Peter Apselamus

{{short description|3rd-century Christian martyr}}

Peter Abselamus (also known as Peter Absalon, Peter Balsamus, and Peter of Atroa), also called "the Standard Bearer", was a third-century Christian martyr. He was born in Anea, near Eleutheropolis and was known for his physical strength,Synaxarium Armen. charity and piety.

There is substantial disagreement regarding his death in 311 AD. The account in his Acta Sanctorum indicate that he was tortured and killed at Aulana, near Hebron, and later crucified.[https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2020/01/12/100159-martyr-peter-apselamus-of-palestine "Martyr Peter Apselamus of Palestine", OCA] Another account, in Eusebius of Caesarea's History of the Martyrs in Palestine, indicates he was burned alive in Caesarea; yet another account gives a date of the 11th of January 309.Eusebius, PG 20, 1497

Louis-Sébastien Le Nain de Tillemont has stated that two different people are mentioned in the accounts. He stated that Peter Abselamus was crucified at Aulana, and that a different person, Peter Absalon, was burned at Caesarea.Holweck, F. G. A Biographical Dictionary of the Saints. St. Louis, MO: B. Herder Book Co. 1924.

The martyr at Aulana is commemorated as a saint, with a feast day of January 3. The martyr at Caesarea's feast day is January 13.Holweck, F. G. A Biographical Dictionary of the Saints. St. Louis, MO: B. Herder Book Co. 1924.

The Greek liturgy has his feast day on Oct 14,A. Mertens,[http://www.christusrex.org/www1/ofm/sbf/escurs/wwc/p.html "Who was a Christian in the Holy Land?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714025610/http://www.christusrex.org/www1/ofm/sbf/escurs/wwc/p.html |date=2015-07-14 }} and is the only Palestinian martyr from the persecution of Diocletian, who has his name in the Jerusalem calendar.