Patronage
2 saints are venerated as patrons of Apologists, led by Justin Martyr (feast day June 1).
Approx. 100 AD — Approx. 165 AD · Feast day: June 1
Justin Martyr was a pagan philosopher from Samaria who found in Christianity the only philosophy that could not be refuted — and spent the rest of his life arguing it before the Roman Empire. He wrote the first great defenses of Christian doctrine addressed directly to the emperor, then died by beheading in 165 AD when a rival philosopher denounced him to the prefect Junius Rusticus.
Approx. 125 AD — Approx. 202 AD · Feast day: June 28
Born in Smyrna and schooled at the feet of Bishop Polycarp — who had known the Apostle John — Irenaeus of Lyon became the second century's great bulwark against Gnosticism, writing the first comprehensive defense of orthodox Christian doctrine. When his predecessor died a martyr, Irenaeus took up the bishop's staff and held the Church of Lyon together against heresy, persecution, and division.