clement of Alexandria Saint Pupil
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - Athenagoras
- Wikidata Q309772 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Athenagoras of Athens (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 22 September 2026. Corrections welcome.