Born in Samaria around the end of the first century, his father and grandfather may have been Roman diplomats. 

As a young man, Justin had a thirst for philosophy and a desire to know about God. 

It took him some time but he eventually found satisfaction in studying Plato. It was then that he crossed paths with a man while walking near the sea shore, who spoke to him about Christianity. 

This conversation would lead Justin to become a Gentile convert, a teacher of his new faith, and the first Christian Philosopher. 

Justin became an apologist, defending the Christian faith using sound philosophical arguments. 

Most of Justin’s writings have been lost, but his first apology survives and, in it, he makes an attempt to convince Roman Emperor Antonius to bring an end to his persecution of Christianity by showing that its logic could not stand up to sound reasoning. 

It was during the reign of Antonius that Justin went to Rome and started a school teaching Philosophy and Christianity. 

There, he began to attract a great number of students, but eventually, he was arrested with several of his students and companions who were then condemned and beheaded around the year 165. 

St. Justin the Martyr, please pray for us.