Serapion on the New Prophecy

Serapion, who, the story goes, became bishop of the church of Antioch after Maximinus in the times we are describing, mentions the writings of Apolinarius against this heresy. He mentions him in a private letter to Caricus and Pontius, in which he too exposes the same heresy, and adds the following: [a] “So that you may know this too, that the working of this false order, called the new prophecy, is held in abomination by the whole brotherhood in the world, I have sent you also the writings of Claudius Apolinarius, the most blessed, who was bishop at Hierapolis in Asia.”

In this letter of Serapion are also found the signed notes of various bishops. One of them has signed in this way: “Aurelius Quirinius, a witness: I pray for your health.” And another in this way: “Aelius Publius Julius, bishop of Debeltum, a colony of Thrace. As God lives in the heavens, the blessed Sotas of Anchialus wanted to drive out the demon of Priscilla, and the hypocrites would not let him.” [b] The signed notes of a good many other bishops who agreed with them, in their own hands, are found in the same letter. So much for these men.