Justin the Philosopher (about 100 - 165). Born in Nablus (Samaria), he knew both the ancient philosophers and the Jewish Law well. In search of truth, he converted to Christianity in Ephesus. After this, he went to Rome to preach, where he opened his own philosophical school. He provided some autobiographical information in the “Dialogue with Tryphon the Jew,” dedicated to revealing the truth of the Christian gospel, based on the evidence of the Old Testament. He also wrote two apologies, the first to Emperor Antoninus Pius, the second to Marcus Aurelius. There, for the first time, the idea appears that for pagans it was philosophy that was the predecessor of Christianity. Interestingly, his apologies contain information about the practices of Baptism and the Eucharist accepted at that time. The anonymous "Epistle to Diognetus" is also attributed to him. They mention that he wrote another great work against the Gnostics, the so-called. “Syntagma.” Around 165, he entered into a dispute with Crescentus, a philosopher of the Cynic school, who reported Justin’s Christianity to the authorities. Being arrested, he confessed his faith and suffered martyrdom.