Rheus Agathopus

{{Short description|Companion of Ignatius of Antioch}}

Rheus Agathopus or Rheius Agathopus was a companion of Ignatius of Antioch and a second century deacon in Syria. He was mentioned along with Philo of Cilicia in two of his epistles, in the epistle to the Smyrneans and Philadelphians.{{Cite web |title=Philip Schaff: ANF01. The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus - Christian Classics Ethereal Library |url=https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.v.vi.xi.html |access-date=2022-06-18 |website=www.ccel.org}}{{Cite web |title=Henry Wace: Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century A.D., with an Account of the Principal Sects and Heresies. - Christian Classics Ethereal Library |url=https://www.ccel.org/ccel/wace/biodict.html?term=Philo,%20deacon |access-date=2022-06-18 |website=www.ccel.org}} Rheus Agathopus and Philo of Cilicia accompanied Ignatius on his journey to Rome, and the book Martyrium Ignatii has been attributed to him, along with Philo of Cilicia, though even scholars who believe it is authentic often believe that it has been likely largely interpolated.{{Cite web |title=Ignatius of Antioch |url=http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/info/ignatius-cathen.html |access-date=2022-06-18 |website=www.earlychristianwritings.com}} Rheus Agathopus joined Ignatius in Troas.{{Cite book |last=Fathers |first=Apostolic |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8O9lZTqxI0oC&dq=Rheus+Agathopus&pg=PA105 |title=The Apostolic Fathers |date=2009-06-01 |publisher=Moody Publishers |isbn=978-1-57567-331-8 |language=en}}