Two Inseparable Friends THE example of two Christians who lived
in the second century will help us to perceive the value of a
truly Christian friendship. One was called Epipodius, the other
Alexander. They had been close friends since childhood.
Epipodius was born in Lyon. Alexander was of Greek origin. But
they had grown up together, studied together, and known, loved
and served our Lord Jesus Christ together. Their relatives were
among the most powerful people in the Empire; but the two
friends had resolved to live their lives in poverty, chastity,
and devotion to relieving all the misery of their fellow-men.
They had therefore refused to marry or to accept the fine
positions offered to them. In 177, in the reign of Marcus
Aurelius, persecution flared up again. In Lyon, such a great
slaughter of Christians was carried out that the waters of the
Rhone were colored with their blood. Epipodius and Alexander, in
order to keep the precepts of Jesus Christ, first hid in a town
near Lyon, at the house of a good Ch