In 1978, during restoration work in the church, a remarkable gravestone for a Roman Centurion of Legio XV Apollinaris, who is also described as a 'Negotiator' or trader, was found in the wall of the sacristy.
The Sassanids marked a major victory in 256, when they defeated the XV Apollinaris and conquered its fortress, Satala, sacking Trapezus in 258.
After the conflict was over the unit stayed in the east with a new headquarters at Satala in northeastern Cappadocia, with elements stationed at Trapezus on the Black Sea and at Ancyra, modern-day Ankara.
Sidonius Apollinaris | Legio XVIII | Legio XVII | Legio XV Apollinaris | Legio XIX | Legio V ''Iovia'' | Legio V Iovia | Legio VI Herculia | Legio VI Ferrata | Legio II Augusta | legio VI Ferrata | legio III Gallica | XV ''Apollinaris'' | Legio XX Valeria Victrix | Legio XIV Gemina | Legio X Equestris | Legio VI ''Ferrata'' | Legio IV Scythica | Legio II ''Augusta'' | Legio I Adiutrix | Apollinaris of Ravenna | Apollinaris of Laodicea | Apollinaris |