Apollinaris was little over twenty when he was ordained a priest. In 486, when he was thirty-three years old, he was made bishop of the long-vacant See of Valence, and under his care abuses were corrected and morals reformed, restoring its previous stature.
Apollinaris's early priestly career began when he was just over twenty. By 486, at thirty-three, he became the bishop of the long-neglected diocese of Valence, where he addressed issues like abuse and promoted a more virtuous atmosphere, ultimately restoring the see to its former prominence.