[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

[Daily Orthodox Readings and Saints]

Scripture Readings and Saints for Fri Jan 4 2008

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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Isaiah 35:1-10  (1st Hour, Prophecy)
1 The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, And the
desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose;
2 It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, Even with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, The excellence of Carmel
and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, The excellency of
our God.
3 Strengthen the weak hands, And make firm the feeble knees.
4 Say to those who are fearful-hearted, Be strong, do not fear!
Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God;
He will come and save you.
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf
shall be unstopped.
6 Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb
sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in
the desert.
7 The parched ground shall become a pool, And the thirsty land springs
of water; In the habitation of jackals, where each lay, There shall be
grass with reeds and rushes.
8 A highway shall be there, and a road, And it shall be called the
Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, But it shall
be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, Shall not go
astray.
9 No lion shall be there, Nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it; It
shall not be found there. But the redeemed shall walk there,
10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, And come to Zion with
singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy
and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Scripture Reading 1 of 12


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Acts 13:25-33  (1st Hour, Epistle)
25 And as John was finishing his course, he said, 'Who do you think I
am? I am not He. But behold, there comes One after me, the sandals of
whose feet I am not worthy to loose.'
26 Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among
you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent.
27 For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they
did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read
every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him.
28 And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate
that He should be put to death.
29 Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him,
they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.
30 But God raised Him from the dead.
31 He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from
Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people.
32 And we declare to you glad tidings-that promise which was made to
the fathers.
33 God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised
up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: 'You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.'
Scripture Reading 2 of 12


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Matthew 3:1-11  (1st Hour, Gospel)
1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of
Judea,
2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"
3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: "The
voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD;
Make His paths straight.' "
4 Now John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt
around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went
out to him
6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his
baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee
from the wrath to come?
8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,
9 and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our
father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to
Abraham from these stones.
10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore
every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into
the fire.
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is
coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to
carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Scripture Reading 3 of 12


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Isaiah 1:16-20  (3rd Hour, Prophecy)
16 Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your
doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil,
17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the
fatherless, Plead for the widow.
18 Come now, and let us reason together, Says the Lord, Though your
sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are
red like crimson, They shall be as wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the
land;
20 But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword;
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
Scripture Reading 4 of 12


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Acts 19:1-8  (3rd Hour, Epistle)
1 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having
passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some
disciples
2 he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you
believed?" So they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether
there is a Holy Spirit."
3 And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they
said, "Into John's baptism."
4 Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance,
saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come
after him, that is, on Christ Jesus."
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord
Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon
them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
7 Now the men were about twelve in all.
8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months,
reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.
Scripture Reading 5 of 12


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Mark 1:1-8  (3rd Hour, Gospel)
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 As it is written in the Prophets: "Behold, I send My messenger
before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You."
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the
LORD; Make His paths straight.' "
4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of
repentance for the remission of sins.
5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to
him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their
sins.
6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and with a leather belt
around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
7 And he preached, saying, "There comes One after me who is mightier
than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose.
8 I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the
Holy Spirit.
Scripture Reading 6 of 12


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Isaiah 12:3-6  (6th Hour, Prophecy)
3 Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation.
4 And in that day you will say: Praise the Lord, call upon His name;
Declare His deeds among the peoples, Make mention that His name is
exalted.
5 Sing to the Lord, For He has done excellent things; This is known in
all the earth.
6 Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion, For great is the Holy One
of Israel in your midst!
Scripture Reading 7 of 12


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Romans 6:3-11  (6th Hour, Epistle)
3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ
Jesus were baptized into His death?
4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that
just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father,
even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death,
certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body
of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of
sin.
7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with
Him,
9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more.
Death no longer has dominion over Him.
10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the
life that He lives, He lives to God.
11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but
alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Scripture Reading 8 of 12


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Mark 1:9-15  (6th Hour, Gospel)
9 It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of
Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
10 And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens
parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove.
11 Then a voice came from heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in whom I
am well pleased."
12 Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness.
13 And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan,
and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.
14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching
the gospel of the kingdom of God,
15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at
hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."
Scripture Reading 9 of 12


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Isaiah 49:8-15  (9th Hour, Prophecy)
8 Thus says the Lord: In an acceptable time I have heard You, And in
the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You and give
You As a covenant to the people, To restore the earth, To cause them
to inherit the desolate heritages;
9 That You may say to the prisoners, Go forth, To those who are in
darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed along the roads, And their
pastures shall be on all desolate heights.
10 They shall neither hunger nor thirst, Neither heat nor sun shall
strike them; For He who has mercy on them will lead them, Even by the
springs of water He will guide them.
11 I will make each of My mountains a road, And My highways shall be
elevated.
12 Surely these shall come from afar; Look! Those from the north and
the west, And these from the land of Sinim.
13 Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O
mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people, And will have mercy
on His afflicted. God Will Remember Zion
14 But Zion said, The Lord has forsaken me, And my Lord has forgotten
me.
15 Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on
the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget
you.
Scripture Reading 10 of 12


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Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7  (9th Hour, Epistle)
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should
live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great
God and Savior Jesus Christ,
14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless
deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good
works.
4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man
appeared,
5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to
His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and
renewing of the Holy Spirit,
6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs
according to the hope of eternal life.
Scripture Reading 11 of 12


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Matthew 3:13-17  (9th Hour, Gospel)
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized
by him.
14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by
You, and are You coming to me?"
15 But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for
thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he
allowed Him.
16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the
water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the
Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.
17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved
Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Scripture Reading 12 of 12



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Forefeast of the Theophany of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ
The third day of the Forefeast of Theophany falls on January 4. The
hymns compare the Feast of the Nativity with the coming Feast. "There
shepherds saw the Child and were amazed; here the voice of the Father
proclaims the only-begotten Son."
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Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles
The Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles was established by the Orthodox
Church to indicate the equal honor of each of the Seventy. They were
sent two by two by the Lord Jesus Christ to go before Him into the
cities He would visit (Luke 10:1).
Besides the celebration of the Synaxis of the Holy Disciples, the
Church celebrates the memory of each of them during the course of the
year:
St James the Brother of the Lord (October 23); Mark the Evangelist
(April 25); Luke the Evangelist (October 18); Cleopas (October 30),
brother of St Joseph the Betrothed, and Simeon his son (April 27);
Barnabas (June 11); Joses, or Joseph, named Barsabas or Justus
(October 30); Thaddeus (August 21); Ananias (October 1); Protomartyr
Stephen the Archdeacon (December 27); Philip the Deacon (October 11);
Prochorus the Deacon (28 July); Nicanor the Deacon (July 28 and
December 28); Timon the Deacon (July 28 and December 30); Parmenas the
Deacon (July 28); Timothy (January 22); Titus (August 25); Philemon
(November 22 and February 19); Onesimus (February 15); Epaphras and
Archippus (November 22 and February 19); Silas, Silvanus, Crescens or
Criscus (July 30); Crispus and Epaenetos (July 30); Andronicus (May 17
and July 30); Stachys, Amplias, Urban, Narcissus, Apelles (October
31); Aristobulus (October 31 and March 16); Herodion or Rodion (April
8 and November 10); Agabus, Rufus, Asyncritus, Phlegon (April 8);
Hermas (November 5, November 30 and May 31); Patrobas (November 5);
Hermes (April 8); Linus, Gaius, Philologus (November 5); Lucius
(September 10); Jason (April 28); Sosipater (April 28 and November
10); Olympas or Olympanus (November 10 ); Tertius (October 30 and
November 10); Erastos (November 30), Quartus (November 10); Euodius
(September 7); Onesiphorus (September 7 and December 8); Clement
(November 25); Sosthenes (December 8); Apollos (March 30 and December
8); Tychicus, Epaphroditus (December 8); Carpus (May 26); Quadratus
(September 21); Mark (September 27), called John, Zeno (September 27);
Aristarchus (April 15 and September 27); Pudens and Trophimus (April
15); Mark nephew of Barnabas, Artemas (October 30); Aquila (July 14);
Fortunatus (June 15) and Achaicus (January 4).
With the Descent of the Holy Spirit the Seventy Apostles preached in
various lands. Some accompanied the Twelve Apostles, like the holy
Evangelists Mark and Luke, or St Paul's companion Timothy, or
Prochorus,the disciple of the holy Evangelist John the Theologian, and
others. Many of them were thrown into prison for Christ, and many
received the crown of martyrdom.
There are two more Apostles of the Seventy: St Cephas, to whom the
Lord appeared after the Resurrection (1 Cor. 15:5-6), and Simeon,
called Niger (Acts 13:1). They also were glorified by apostolic
preaching.
There are discrepancies and errors in some lists of the Seventy
Apostles. In a list attributed to St Dorotheus of Tyre (June 5) some
names are repeated (Rodion, or Herodion, Apollos, Tychicus,
Aristarchus), while others are omitted (Timothy, Titus, Epaphras,
Archippus, Aquila, Olympas). St Demetrius of Rostov consulted the Holy
Scripture, the traditions passed down by the Fathers, and the accounts
of trustworthy historians when he attempted to correct the mistakes
and uncertainties in the list in compiling his collection of Lives of
the Saints.
The Church in particular venerates and praises the Seventy Apostles
because they taught us to honor the Trinity One in Essence and
Undivided.
In the ninth century St Joseph the Hymnographer composed the Canon for
the Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles of Christ.
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Apostle James, of the Seventy, the Brother of the Lord
Holy Apostle James, the Brother of God (Adelphotheos) was the son of
Righteous Joseph the Betrothed of the Most Holy Theotokos (December
26). From his early years James was a Nazarene, a man especially
dedicated to God. The Nazarenes vowed to preserve their virginity, to
abstain from wine, to refrain from eating meat, and not to cut their
hair. The vow of the Nazarenes symbolized a life of holiness and
purity, commanded formerly by the Lord for all Israel. When the Savior
began to teach the nation about the Kingdom of God, St James believed
in Christ and became His apostle. He was chosen as the first Bishop of
Jerusalem.
St James presided over the Council of Jerusalem and his word was
decisive (Acts 15). In his thirty years as bishop, St James converted
many of the Jews to Christianity. Annoyed by this, the Pharisees and
the Scribes plotted together to kill St James. They led the saint up
on the pinnacle of the Jerusalem Temple and asked what he thought of
Jesus. The holy Apostle began to bear witness that Christ is the
Messiah, which was not the response the Pharisees were expecting.
Greatly angered, the Jewish teachers threw him off the roof. The saint
did not die immediately, but gathering his final strength, he prayed
to the Lord for his enemies while they were stoning him. St James'
martyrdom occurred about 63 A.D.
The holy Apostle James composed a Divine Liturgy, which formed the
basis of the Liturgies of Sts Basil the Great and John Chrysostom. The
Church has preserved an Epistle of St James, one of the books of the
New Testament.
In 1853, Patriarch Hierotheus of Alexandria sent to Moscow a portion
of the relics of St James. The Church distinguishes between the holy
Apostle James the Brother of God, and St James the son of Zebedee
(April 30) and St James the son of Alphaeus (October 9).
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Apostle Mark the Evangelist of the Seventy
The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark, also known as John Mark (Acts
12:12), was one of the Seventy Apostles, and was also a nephew of St
Barnabas (June 11). He was born at Jerusalem. The house of his mother
Mary adjoined the Garden of Gethsemane. As Church Tradition relates,
on the night that Christ was betrayed he followed after Him, wrapped
only in a linen cloth. He was seized by soldiers, and fled away naked,
leaving the cloth behind (Mark 14:51-52). After the Ascension of the
Lord, the house of his mother Mary became a place where Christians
gathered, and a place of lodging for some of the Apostles (Acts
12:12).
St Mark was a very close companion of the Apostles Peter and Paul
(June 29) and Barnabas. St Mark was at Seleucia with Paul and
Barnabas, and from there he set off to the island of Cyprus, and he
traversed the whole of it from east to west. In the city of Paphos, St
Mark witnessed the blinding of the sorcerer Elymas by St Paul (Acts
13:6-12).
After working with the Apostle Paul, St Mark returned to Jerusalem,
and then went to Rome with the Apostle Peter. From there, he set out
for Egypt, where he established a local Church.
St Mark met St Paul in Antioch. From there he went with St Barnabas to
Cyprus, and then he went to Egypt again, where he and St Peter founded
many churches. Then he went to Babylon. From this city the Apostle
Peter sent an Epistle to the Christians of Asia Minor, in which he
calls St Mark his son (1 Pet 5:13).
When the Apostle Paul came to Rome in chains, St Mark was at Ephesus,
where St Timothy (January 4) was bishop. St Mark went with him to
Rome. There he also wrote his holy Gospel (ca. 62-63).
>From Rome St Mark traveled to Egypt. In Alexandria he started a
Christian school, which later produced such famous Fathers and
teachers of the Church as Clement of Alexandria, St Dionysius of
Alexandria (October 5), St Gregory Thaumatourgos (November 5), and
others. Zealous for Church services, St Mark composed a Liturgy for
the Christians of Alexandria.
St Mark preached the Gospel in the inner regions of Africa, and he was
in Libya at Nektopolis.
During these journeys, St Mark was inspired by the Holy Spirit to go
again to Alexandria and confront the pagans. There he visited the home
of Ananias, and healed his crippled hand. The dignitary happily took
him in, listened to his words, and received Baptism.
Following the example of Ananias, many of the inhabitants of that part
of the city where he lived were also baptized. This roused the enmity
of the pagans, and they wanted to kill St Mark. Having learned of
this, St Mark made Ananias a bishop, and the three Christians Malchos,
Sabinos, and Kerdinos were ordained presbyters to provide the church
with leadership after his death.
The pagans seized St Mark when he was serving the Liturgy. They beat
him, dragged him through the streets and threw him in prison. There St
Mark was granted a vision of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who strengthened
him before his sufferings. On the following day, the angry crowd again
dragged the saint through the streets to the courtroom, but along the
way St Mark died saying, "Into Your hands, O Lord, I commend my
spirit."
The pagans wanted to burn the saint's body, but when they lit the
fire, everything grew dark, thunder crashed, and there was an
earthquake. The pagans fled in terror, and Christians took up the body
of St Mark and buried it in a stone crypt. This was on April 4, 63.
The Church celebrates his memory on April 25.
In the year 310, a church was built over the relics of St Mark. In
820, when the Moslem Arabs had established their rule in Egypt and
oppressed the Christian Church, the relics of St Mark were transferred
to Venice and placed in the church named for him.
In the ancient iconographic tradition, which adopted symbols for the
holy Evangelists borrowed from the vision of St John the Theologian
(Rev. 4:7) and the prophecy of Ezekiel (Ez.1:10), the holy Evangelist
Mark is represented by a lion, symbolizing the might and royal dignity
of Christ (Rev. 5:5).
St Mark wrote his Gospel for Gentile Christians, emphasizing the words
and deeds of the Savior which reveal His divine Power. Many aspects of
his account can be explained by his closeness to St Peter. The ancient
writers say that the Gospel of Mark is a concise record of St Peter's
preaching.
One of the central theological themes in the Gospel of St Mark is the
power of God achieving what is humanly impossible. The Apostles
performed remarkable miracles with Christ (Mark 16:20) and the Holy
Spirit (Mark 13:11) working through them. His disciples were told to
go into the world and preach the Gospel to all creatures (Mark 13:10,
16:15), and that is what they did.
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Apostle and Evangelist Luke of the Seventy
The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke, was a native of Syrian Antioch,
a companion of the holy Apostle Paul (Phil.1:24, 2 Tim. 4:10-11), and
a physician enlightened in the Greek medical arts. Hearing about
Christ, Luke arrived in Palestine and fervently accepted the preaching
of salvation from the Lord Himself. As one of the Seventy Apostles, St
Luke was sent by the Lord with the others to preach the Kingdom of
Heaven during the Savior's earthly life (Luke 10:1-3). After the
Resurrection, the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to Sts Luke and Cleopas
on the road to Emmaus.
Luke accompanied St Paul on his second missionary journey, and from
that time they were inseparable. When Paul's coworkers had forsaken
him, only Luke remained to assist him in his ministry (2 Tim.
4:10-11). After the martyric death of the First-Ranked Apostles Peter
and Paul, St Luke left Rome to preach in Achaia, Libya, Egypt and the
Thebaid. He ended his life by suffering martyrdom in the city of
Thebes.
Tradition credits St Luke with painting the first icons of the Mother
of God. "Let the grace of Him Who was born of Me and My mercy be with
these Icons," said the All-Pure Virgin after seeing the icons. St Luke
also painted icons of the First-Ranked Apostles Peter and Paul. St
Luke's Gospel was written in the years 62-63 at Rome, under the
guidance of the Apostle Paul. In the preliminary verses (1:1-3), St
Luke precisely sets forth the purpose of his work. He proposes to
record, in chronological order, everything known by Christians about
Jesus Christ and His teachings. By doing this, he provided a firmer
historical basis for Christian teaching (1:4). He carefully
investigated the facts, and made generous use of the oral tradition of
the Church and of what the All-Pure Virgin Mary Herself had told him
(2:19, 51).
In St Luke's Gospel, the message of the salvation made possible by the
Lord Jesus Christ, and the preaching of the Gospel, are of primary
importance.
St Luke also wrote the Acts of the Holy Apostles at Rome around 62-63
A.D. The Book of Acts, which is a continuation of the four Gospels,
speaks about the works and the fruits of the holy Apostles after the
Ascension of the Savior. At the center of the narrative is the Council
of the holy Apostles at Jerusalem in the year 51, a Church event of
great significance, which resulted in the separation of Christianity
from Judaism and its independent dissemination into the world (Acts
15:6-29). The theological focus of the Book of Acts is the coming of
the Holy Spirit, Who will guide the Church "into all truth" John
16:13) until the Second Coming of Christ.
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Apostle Cleophas of the Seventy, the Brother of Joseph the
Betrothed
Saint Cleopas (Cleophas) does not appear on some lists of the Seventy
Apostles. The name Cleopas is mentioned in Luke 24:18 and John 19:25,
but it is not certain that either of these refers to our saint. St
Cleopas is called the younger brother of St Joseph the Betrothed, and
he was married to a woman named Mary.
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Apostle Simeon, of the Seventy, the son of Cleophas
Hieromartyr Simeon, Kinsman of the Lord, Apostle of the Seventy was
the son of Cleopas, younger brother of St Joseph the Betrothed. He
witnessed the miracles of the Lord Jesus Christ, believed in Him and
became one of the Seventy Apostles. St Simeon preached the Gospel of
Christ, proclaimed the truths of the Faith, and denounced idolatry.
After the killing of St James, the first Bishop of Jerusalem (October
23) the Christians chose St Simeon in his place. During the reign of
Emperor Trajan (98-117) it was reported to the Roman governor Atticus
that St Simeon was descended from the lineage of King David (the
Romans exterminated all the descendants of King David) and was
confessing the Christian faith. The pagans seized St Simeon, who at
that time was already one hundred years old. After lengthy torture,
they crucified him.
Eusebius mentions St Simeon in his ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY (Books 2:22,
3:11, 3:32).
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Apostle Barnabas of the Seventy
The holy Apostle Barnabas of the Seventy was born on the island of
Cyprus into the family of the tribe of Levi, and he was named Joseph.
He received his education at Jerusalem, being raised with his friend
and fellow student Saul (the future Apostle Paul) under the renowned
teacher of the Law, Gamaliel. Joseph was devout, he frequented the
Temple, he strictly observed the fasts and avoided youthful
distractions. During this time period our Lord Jesus Christ began His
public ministry. Seeing the Lord and hearing His Divine Words, Joseph
believed in Him as the Messiah. Filled with ardent love for the
Savior, he followed Him. The Lord chose him to be one of His Seventy
Apostles. The other Apostles called him Barnabas, which means "son of
consolation." After the Ascension of the Lord to Heaven, Barnabas sold
land belonging to him near Jerusalem and he brought the money to the
feet of the Apostles, leaving nothing for himself (Acts 4:36-37).
When Saul arrived in Jerusalem after his conversion and sought to join
the followers of Christ, everyone there was afraid of him since he had
persecuted the Church only a short while before. Barnabas, however,
came with him to the Apostles and reported how the Lord had appeared
to Saul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:26-28).
Saint Barnabas went to Antioch to encourage the believers, "Having
come and having seen the grace of God, he rejoiced and he urged all to
cleave to the Lord with sincerity of heart" (Acts 11:23). Then he went
to Tarsus, and brought the Apostle Paul to Antioch, where for about a
year they taught the people. It was here that the disciples first
began to be called Christians (Acts 11:26). With the onset of famine,
and taking along generous alms, Paul and Barnabas returned to
Jerusalem. When King Herod killed St James the son of Zebedee, and had
the Apostle Peter put under guard in prison to please the Jews, Sts
Barnabas and Paul and Peter were led out of the prison by an angel of
the Lord.
They hid out at the house of Barnabas' aunt Maria. Later, when the
persecution had quieted down, they returned to Antioch, taking with
them Maria's son John, surnamed Mark. Under the inspiration of the
Holy Spirit, the prophets and teachers there imposed hands upon
Barnabas and Paul, and sent them off to do the work to which the Lord
had called them (Acts 13:2-3). Arriving in Seleucia, they sailed off
to Cyprus and in the city of Salamis they preached the Word of God in
the Jewish synagogues.
On Paphos they came across a sorcerer and false prophet named
Bar-Jesus, who was close with the proconsul Sergius. Wishing to hear
the Word of God, the proconsul invited the saints to come to him. The
sorcerer attempted to sway the proconsul from the Faith, but the
Apostle Paul denounced the sorcerer, who through his words suddenly
fell blind. The proconsul believed in Christ (Acts 13:6-12).
>From Paphos Barnabas and Paul set sail for Pergamum of Pamphylia, and
then they preached to the Jews and the Gentiles at Pisidian Antioch
and throughout all that region. The Jews rioted and expelled Paul and
Barnabas. The saints arrived in Iconium, but learning that the Jews
wanted to stone them, they withdrew to Lystra and Derben. There the
Apostle Paul healed a man, crippled in the legs from birth. The people
assumed them to be the gods Zeus and Hermes and wanted to offer them
sacrifice. The saints just barely persuaded them not to do this (Acts
14:8-18).
When the question arose whether those converted from the Gentiles
should accept circumcision, Barnabas and Paul went to Jerusalem. There
they were warmly received by the Apostles and elders. The preachers
related "what God had wrought with them and how He had opened the door
of faith to the Gentiles" (Acts 14:27).
After long deliberations the Apostles collectively resolved not to
impose any sort of burden upon Gentile Christians except what was
necessary: to refrain from the pollutions of idols, and from
fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood (Acts
15:19-20). Letters were sent with Barnabas and Paul, and they again
preached at Antioch, and after a certain while they decided to visit
the other cities where they had visited earlier. St Barnabas wanted to
take Mark along with him, but St Paul did not want to, since earlier
he had left them. A quarrel arose, and they separated. Paul took Silas
with him and went to Syria and Cilicia, while Barnabas took Mark with
him to Cyprus (Acts 15:36-41).
Having multiplied the number of believers, St Barnabas traveled to
Rome, where he was perhaps the first to preach Christ.
St Barnabas founded the episcopal see at Mediolanum (now Milan), and
upon his return to Cyprus he continued to preach about Christ the
Savior. Then the enraged Jews incited the pagans against Barnabas, and
they led him out beyond the city and stoned him, and then built a fire
to burn the body. Later on, having come upon this spot, Mark took up
the unharmed body of St Barnabas and buried it in a cave, placing upon
the saint's bosom, in accord with his final wishes, the Gospel of
Matthew which he had copied in his own hand.
St Barnabas died in about the year 62, at age seventy-six. In time,
the burial spot was forgotten, but numerous signs took place at this
spot. In the year 448, in the time of the emperor Zeno, St Barnabas
appeared three times in a dream to Archbishop Cyril of Cyprus and
indicated the place where his relics were buried. Starting to dig at
the indicated spot, Christians found the incorrupt body of the saint,
and upon his chest was the Holy Gospel.
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Apostle Justus of the Seventy
St Justus, called Barsaba, a son of St Joseph the Betrothed, was
chosen in place of Judas, together with Matthias. He was a bishop and
died a martyr's death at Eleutheropolis. He is also commemorated on
October 30.
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Apostle Thaddeus of the Seventy
Saint Thaddeus, Apostle of the Seventy, was by descent a Hebrew, and
he was born in the Syrian city of Edessa. The holy Apostle Thaddeus of
the Seventy must be distinguished from St Jude, also called Thaddeus
or Levi (June 19), who was one of the Twelve Apostles.
When he came to Jerusalem for a feastday, he heard the preaching of
John the Forerunner. After being baptized by him in the Jordan, he
remained in Palestine. He saw the Savior, and became His follower. He
was chosen by the Lord to be one of the Seventy Disciples, whom He
sent by twos to preach in the cities and places where He intended to
visit (Luke. 10: 1).
After the Ascension of the Savior to Heaven, St Thaddeus preached the
good news in Syria and Mesopotamia. He came preaching the Gospel to
Edessa and he converted King Abgar, the people and the pagan priests
to Christ. He backed up his preaching with many miracles (about which
Abgar wrote to the Assyrian emperor Nerses). He established priests
there and built up the Edessa Church.
Prince Abgar wanted to reward St Thaddeus with rich gifts, but he
refused and went preaching to other cities, converting many pagans to
the Christian Faith. He went to the city of Beirut to preach, and he
founded a church there. It was in this city that he peacefully died in
the year 44. (The place of his death is indicated as Beirut in the
Slavonic MENAION, but according to other sources he died in Edessa.
According to an ancient Armenian tradition, St Thaddeus, after various
tortures, was beheaded by the sword on December 21 in the Artaz region
in the year 50).
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Apostle Ananias of the Seventy
The Holy Apostle Ananias of the Seventy was the first Bishop of
Damascus. The Lord ordered him to restore the sight of Saul, the
former persecutor of Christians, then baptize him (Acts 9:10-19,
22:12). Saul became the great preacher and Apostle Paul. St Ananias
boldly and openly confessed Christianity before the Jews and the
pagans, despite the danger.
>From Damascus he went to preach at Eleutheropolis, where he healed
many of their infirmities. Lucian, the prefect of the city, tried to
persuade the holy one to offer sacrifice to idols. Because of Ananias'
staunch and solid confession of Christ, Lucian ordered that he be
tortured. Harsh torments did not sway the witness of Truth. Then the
torturers led him out beyond the city, where they stoned him. The
saint prayed for those who put him to death. His relics were later
transferred to Constantinople.
St Ananias is also commemorated on October 1.
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Apostle Stephen the Archdeacon of the Seventy
The Holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen was the eldest of the
seven deacons, established by the Apostles themselves, and therefore
he is called "archdeacon." He was the first Christian martyr, and he
suffered for Christ at about age 30. In the words of Asterias, he was
"the starting point of the martyrs, the instructor of suffering for
Christ, the foundation of righteous confession, since Stephen was the
first to shed his blood for the Gospel."
Filled with the Holy Spirit, St Stephen preached Christianity and
defeated Jewish teachers of the Law in debate. The Jews maligned St
Stephen, saying that he had uttered blasphemy against God and against
Moses. St Stephen came before the Sanhedrin and the High Priest to
answer these charges. He gave a fiery speech, in which he recounted
the history of the Jewish nation, and denounced the Jews for
persecuting the prophets, and also for executing the promised Messiah,
Jesus Christ (Acts ch. 7).
During his speech, St Stephen suddenly saw the heavens opened and
Jesus Christ standing at the right hand of God. The Jews shouted and
covered their ears, and rushed at him. They dragged him out of the
city and stoned him, but the holy martyr prayed for his murderers. Far
off on the heights stood the Mother of God with the holy Apostle John
the Theologian, and She prayed fervently for the martyr. Before his
death St Stephen said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. O Lord, lay not
this sin to their charge." Then he joyfully gave up his pure soul to
Christ.
The body of the holy Protomartyr Stephen, left to be eaten by beasts,
was secretly taken up by the Jewish teacher Gamaliel and his son
Habib, who buried Stephen on his estate. They both believed in Christ,
and later receivedholy Baptism.
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Apostle Philip the Deacon of the Seventy
Holy Apostle Philip of the Seventy, one of the 7 Deacons is not to be
confused with St Philip one of the Twelve Apostles (November 14). This
Philip was born in Palestine, was married and had four daughters who
had the gift of prophecy.
After the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Twelve Apostles made Philip
a deacon in the Church of Jerusalem. Along with the other six deacons,
they appointed him to deal with the offerings of the faithful and
attend to the concerns of the widowed, the orphaned and the needy. The
eldest among the seven deacons was the holy Archdeacon Stephen. When
the persection of Christians began, the Jews stoned the Protomartyr
Stephen. The Apostle Philip left Jerusalem and settled in Samaria.
There he successfully preached Christianity. Among the disciple's
converts was the noted magician Simon, who "after being baptized,
continued with Philip." (Acts 8:9-13)
At the command of an angel of the Lord, St Philip set out upon the
road connecting Jerusalem with Gaza. There he met an official of the
empress of Ethiopia, whom also he converted to Christianity (Acts
8:26-39).
The holy Apostle Philip tirelessly preached the Word of God in many of
the lands of the Near East adjoining Palestine. At Jerusalem the
Apostles made him a bishop and sent him to Tralles in Asia Minor,
where he also baptized many. St Philip died in old age. He is also
commemorated on October 11.
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Apostle Prochorus the Deacon of the Seventy
Saint Prochorus was one of the of the Seventy Apostles, and was among
the first deacons in the Church of Christ.
In the Acts of the Holy Apostles (6: 1-6) it is said that the twelve
Apostles chose seven men: Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon,
Parmenas and Nicholas, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, and
established them to serve as deacons.
The Holy Church celebrates their memory together on July 28, although
they died at various times and in various places.
St Prochorus at first accompanied the holy Apostle Peter and was made
by him bishop in the city of Nicomedia. After the Dormition of the
Most Holy Theotokos, Prochorus was a companion and coworker of the
holy Apostle John the Theologian and was banished to the island of
Patmos together with him. There he wrote down the Book of Revelation
concerning the final fate of the world. Upon returning to Nicomedia,
St Prochorus converted pagans to Christ in the city of Antioch and
there he received a martyr's crown.
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Apostle Nicanor the Deacon of the Seventy
Saint Nicanor was one of the of the Seventy Apostles, and was among
the first deacons in the Church of Christ.
In the Acts of the Holy Apostles (6: 1-6) it is said that the twelve
Apostles chose seven men: Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon,
Parmenas and Nicholas, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, and
established them to serve as deacons.
The Holy Church celebrates their memory together on July 28, although
they died at various times and in various places.
St Nicanor suffered on that day when the holy Protomartyr Stephen and
many other Christians were killed by stoning.
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Apostle Timon the Deacon of the Seventy
Saint Timon was one of the Seventy Apostles, and was among the first
deacons in the Church of Christ.
In the Acts of the Holy Apostles (6: 1-6) it is said that the twelve
Apostles chose seven men: Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon,
Parmenas and Nicholas, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, and
established them to serve as deacons.
The Holy Church celebrates their memory together on July 28, although
they died at various times and in various places.
St Timon was established by the Apostles as bishop of the city of
Bastoria in Arabia and suffered from the Jews and pagans for preaching
the Gospel. He was thrown into a furnace, but by the power of God he
came out of it unharmed. The tradition of the Roman Church says that
St Timon died by crucifixion.
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Apostle Parmenas the Deacon of the Seventy
Saint Parmenas, one of the Seventy Apostles, was among the first
deacons in the Church of Christ.
In the Acts of the Holy Apostles (6: 1-6) it is said that the twelve
Apostles chose seven men: Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon,
Parmenas and Nicholas, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, and
established them to serve as deacons.
The Holy Church celebrates their memory together on July 28, although
they died at various times and in various places.
St Parmenas zealously preached Christ in Macedonia. He died after
being afflicted with an illness. Some are of the opinion that St
Parmenas suffered under Trajan (98-117) in the final year of his
reign, and suffered martyrdom.
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Apostle Timothy of the Seventy
The Holy Apostle Timothy was from the Lycaonian city of Lystra in Asia
Minor. St Timothy was converted to Christ in the year 52 by the holy
Apostle Paul (June 29). When the Apostles Paul and Barnabas first
visited the cities of Lycaonia, St Paul healed one crippled from
birth. Many of the inhabitants of Lystra then believed in Christ, and
among them was the future St Timothy, his mother Eunice and
grandmother Loida (Lois) (Acts 14:6-12; 2 Tim. 1:5).
The seed of faith, planted in the soul of St Timothy by the Apostle
Paul, brought forth abundant fruit. He became St Paul's disciple, and
later his constant companion and co-worker in the preaching of the
Gospel. The Apostle Paul loved St Timothy and in his Epistles called
him his beloved son, remembering his devotion and fidelity with
gratitude.
He wrote to Timothy: "You have followed my teaching, way of life,
purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, and patience" (2 Tim. 3:10-11).
The Apostle Paul appointed St Timothy as Bishop of Ephesus, where the
saint remained for fifteen years. Finally, when St Paul was in prison
and awaiting martyrdom, summoned his faithful friend, St Timothy, for
a last farewell (2 Tim. 4:9).
St Timothy ended his life as a martyr. The pagans of Ephesus
celebrated a festival in honor of their idols, and carried them
through the city, accompanied by impious ceremonies and songs. St
Timothy, zealous for the glory of God, attempted to halt the
procession and reason with the spiritually blind idol-worshipping
people, by preaching the true faith in Christ.
The pagans angrily fell upon the holy apostle, they beat him, dragged
him along the ground, and finally, they stoned him. St Timothy's
martyrdom occurred in the year 93.
In the fourth century the holy relics of St Timothy were transferred
to Constantinople and placed in the church of the Holy Apostles near
the tombs of St Andrew (November 30) and St Luke (October 18). The
Church honors St Timothy as one of the Apostles of the Seventy.
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Apostle Titus of the Seventy and Bishop of Crete
Saint Titus, Apostle of the Seventy was a native of the island of
Crete, the son of an illustrious pagan. In his youth he studied
Hellenistic philosophy and the ancient poets. Preoccupied by the
sciences, Titus led a virtuous life, not devoting himself to the vices
and passions characteristic of the majority of pagans. He preserved
his virginity, as the Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-bearer (December
20) testifies of him.
For such a manner of life the Lord did not leave him without His help.
At age twenty St Titus heard a voice in a dream, suggesting that he
abandon Hellenistic wisdom, which could not provide salvation for his
soul, but rather to seek that which would save him. After this dream,
St Titus waited yet another year, since it was not actually a command,
but it did guide him to familiarize himself with the teachings of the
prophets of God. The first that he happened to read was the Book of
the Prophet Isaiah. Having opened it to the 47th Chapter, he was
struck by the words, speaking as it were about his own spiritual
condition.
When news reached Crete about the appearance of a Great Prophet in
Palestine, and about the great miracles He worked, the governor of the
island of Crete (an uncle of Titus) sent him there. This Prophet was
the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, incarnate of the Most Holy Virgin Mary
Who came into the world for the redemption of the race of mankind from
the oppression of ancestral sin.
At Jerusalem, St Titus saw the Lord. He heard His preaching and
believed in Him. He witnessed the sufferingand death of the Savior on
the Cross, His glorious Resurrection and Ascension to Heaven. On the
day of Pentecost the future apostlle heard how the Twelve Apostles,
after the descentof the Holy Spirit, spoke in various languages, among
which was the Cretan language (Acts 2: 11).
St Titus received Baptism from the Apostle Paul and became his closest
disciple. He accompanied St Paul on his missionary journeys,
fulfilling the tasks entrusted to him. He was involved in establishing
new churches, and was with Paul in Jerusalem.
St Titus was numbered among the Seventy Apostles and was made Bishop
of Crete by the Apostle Paul. Around the year 65, not long before his
second imprisonment, the Apostle Paul sent a pastoral epistle to his
son in the Faith (Tit. 1: 4).
When the Apostle Paul was taken like a criminal to Rome to stand trial
before Caesar, St Titus left his flock in Cretefor a time and went to
Rome to be of service to his spiritual Father. After St Paul's death
by martyrdom, Titus returned to Gortyna, the chief city of Crete.
St Titus peacefully guided his flock and toiled at enlightening the
pagans with the light of faith in Christ. He was granted the gift of
wonderworking by the Lord. During one of the pagan feasts in honor of
the goddess Diana, Titus preached to a crowd of pagans.
When he saw that they would not listen to him, he prayed to the Lord,
so that the Lord Himself would show to the mistaken people the
falseness of idols. By the prayer of St Titus, the idol of Diana fell
down and shattered before the eyes of all. Another time St Titus
prayed that the Lord would not permit the completion of a temple of
Zeus, and it collapsed.
By such miracles St Titus brought many to faith in Christ. After
bringing the light of faith to the surrounding regions, St Titus died
peacefully at the age of 97. At the time of his death, his face shone
like the sun.
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Apostle Philemon of the Seventy
Saints Philemon and his wife Apphia lived in the city of Colossa in
Phrygia. Upon receiving Baptism from the holy Apostle Paul, they
converted their house into an house of prayer, where all those who
believed in Christ gathered together and attended services. They
devoted themselves to the service of the sick and downcast. Philemon
was made bishop of the city of Gaza and he preached the Word of God
throughout all Phrygia. The holy Apostle Paul continued to be his
guide, and addressed to him his Epistle filled with love, and in which
he sends blessings "to Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow
laborer, and to our beloved Apphia, and to Archippus our fellow
soldier, and to the church in thy house" (Phil 1:1-3).
St Onesimus (February 15), also mentioned in the Epistle, was St
Philemon's former slave.
Sts Philemon and Apphia, and also St Archippus (who also lived at
Colossa), all received the crown of martyrdom during the persecution
of Nero (54-68). During a pagan festival an enraged crowd rushed into
the Christian church when services were going on. All fled in terror,
and only Sts Philemon, Archippus and Apphia remained. They seized them
and led them off to the city prefect. The crowd like beasts beat and
stabbed St Archippus with knives, and he died on the way to the court.
Sts Philemon and Apphia were stoned to death by order of the prefect.
The memory of the holy Apostles Archippus, Philemon, and Apphia is
also celebrated on February 19.
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Apostle Onesimus of the Seventy
Saint Onesimus, Apostle of the Seventy in his youth was a servant of
Philemon, a Christian of distinguished lineage, living in the city of
Colossae, Phrygia. Guilty of an offense against his master and fearing
punishment, St Onesimus fled to Rome, but as a runaway slave he wound
up in prison. In prison he encountered the Apostle Paul, was
enlightened by him and received holy Baptism.
In prison St Onesimus served the Apostle Paul like a son. St Paul was
personally acquainted with Philemon, and wrote him a letter filled
with love, asking him to forgive the runaway slave and to accept him
like a brother. He sent St Onesimus with this letter to his master,
depriving himself of help, of which he was very much in need.
St Philemon, having received the letter, not only forgave Onesimus,
but also sent him back to Rome to the apostle. St Philemon was
afterwards consecrated bishop of the city of Gaza (January 4, February
19, and November 22).
After the death of the Apostle Paul, St Onesimus served the apostles
until their end, and he was made a bishop. After the death of the holy
apostles he preached the Gospel in many lands and cities: in Spain,
Carpetania, Colossae, Patras. In his old age, St Onesimus occupied the
bishop's throne at Ephesus, after the Apostle Timothy. When they took
St Ignatius the God-Bearer (December 20) to Rome for execution, Bishop
Onesimus came to meet with him with other Christians, as St Ignatius
mentions in his Epistle to the Ephesians.
During the reign of the emperor Trajan, St Onesimus was arrested and
brought to trial before the eparch Tertillus. He held the saint in
prison for eighteen days, and then sent him to prison in the city of
Puteoli. After a certain while, the eparch sent for the prisoner and,
convincing himself that St Onesimus maintained his faith in Christ,
had him stoned, after which they beheaded the saint with a sword. A
certain illustrious woman took the body of the martyr and placed it in
a silver coffin. This took place in the year 109. St Onesimus is also
commemorated on February 15.
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Apostle Epaphroditus of the Seventy
St Epaphroditus was Bishop of Andriace (Myra, Lycia), and is mentioned
by St Paul (Phil. 2:25, 4:18). He is probably the same person as
Epaphras (Col. 1:7, 4:12, Phm. 23). St Epaphroditus is also
commemorated on December 8 together with Sts Sosthenes, Apollos,
Cephas, Onesiphorus, Tychicus, Caesar, and Onesiphorus.
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Apostle Archippus of the Seventy
Saint Archippus was one of the 70 Apostles, and is mentioned by St
Paul in his Epistle to Philemon in which he sends blessings "to
Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow laborer, and to our beloved
Apphia, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in thy
house" (Phil 1:1-3).
Sts Philemon and Apphia, and also St Archippus (who also lived at
Colossa), all received the crown of martyrdom during the persecution
of Nero (54-68). During a pagan festival an enraged crowd rushed into
the Christian church when services were going on. All fled in terror,
and only Sts Philemon, Archippus and Apphia remained. They were seized
and led off to the city prefect. The crowd like beasts beat and
stabbed St Archippus with knives, and he died on the way to the court.
Sts Philemon and Apphia were stoned to death by order of the prefect.
The memory of the holy Apostles Archippus, Philemon, and Apphia is
celebrated also on February 19.
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Apostle Silas of the Seventy
Saint Silas was one of the Seventy Apostles chosen and sent forth to
preach by Christ (Luke 10:1).
He was a respected figure in the original Church at Jerusalem, one of
the "chief men among the brethren" (Acts 15:22). The Council of the
Apostles was convened at Jerusalem in the year 51 to deal with the
question of whether Gentile Christian converts should be required to
observe the Mosaic Law. The Apostles sent a message with Paul and
Barnabas to the Christians of Antioch, giving the decision of the
Council that Christians of Gentile origin did not have to observe the
prescriptions of the Mosaic Law. Nonetheless, they were told that they
must refrain from partaking of foods offered to idols, from things
strangled and from blood, to refrain from fornication (Acts 15:20-29).
Together with Sts Paul and Barnabas, the Council of the Apostles sent
Sts Silas and Jude to explain the message in greater detail, since
they both were filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit. St Jude was
later sent back to Jerusalem, but St Silas remained at Antioch and
zealously assisted St Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, on his
missionary journeys preaching the Gospel. They visited Syria, Cilicia,
and Macedonia.
In the city of Philippi they were accused of inciting unrest among the
people, and for this they were arrested, beaten with rods, and then
thrown into prison. At midnight, when the saints were at prayer,
suddenly there was a strong earthquake, their chains fell off from
them and the doors of the prison opened. The prison guard, supposing
that the prisoners had fled, wanted to kill himself, but was stopped
by the Apostle Paul. Then, he fell down trembling at the feet of the
saints, and with faith accepted their preaching about Christ. He then
led them out of the prison and took them to his own home, where he
washed their wounds, and was baptized together with all his household.
>From Philippi Sts Paul and Silas proceeded on to the cities of
Amphipolis, Apollonia and Thessalonica. In each city they made new
converts to Christ and built up the Church.
At Corinth the holy Apostle Silas was consecrated bishop, and worked
many miracles and signs. He finished his life there.
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Apostle Silvanus of the Seventy
Saint Silvanus was one of the Seventy Apostles chosen and sent forth
to preach by Christ (Luke 10:1).
Silvanus preached the Word of God together with the chief Apostles
Peter and Paul. The holy Apostle Peter mentions him in his first
Epistle: "By Silvanus, a faithful brother to you, as I suppose, I have
written briefly..." (1 Pet 5:12). St Silvanus was made bishop at
Thessalonica and died there as a martyr, having undergone many sorrows
and misfortunes for the Lord's sake.
St Silvanus is also commemorated on July 30 together with with Sts
Silas, Crescens, Epenetus and Andronicus.
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Apostle Crescens of the Seventy
Saints Crescens, Silas, Silvanus, Epenetus and Andronicus were among
the Seventy Apostles chosen and sent forth to preach by Christ (Luke
10:1).
The Holy Apostle Crescens is mentioned by the holy Apostle Paul (2
Timothy 4:10), who said that Crescens went to preach in Galatia. He
was made bishop there, and afterwards he preached the Word of God in
Gaul (modern-day France). In the city of Vienna (modern Austria) the
holy Apostle Crescens established his disciple Zacharias as bishop. He
returned to Galatia and died as a martyr under the emperor Trajan
(98-117).
St Crescens is also commemorated on July 30 together with Sts Epenetus
and Andronicus.
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Apostle Crispus of the Seventy
The name of Saint Crispus is found in Acts18:8 and 1 Cor. 1:14. He was
the chief ruler of the synagogue at Corinth, and was baptized by St
Paul. He became the bishop of the Greek island of Aegina.
There are discrepancies and errors in some lists of the Seventy
Apostles. In a list attributed to St Dorotheus of Tyre (June 5) some
names are repeated (Rodion, or Herodion, Apollos, Tychicus,
Aristarchus), while others are omitted (Timothy, Titus, Epaphras,
Archippus, Aquila, Olympas). St Demetrius of Rostov consulted the Holy
Scripture, the traditions passed down by the Fathers, and the accounts
of trustworthy historians when he attempted to correct the mistakes
and uncertainties in the list in compiling his collection of Lives of
the Saints.
St Crispus appears on the list of St Dorotheus, but other lists say he
is the same person as St Crescens. He does not appear to have a
separate commemoration.
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Apostle Epenetus of the Seventy
Saints Epenetus, Silas, Silvanus, Crescens, and Andronicus were among
the Seventy Apostles chosen and sent forth to preach by Christ (Luke
10:1).
The Holy Apostle Epenetus was made bishop at Carthage. In his Epistle
to the Romans, the holy Apostle Paul writes: "Greet my dear Epenetus,
who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ" (Rom 16:5).
He is also commemorated on July 30 together with Sts Crescens and
Andronicus.
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Apostle Andronicus of the Seventy
Saints Andronicus, Silas, Silvanus, Crescens, and Epenetus were among
the Seventy Apostles chosen and sent forth to preach by Christ (Luke
10:1).
The Apostle Andronicus is also mentioned by the Apostle Paul in the
Epistle to the Romans: "Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, ...
who are of note among the Apostles, who also were in Christ, before
me" (Rom 16:7).
The holy Apostle Andronicus was bishop in Pannonia (modern Hungary)
Sts Andronicus and Junia are commemorated on May 17.
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Apostle Stachys of the Seventy
Saint Stachys was made Bishop of Byzantium by the holy Apostle Andrew
the First-Called (November 30). He was bishop for sixteen years,
zealously preaching the Gospel of Christ and converting pagans to the
true Faith.
St Stachys is also commemorated on October 31 together with Sts
Amplias, Urban, Narcissus, Apelles and Aristobulus
_________________________________________________________________
Apostle Amplias of the Seventy
St Amplias was one of the Seventy Apostles, and also bishop in the
city of Diospolis. He was put to death by Jews and pagan Greeks for
preaching the Gospel.
St Amplias is also commemorated on October 31 together with Sts
Stachys, Urban, Narcissus, Apelles and Aristobulus.
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Apostle Urban of the Seventy
Saint Urban was one of the Seventy Apostles chosen and sent forth to
preach by Christ (Luke 10:1).
St Urban was made a bishop by St Andrew, and served in Macedonia. He
was put to death by Jews and pagan Greeks for preaching the Gospel.
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Apostle Narcissus of the Seventy
Saint Narcissus was one of the Seventy Apostles chosen and sent forth
to preach by Christ (Luke 10:1).
St Narcissus was Bishop of Athens. He is also commemorated on October
31 together with Sts Stachys, Amplias, Urban, Apelles, and
Aristobulus.
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Apostle Apelles of the Seventy
St Apelles was one of the Seventy Apostles, and was made a bishop by
the holy Apostle Andrew. He was put to death by Jews and pagan Greeks
for preaching the Gospel.
St Apelles is also commemorated on October 31 together with Sts
Stachys, Amplias, Urban, Narcissus, and Aristobulus, and again on
September 10 with Sts Lucius and Clement.
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Apostle Aristobulus of the Seventy
Saint Aristobulus was one of the Seventy Apostles chosen and sent
forth to preach by Christ (Luke 10:1).
St Aristobulus is also commemorated on March 16, and on October 31
together with Sts Stachys, Amplias, Urban, Narcissus, Apelles.
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Apostle Herodion of the Seventy
Saint Herodion (Rodion) was one of the Seventy Apostles chosen and
sent forth to preach by Christ (Luke 10:1).
Herodion was a relative of St Paul, and his companion on many
journeys. When Christianity had spread to the Balkan Peninsula, the
Apostles Peter and Paul established St Herodion as Bishop of Patara.
St Herodion zealously preached the Word of God and converted many of
the Greek pagans and Jews to Christianity.
Enraged by the preaching of the disciple, the idol-worshippers and
Jews with one accord fell upon St Herodion, and they began to beat him
with sticks and pelt him with stones. One of the mob struck him with a
knife, and the saint fell down. But when the murderers were gone, the
Lord restored him to health unharmed.
After this, St Herodion continued to accompany the Apostle Paul for
years afterward. When the holy Apostle Peter was crucified (+ ca. 67),
St Herodion and St Olympas were beheaded by the sword at the same
time.
St Herodion endured fierce sufferings for Christ and was found worthy
of a martyr's crown. He is also commemorated on November 10.
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Apostle Agabus of the Seventy
Saint Agabus was one of the Seventy Apostles chosen and sent forth to
preach by Christ (Luke 10:1).
The holy Apostle Agabus was endowed with the gift of prophecy. He
predicted (Acts 11:27-28) the famine during the reign of the emperor
Claudius (41-52), and foretold the suffering of the Apostle Paul at
Jerusalem (Acts 21:11). St Agabus preached in many lands, and
converted many pagans to Christ.
Agabus endured fierce sufferings for Christ and was found worthy of a
martyr's crown.
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Apostle Rufus of the Seventy
Saint Rufus was one of the Seventy Apostles chosen by Christ and sent
out by Him to preach.
St Rufus, whom the holy Apostle Paul mentions in the Epistle to the
Romans (Rom. 16:11-15), was bishop of the Greek city of Thebes, and
died as a martyr for Christ.
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Apostle Asyncritus of the Seventy
Saint Asyncritus was one of the Seventy Apostles chosen and sent forth
to preach by Christ (Luke 10:1).
St Asyncritus (Rom. 16:14) was bishop in Hyrcania (Asia Minor), and
received a martyr's crown.
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Apostle Phlegon of the Seventy
Saint Phlegon was one of the Seventy Apostles chosen and sent forth to
preach by Christ (Luke 10:1). He was a bishop in the city of Marathon
(Thrace), and endured martyrdom.
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Apostle Hermes of the Seventy
Saint Hermes was among the Seventy Apostles chosen and sent forth to
preach by Christ (Luke 10:1).
St Hermes was bishop in Dalmatia (there is another Apostle of the
Seventy by the name of Hermas, who was bishop in the Thracian city of
Philippopolis).
Because of his intrepid service to Christ, St Hermes underwent fierce
sufferings and was found worthy of a martyr's crown.
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Apostle Patrobus of the Seventy
Saint Patrobus, Apostle of the Seventy preached the Gospel in various
cities, enduring various hardships in his service as bishop. St
Patrobus (Rom 16:14) was Bishop of Neopolis (now Naples) and Puteoli
in Italy.
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Apostle Hermas of the Seventy
St Hermas was one of the Seventy Apostles, and served as bishop in the
city of Philippoplis where he died a martyr.
St Hermas is also commemorated on November 5 together with Sts
Patrobas, Linus, Gaius, Philologus. They preached the Gospel in
various cities, each enduring various hardships in their service as
bishops.
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Apostle Linus of the Seventy
St Linus (2 Tim 4:21) was a successor to the Apostle Peter at Rome. He
is also commemorated on November 5 together with Sts Patrobas, Hermes,
Linus, and Philologus.
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Apostle Gaius of the Seventy
St Gaius (Rom 16:23),was Bishop of Ephesus after St Timothy. He is
also commemorated on November 5 together with Sts Patrobas, Hermes,
Linus, and Philologus.
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Apostle Philologus of the Seventy
The Apostle Andrew consecrated St Philologus (Rom 16:15) as bishop of
the city of Sinope (in the Black Sea region). He is also commemorated
on November 5 together with Sts Patrobas, Hermes, Linus, and Gaius.
_________________________________________________________________
Apostle Lucius of the Seventy
The Holy Apostle Lucius of the Seventy was bishop in Syrian Laodicia
(a former chief city in Phrygia). The holy Apostle Paul mentions him
in the Epistle to the Romans (Rom. 16: 21), among the other Christians
whom he greets.
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Apostle Jason of the Seventy
The Apostle Jason was from Tarsus (Asia Minor). He was the first
Christian in the city. The Apostle Sosipater was a native of Patra,
Achaia. He is thought to be the same Sosipater mentioned in Acts 20:4.
They both became disciples of St Paul, who even called them his
kinsmen (Rom 16:21). St John Chrysostom (Homily 32 on Romans) says
that this is the same Jason who is mentioned in Acts 17:5-9. St Jason
was made bishop in his native city of Tarsus, and St Sosipater in
Iconium. They traveled west preaching the Gospel, and in 63 they
reached the island of Kerkyra [Korfu] in the Ionian Sea near Greece.
There they built a church in the name of the Protomartyr Stephen and
they baptized many. The governor of the island learned on this and
locked them up in prison, where they met seven thieves: Saturninus,
Iakischolus, Faustianus, Januarius, Marsalius, Euphrasius and Mammius.
The Apostles converted them to Christ. For their confession of Christ,
the seven prisoners died as martyrs in a cauldron of molten tar, wax
and sulfur.
The prison guard, after witnessing their martyrdom, declared himself a
Christian. For this they cut off his left hand, then both feet and
finally his head. The governor ordered the Apostles Jason and
Sosipater to be whipped and again locked up in prison.
When the daughter of the governor of Kerkyra (Korfu), the maiden
Kerkyra, learned how Christians were suffering for Christ, she
declared herself a Christian and gave away all her finery to the poor.
The infuriated governor attempted to persuade his daughter to deny
Christ, but St Kerkyra stood firm against both persuasion and threats.
Then the enraged father devised a terrible punishment for his
daughter: he gave orders that she be placed in a prison cell with the
robber and murderer Murinus, so that he might defile the betrothed of
Christ
But when the robber approached the door of the prison cell, a bear
attacked him. St Kerkyra heard the noise and she drove off the beast
in the name of Christ. Then, by her prayers, she healed the wounds of
Murinus. Then St Kerkyra enlightened him with the faith of Christ, and
St Murinus declared himself a Christian and was executed.
The governor gave orders to burn down the prison, but the holy virgin
remained alive. Then on her enraged father's order, she was suspended
upon a tree, choked with bitter smoke and shot with arrows. After her
death, the governor decided to execute all the Christians on the
island of Kerkyra. The Martyrs Zeno, Eusebius, Neon and Vitalis, after
being enlightened by Sts Jason and Sosipater, were burned alive.
The inhabitants of Kerkyra, escaping from the persecution, crossed to
an adjoining island. The governor set sail with a detachment of
soldiers, but was swallowed up by the waves. The governor succeeding
him gave orders to throw the Apostles Jason and Sosipater into a
cauldron of boiling tar. When he beheld them unharmed, he cried out
with tears, "O God of Jason and Sosipater, have mercy on me!"
Having been set free, the Apostles baptized the governor and gave him
the name Sebastian. With his help, the Apostles Jason and Sosipater
built several churches on the island, and increased the flock of
Christ by their fervent preaching. They lived there until they reached
old age.
St Jason is also commemorated on April 28.
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Apostle Sosipater of the Seventy
The Apostle Sosipater was a native of Patra, Achaia. He is thought to
be the same Sosipater mentioned in Acts 20:4. They both became
disciples of St Paul, who even called them his kinsmen (Rom 16:21). St
John Chrysostom (Homily 32 on Romans) says that this is the same Jason
who is mentioned in Acts 17:5-9. St Jason was made bishop in his
native city of Tarsus, and St Sosipater in Iconium. They traveled west
preaching the Gospel, and in 63 they reached the island of Kerkyra
[Korfu] in the Ionian Sea near Greece.
There they built a church in the name of the Protomartyr Stephen and
they baptized many. The governor of the island learned on this and
locked them up in prison, where they met seven thieves: Saturninus,
Iakischolus, Faustianus, Januarius, Marsalius, Euphrasius and Mammius.
The Apostles converted them to Christ. For their confession of Christ,
the seven prisoners died as martyrs in a cauldron of molten tar, wax
and sulfur.
The prison guard, after witnessing their martyrdom, declared himself a
Christian. For this they cut off his left hand, then both feet and
finally his head. The governor ordered the Apostles Jason and
Sosipater to be whipped and again locked up in prison.
When the daughter of the governor of Kerkyra (Korfu), the maiden
Kerkyra, learned how Christians were suffering for Christ, she
declared herself a Christian and gave away all her finery to the poor.
The infuriated governor attempted to persuade his daughter to deny
Christ, but St Kerkyra stood firm against both persuasion and threats.
Then the enraged father devised a terrible punishment for his
daughter: he gave orders that she be placed in a prison cell with the
robber and murderer Murinus, so that he might defile the betrothed of
Christ
But when the robber approached the door of the prison cell, a bear
attacked him. St Kerkyra heard the noise and she drove off the beast
in the name of Christ. Then, by her prayers, she healed the wounds of
Murinus. Then St Kerkyra enlightened him with the faith of Christ, and
St Murinus declared himself a Christian and was executed.
The governor gave orders to burn down the prison, but the holy virgin
remained alive. Then on her enraged father's order, she was suspended
upon a tree, choked with bitter smoke and shot with arrows. After her
death, the governor decided to execute all the Christians on the
island of Kerkyra. The Martyrs Zeno, Eusebius, Neon and Vitalis, after
being enlightened by Sts Jason and Sosipater, were burned alive.
The inhabitants of Kerkyra, escaping from the persecution, crossed to
an adjoining island. The governor set sail with a detachment of
soldiers, but was swallowed up by the waves. The governor succeeding
him gave orders to throw the Apostles Jason and Sosipater into a
cauldron of boiling tar. When he beheld them unharmed, he cried out
with tears, "O God of Jason and Sosipater, have mercy on me!"
Having been set free, the Apostles baptized the governor and gave him
the name Sebastian. With his help, the Apostles Jason and Sosipater
built several churches on the island, and increased the flock of
Christ by their fervent preaching. They lived there until they reached
old age.
St Sosipater is also commemorated on April 28 and November 10.
_________________________________________________________________
Apostle Olympas of the Seventy
St Olympas was one of the Seventy Apostles chosen and sent forth to
preach by Christ (Luke 10:1).
The holy Apostle Paul mentions Olympas (Rom 16:15), and he was a
companion of the Apostle Peter. He was beheaded on the very day and
hour when the Apostle Peter was crucified.
St Olympas is also commemorated on November 10 together with Sts
Erastus, Rodion, Sosipater, Quartus and Tertius.
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Apostle Tertius of the Seventy
The holy Apostle Tertius, a native of Achaia, was a disciple of St
Paul, and wrote what St Paul dictated in the Epistle to the Romans:
"I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord" (Rom
16:22). He was the second Bishop of Iconium, where also he died.
St Tertius is also commemorated on October 30, and again on November
10 with Sts Erastus, Olympas, Rodion, Sosipater, and Quartus. They
lived during the first century.
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Apostle Erastus of the Seventy
The holy Apostle Erastus was a disciple of St Paul, and is mentioned
in the Epistle to the Romans: "And Erastus, the city treasurer, greets
you, and Quartus, a brother" (Rom 16: 23).
St Erastus was at first a deacon and treasurer of the Church of
Jerusalem, and later was a bishop at Paneas in Palestine.
St Erastus is also commemorated on November 10 together with Sts
Olympas, Rodion, Sosipater, Quartus and Tertius. They lived during the
first century.
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Apostle Quartus of the Seventy
St Quartus was one of the Seventy Apostles, and a disciple of St Paul.
The Apostle to the Gentiles mentions him in the Epistle to the Romans:
"And Erastus, the city treasurer, greets you, and Quartus, a brother"
(Rom 16: 23).
St Quartus endured much suffering for his piety and converted many
pagans to Christ, dying peacefully as a bishop in the city of
Beirut.He is also commemorated on November 10 together with Sts
Erastus, Olympas, Rodion, Sosipater, and Tertius. They lived during
the first century.
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Apostle Euodius of the Seventy
The Holy Apostle Euodius of the Seventy was the first bishop in Syrian
Antioch after the holy Apostle Peter. His successor, the Hieromartyr
Ignatius the God-Bearer (December 20), disciple of St John the
Theologian, mentions him in his Letter to the Antiochians: "Remember
your blessed father Euodius, who was made your first pastor by the
Apostles."
St Euodius served as bishop for 27 years and died as a martyr under
the emperor Nero (54-68). St Euodius wrote several compositions. In
one of them he writes that the Most Holy Virgin Mary gave birth to the
Savior of the world at the age of fifteen.
Other writings of the saint have not survived. A book entitled THE
STAR is mentioned by the fourteenth century church historian
Nicephorus Callistus. St Euodius received the crown of martyrdom in
the year 66.
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Apostle Onesiphorus of the Seventy
Saint Onesiphorus was one of the Seventy Apostles chosen and sent
forth to preach by Christ (Luke 10:1). St Paul writes of him: "God
grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me,
and was not ashamed of my bonds. When he was at Rome, he searched for
me with great diligence, and found me. May the Lord grant him to find
the mercy of the Lord on that day; and you know how much he served me
at Ephesus." (2 Tim 1:16-18).
St Onesiphorus was bishop at Colophon (Asia Minor), and later at
Corinth. He died a martyr in the city of Parium (not far from Ephesus)
on the shores of the Hellespont, where he had gone to proclaim Christ
among the local pagans.
St Onesiphorus was arrested and brought to a temple of the idols. For
his refusal to burn incense to the pagan gods, St Onesiphorus and his
servant Porphyrius were tied to wild horses, and dragged along the
ground.
In the Roman Martyrology St Onesiphorus is commemorated on September
16. The Orthodox Church honors him and the holy disciple Evodus on
September 7.
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Apostle Clement of the Seventy
The Hieromartyr Clement, Pope of Rome, was born into a rich and
illustrious Roman family. Separated from his parents from childhood by
force of circumstances, Clement was raised by strangers. Living in
Rome, the youth received a fine education, he was surrounded by
luxury, and had access to the imperial court. But these comforts
brought him no joy, and pagan wisdom failed to attract him. He began
to ponder the meaning of life.
When the news of Christ and His teaching began to reach the capital,
St Clement left his home and estate and went to the lands where the
Apostles were preaching. At Alexandria St Clement met the holy Apostle
Barnabas, listening to his words with deep attention, and perceiving
the power and truth of the Word of God. Arriving in Palestine, St
Clement was baptized by the holy Apostle Peter and became his zealous
disciple and constant companion, sharing his toil and sufferings with
him. Shortly before his own sufferings and death, St Peter consecrated
St Clement as Bishop of Rome. After the death of the Apostle Peter, St
Linus (67-79) was the next Bishop of Rome, succeeded by St Anacletus
(79-91), and then St Clement (92-101).
The virtuous life, charitable works and prayerful activity of St
Clement converted many to Christ. He once baptized 424 people on the
day of Pascha. Among the baptized were people of all social classes:
slaves, officials, and even members of the imperial family.
The pagans, seeing the success of his apostolic preaching, denounced
St Clement to the emperor Trajan (98-117), accusing the saint of
insulting the pagan gods. The emperor banished St Clement from the
capital, sending him to the Crimea, to work at a stone quarry near the
city of Cherson. Many of the saint's disciples followed after him
voluntarily, preferring to go into exile rather than live without
their spiritual Father.
When he arrived at the place of exile, St Clement found many Christian
believers there, sentenced to labor under harsh conditions amidst a
scarcity of water. He prayed together with the condemned, and the Lord
appeared to him in the form of a lamb and revealed the location of a
spring, from which gushed forth a veritable river of water. This
miracle attracted a multitude of people to St Clement. Hearing the
zealous preacher, hundreds of pagans were converted to Christ. Each
day 500 or more men were baptized. And there in the stone quarry, a
church was built, in which he served as priest.
The apostolic activity of the saint aroused the wrath of the emperor
Trajan, and he ordered that St Clement be drowned. They threw the
martyr into the sea with an anchor tied to his neck. This occurred in
the year 101.
The saint's faithful disciples Cornelius and Fibius asked the people
to pray that the Lord would permit them to see the martyr's body. The
sea drew back a distance of three miles from the shore and the people
walked out on the seabed until they found a marble cave shaped like a
church. There they found the incorrupt body of their archpastor in
this "Angelic Church" formed by God. After this, each year on the
anniversary of St Clement's martyric death the sea receded, and for
seven days Christians were able to venerate his holy relics.
During the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Nicephorus (802-811), by
divine providence, the sea failed to withdraw, and the relics of St
Clement became inaccessible for fifty years. In the time of the
emperor Michael and his mother Theodora (855-867), Sts Cyril and
Methodius visited Cherson. When they learned of the concealed relics
of St Clement, they asked Bishop George of Cherson to pray that the
Lord would show them the relics of the hieromartyr.
Sts Cyril and Methodius walked along the shore in procession with the
clergy who came with them from Constantinople. Through the fervent
prayers of everyone gathered there, the holy relics of St Clement
miraculously appeared on the surface of the sea at midnight. They
solemnly took them to the Church of the Holy Apostles at
Constantinople. A portion of the relics were then brought to Rome by
Sts Cyril and Methodius, but a large portion of the relics was later
brought to Kiev by the holy Prince Vladimir (July 15) and placed in
the Desyatin-Tithe church, together with the relics of St Fibius,
where a chapel dedicated to St Clement had been built. The hieromartyr
Clement is widely venerated in Russia. From ancient times, many
churches have been dedicated to him.
St Clement, who belongs to the Apostolic Fathers, has left to us a
spiritual legacy (two Epistles to the Corinthians) the first written
examples of Christian teaching after the writings of the holy
Apostles.
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Apostle Sosthenes of the Seventy
St Sosthenes was one of the Seventy Apostles who were chosen and sent
forth to preach by Christ (Luke 10:1).
Before accepting Christianity, St Sosthenes was head of the Jewish
synagogue at Corinth. During a riot against the Apostle Paul, he too
suffered a beating. He was converted by Paul to faith in Christ and
afterwards became bishop at Caesarea.
St Sosthenes is also commemorated on December 8 together with Sts
Tychicus, Apollos, Cephas, Epaphroditus, Caesar, and Onesiphorus. All
of these saints departed to the Lord in peace.
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Apostle Apollos of the Seventy
St Apollos was one of the Seventy Apostles chosen and sent forth to
preach by the Lord Jesus Christ sometime after the selection of the
Twelve Apostles (Luke 10:1-24).
Apollos was a native of Alexandria and was a man of erudition. The
chief place of his service was at Corinth. He toiled there for a long
time and converted many to Christ. Towards the end of his life he
preached on the island of Crete and was Bishop of Caesarea, Bithynia.
St Apollos is also commemorated on December 8 together with Sts
Sosthenes, Cephas, Tychicus, Epaphroditus, Caesar, and Onesiphorus.
All of these saints departed to the Lord in peace.
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Apostle Tychicus of the Seventy
St Tychicus was one of the Seventy Apostles who were chosen some time
after the selection of the Twelve Apostles (Luke 10:1-24), and were
sent forth to preach by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
St Tychicus, a native of Asia Minor, was a disciple and companion of
the holy Apostle Paul. At the time of Paul's first imprisonment, he
delivered the Epistles to the Ephesians and to the Colossians. He
replaced St Sosthenes on the episcopal throne at Caesarea.
St Tychicus is also commemorated on December 8 together with Sts
Sosthenes, Apollos, Cephas, Epaphroditus, Caesar, and Onesiphorus.
They all departed to the Lord in peace.
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Apostle Epaphroditus of the Seventy
St Epaphroditus was one of the Seventy Apostles chosen and sent forth
to preach by Christ (Luke 10:1).
St Epaphroditus was one of the Apostle Paul's closest assistants and
companions, and later became bishop of the Thracian city of Adriaca.
The Church also commemorates St Epaphroditus on December 8 together
with Sts Sosthenes, Apollos, Cephas, Tychicus, Caesar, and
Onesiphorus. They departed to the Lord in peace.
_________________________________________________________________
Apostle Carpus of the Seventy
Saint Carpus was one of the Seventy Apostles chosen and sent forth to
preach by Christ (Luke 10:1). He was Bishop of Verria, Macedonia, and
is also commemorated on May 26.
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Apostle Quadratus of the Seventy
Saint Quadratus (Codratus), Apostle of the Seventy, preached the Word
of God at Athens and at Magnesia (eastern peninsula of Thessaly), and
was Bishop of Athens. His biographer called him "a morning star" among
the clouds of paganism. He converted many pagans to the true faith in
Christ the Savior, and his preaching aroused the hatred of the pagans.
Once, an angry mob fell upon the saint to pelt him with stones.
Preserved by God, St Quadratus remained alive, and they threw him into
prison, where he died of starvation. His holy body was buried in
Magnesia.
In the year 126, St Quadratus wrote an Apologia in defence of
Christianity. Presented to the emperor Hadrian (117-138), the Apologia
affected the persecution of Christians, since the emperor issued a
decree saying that no one should be convicted without just cause. This
Apologia was known to the historian Eusebius in the fourth century. At
the present time, only part of this Apologia survives, quoted by
Eusebius: "The deeds of our Savior were always witnessed, because they
were true. His healings and raising people from the dead were visible
not only when they were healed and raised, but always. They lived not
only during the existence of the Savior upon the earth, but they also
remained alive long after His departure. Some, indeed, have survived
to our own time."
St Quadratus is also commemorated on September 21.
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Apostle Mark of the Seventy, called John
St Mark, also called John, (Acts 12:12), was a nephew of St Barnabas
(Col. 4:10). Some, however, say that St John Mark is St Mark the
Evangelist (April 25). It was in the house of his mother Maria that
the persecuted disciples found shelter after the Ascension of the Lord
(Acts 12:12). This saint is probably Mark, the Bishop of Apollonia,
commemorated on October 30 with Sts Justus and Artemas.
_________________________________________________________________
Apostle Zenas of the Seventy
The Holy Apostle Zenas of the Seventy (September 27), a disciple and
co-worker with the first-ranked Apostle Paul, was called a lawyer,
since he was a learned man and led juridical matters in church courts.
He is mentioned in the Epistle of the holy Apostle Paul to Titus (Tit
3:13): "Help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they
lack nothing." Afterwards, St Zenas became bishop of the city of
Diospolis (or Lydda) in Palestine.
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Apostle Aristarchus of the Seventy
Saint Aristarchus was one of the Seventy Apostles, whom the Lord Jesus
Christ sent to proclaim the good news of the Gospel (Luke. 10:1-24).
St Aristarchus, a co-worker of the holy Apostle Paul, became bishop of
the Syrian city of Apamea. His name is repeatedly mentioned in the
Acts of the Holy Apostles (Acts 19:29, 20:4, 27:2) and in the Epistles
of St Paul (Col. 4:10, Philemon 1:24). He accompanied St Paul on his
travels (Acts 16:29), and was Bishop of Apamea, Syria.
St Aristarchus is also commemorated on April 15 with Sts Pudens and
Trophimus and on September 27 together with Sts Mark and Zenas.
_________________________________________________________________
Apostle Pudens of the Seventy
Saint Pudens (Poudes) is mentioned by St Paul (2 Tim 4:21). He was one
of the Seventy Apostles whom the Lord Jesus Christ sent before him
with the good news of the Gospel (Luke 10:1-24).
St Pudens is mentioned in St Paul's second Epistle to Timothy (2 Tim.
4:21). He occupied high position as a member of the Roman Senate. The
saint received the foremost Apostles Peter and Paul in his home, where
believing Christians gathered. His house was converted into a church,
receiving the name "Pastorum". According to Tradition, the holy
Apostle Peter himself served in it as priest.
St Pudens suffered martyrdom at Rome under the emperor Nero (54-68).
He is also commemorated on April 15 together with Sts Trophimus and
Aristarchus.
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Apostle Trophimus of the Seventy
St Trophimus hailed from the city of Edessa. His name is mentioned in
the Acts of the Holy Apostles (Acts 20:4) and in St Paul's second
Epistle to Timothy (2 Tim. 4:20). He was a disciple and companion of
the Apostle Paul, sharing with him all the sorrows and persecution.
St Trophimus is also commemorated on April 15 together with Sts
Aristarchus and Pudens.
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Apostle Mark of the Seventy
This Saint Mark was also one of the Seventy Apostles, and was Bishop
of Biblos. He is also commemorated on September 27 together with Sts
Aristarchus and Zenas.
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Apostle Artemas of the Seventy
St Artemas was bishop of the Lycian city of Lystra, and he died in
peace. St Paul mentions him in his Epistle to Titus (3:12). He is also
commemorated on October 30 together with Sts Tertius, Mark, and
Justus.
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Apostle Aquila of the Seventy
St Aquila was one of the Seventy Apostles. It is possible that he was
a disciple of the Apostle Paul, a native of Pontus and a Jew, living
in the city of Rome with his wife Priscilla (they are commemorated on
February 13 on the Greek Calendar, and July 14 on the Slavic
Calendar). During the reign of the emperor Claudius (41-54) all the
Jews were banished from Rome, so St Aquila and his wife were compelled
to leave. They settled in Corinth. A short while later, the holy
Apostle Paul arrived there from Athens preaching the Gospel. Having
made the acquaintance of Aquila, he began to live at his house and
labored together with him, making tents.
Having receivedBaptism from the Apostle Paul, Aquila and Priscilla
bacame his devoted and zealous disciples. They accompanied the apostle
to Ephesus. The Apostle Paul instructed them to continue the preaching
of the Gospel at Ephesus, and he himself went to Jerusalem, in order
to be present for the feast of Pentecost. At Ephesus, Aquila and
Priscilla heard the bold preaching of a newcomer from Alexandria, the
Jew Apollos. He had been instructed in the fundamentals of the Faith,
but knew only the baptism of John the Forerunner. They called him over
and explained more precisely about the way of the Lord.
After the death of the emperor Claudius, Jews were permitted to return
to Italy, and Aquila and Priscilla then returned to Rome. The Apostle
Paul in his Epistle to the Romans recalls his faithful disciples,
"Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my coworkers in Christ Jesus, who put
forth their heads for my soul, whom I do not alone thank, but also all
the Church of the Gentiles and the church of their household" (Rom.
16: 3-4). St Aquila did not long dwell in Rome: the Apostle Paul made
him a bishop in Asia. St Aquila zealously labored at preaching the
Gospel in Asia, Achaia and Heraklia. He converted pagans to Christ, he
confirmed newly-converted Christians in the faith, he established
presbyters and destroyed idols. St Priscilla constantly assisted him
in the apostolic work. St Aquila ended his life a martyr: pagans
murdered him. According to the Tradition of the Church, Saint
Priscilla was killed together with him.
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Apostle Fortunatus of the Seventy
St Fortunatus was one of the Seventy Apostles chosen and sent forth to
preach by Christ (Luke 10:1). He is mentioned by St Paul (I Cor.
16:17).
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Apostle Achaicus of the Seventy
Saint Achaicus is mentioned by St Paul in I Corinthians 16:17.
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Venerable Theoctistus, Abbot at Cucomo, in Sicily
Saint Theoctistus founded a monastery in the city of Cucomo on the
island of Sicily, where he became igumen. At his monastery were some
Greek monks who fled persecution by the iconoclasts. He died in the
year 800.
St Theoctistus of Sicily should not be confused with St Theoctistus of
Palestine (September 3), the companion of St Euthymius (January 20) in
the ascetic life.
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Repose of St Eustathius I, Archbishop of Serbia
Saint Eustathius, Archbishop of Serbia, lived in the second half of
the thirteenth century, during the reign of the Serbian king Stephen
Urosh (1262-1320).
He was born in the diocese of Budim into a pious Christian family,
where he received a spiritual upbringing. Distinguished by remarkable
talents, Eustathius was given a tutor by his parents to train him in
spiritual wisdom. He studied Holy Scripture with particular diligence,
perfecting himself in piety and good deeds. Having finished his
education, the youth entered the Monastery of the Archangel Michael in
the Zeta district (Montenegro) and led a strict monastic life. Soon he
became known as a great ascetic. From thence he undertook a journey to
Jerusalem, to venerate the Holy Sepulchre of the Lord. On the return
journey he visited Mount Athos and settled there in the Serbian
Hilandar monastery.
Saint Eustathius gained general renown and love as a strict ascetic
and good teacher, and many came to him for spiritual advice. Later, he
became igumen of the monastery.
After several years he was consecrated as Bishop of Zeta, and the
saint returned to his native land. Experienced in spiritual life and
in churchly matters, he won the love of his fellow countrymen, and
continued to set an example for his flock.
St Eustathius was chosen as Archbishop of Serbia after the death of
Archbishop Joannicius. St Eustathius guided the Serbian Church for
seven years, and died about the year 1285. His body was buried in the
Zhicha monastery, and later it was transferred to Pech and placed in
the cathedral church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.
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St Aquila, Deacon, of the Kiev Caves
Saint Aquila the Deacon of the Kiev Caves (14th Century), became
famous as a great faster, having spent a long while as a hermit. He
ate neither vareny (pirogi) nor sweet food, he ate vegetables seldom
and only in small quantities. During fasting periods, he ate only one
prosphora.
Those thirsting for deliverance from "the enslavement of the passions
of the stomach," and those wishing to learn temperance turn to St
Aquila entreating his help (Third Ode of the Canon to the monks
venerated in the Far Caves).
St Aquila the Deacon is also commemorated on August 28 and on the
second Sunday of Great Lent.
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Martyr Zosimus the Hermit, Anchorite of Cilicia
The Monk Martyr Zosimus came from Cilicia and was an inhabitant of the
wilderness. During a time of persecution against Christians under the
emperor Diocletian (284-305) Saint Zosimus was seized and subjected to
fierce torture for the Faith, but by the power of God he was preserved
unharmed.
Having beheld such a miracle of God, the prison warden named
Athanasius believed in Christ and was baptized. Sts Zosimus and
Athanasius were released and went into the wilderness where they lived
in the crevice of a mountain until their death.
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Martyr Athanasius the Superintendent of Prisoners, Anchorite
of Cilicia
Saint Athanasius was a prison warden who witnessed the torture of St
Zosimus. Seeing him unharmed, St Athanasius believed in Christ and was
baptized.
Sts Zosimus and Athanasius were released and went into the wilderness
where they lived in the crevice of a mountain until their death.
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Venerable Euthymius Martyred at Vatopedi of Mt Athos
The Monk Martyr Euthymius, Igumen of the Vatopedi Monastery on Mount
Athos, and twelve other monks suffered martyrdom for denouncing the
Latinizing Patriarchs Michael Paleologos (1261-1281) and John Bekkos
(1275-1282) as heretics. St Euthymius was drowned in the sea, and the
monks were hanged.
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12 Monks, Martyred at Vatopedi on Mt Athos
Twelve monastic martyrs suffered martyrdom with St Euthymius, the
igumen of the Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos for denouncing the
Latinizing Patriarchs Michael Paleologos (1261-1281) and John Bekkos
(1275-1282) as heretics. St Euthymius was drowned in the sea, and the
monks were hanged.
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Venerable Onuphrius of Hilandar (Mt. Athos) the Newmartyr
The New Martyr Onuphrius, in the world Matthew, was born in Bulgaria
in Gabrovo in the Trnovo diocese. Matthew became angry with his
parents one day, and said he wished to become a Moslem. Unfortunately,
he was overheard by the Hagarenes, who wished to take him away. He
regretted these words as soon as he uttered them, and he went to Athos
to the Hilandar monastery as soon as he came of age. There he became a
monk with the name Manassas.
Tormented by his conscience, Manassas decided to suffer for Christ.
Therefore, he asked the blessing of his Elder Nicephorus to pursue the
path of martyrdom. The Elder tonsured him a schemamonk with the name
Onuphrius. After four months of intense prayer, fasting, and spiritual
struggle, he went with Gregory of the Peloponnesos to the island of
Chios. There the Monk Martyr Onuphrius openly confessed the Christian
Faith, for which he was seized and subjected to cruel tortures.
After the torture they beheaded him and threw him into the sea. He
died in 1818 at the age of thirty-two.
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Martyrs of the Shio-Mgvime Monastery
The Thirteen Syrian fathers arrived in Georgia in the 6th century,
having received a blessing for their journey from the Most Holy
Theotokos. They settled on Zedazeni Mountain, living an ascetic life
of prayer and fasting. Their spiritual leader, Ioane, then sent them
to perform good works throughout various regions of Georgia. The
founding of many monasteries and the revival of monastic life in
Georgia today are linked to the names of the Thirteen Syrian Fathers.
St. Ioane sent one of his disciples, Shio, the son of a God-fearing
Antiochian nobleman, to take up his abode in the nearby Sarkineti
Mountains. By the grace of God, a dove brought food to St. Shio in the
deserted highlands where he labored.
A certain ruler, Evagre of Tsikhedidi, would often go hunting in the
area where St. Shio lived. On one of his excursions he happened upon
venerable Shio and was so awed by his wondrous way of life that he
decided to remain there with him. St. Evagre gave up all his
possessions and was found worthy to be appointed abbot at the time of
St. Shios death.
St. Ioane remained on Zedazeni Mountain with only one disciple, the
holy deacon Ilia. Fr. Ilia was a great consolation to St. Ioane in his
infirmities. St. Ilia was also a great ascetic in his own right,
laboring in prayer, fasting, and mortification of the flesh.
The mountain on which they lived was completely lacking water. St.
Ilia labored in the sweat of his brow carrying water from the Aragvi
River, which flows around the foot of Zedazeni Mountain. Seeing the
great ascetic labors of his disciple, St. Ioane besought God with
tears that He would supply them with a spring of water on top of this
high mountain. God heard the prayer of His servant and a spring of
delicious water began to flow.
St. Ilia the Deacon often accompanied St. Ioane on his travels. Fr.
Ioane once took him to the monastery of St. Shio, and Ilia the Deacon,
as requested, presented St. Ioane with a cup of wine in the refectory.
The blessed Ioane made the sign of the Cross over the cup, raised it
aloft, prayed to God, and left the cup suspended in the air. It
remained where he had placed it, as if supported by an invisible hand.
One day St. Ilia went to the spring to draw water. Glancing up he saw
opposite him a bear of enormous size approaching the spring. Ilia was
terrified and, leaving his bucket, turned and fled to the great
schemamonk Ioane to tell him about the bear. St. Ioane followed his
disciple to the well and saw the bear drinking water. St. Ioane meekly
said, Drink if you are thirsty and go away from here. But I tell you
that henceforth, you and your kind shall never dare to cause any harm
to anyone on this mountain. Hearing the words of the saint and
inclining its head like an obedient servant, the bear immediately left
the spring. And to this day the animals continue to obey St. Ioanes
command.
The holy deacon Ilia remained with St. Ioane the rest of his life. The
Georgian Apostolic Church beseeches the protection of the venerable
Evagre, Ilia the Deacon, and all the blessed and pious elders who
dwelt with the Thirteen Syrian Fathers and continued laboring in
holiness to the end of their lives.
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Martyr Evargrisi of the Shio-Mgvime Monastery
The Thirteen Syrian fathers arrived in Georgia in the 6th century,
having received a blessing for their journey from the Most Holy
Theotokos. They settled on Zedazeni Mountain, living an ascetic life
of prayer and fasting. Their spiritual leader, Ioane, then sent them
to perform good works throughout various regions of Georgia. The
founding of many monasteries and the revival of monastic life in
Georgia today are linked to the names of the Thirteen Syrian Fathers.
St. Ioane sent one of his disciples, Shio, the son of a God-fearing
Antiochian nobleman, to take up his abode in the nearby Sarkineti
Mountains. By the grace of God, a dove brought food to St. Shio in the
deserted highlands where he labored.
A certain ruler, Evagre of Tsikhedidi, would often go hunting in the
area where St. Shio lived. On one of his excursions he happened upon
venerable Shio and was so awed by his wondrous way of life that he
decided to remain there with him. St. Evagre gave up all his
possessions and was found worthy to be appointed abbot at the time of
St. Shios death.
St. Ioane remained on Zedazeni Mountain with only one disciple, the
holy deacon Ilia. Fr. Ilia was a great consolation to St. Ioane in his
infirmities. St. Ilia was also a great ascetic in his own right,
laboring in prayer, fasting, and mortification of the flesh.
The mountain on which they lived was completely lacking water. St.
Ilia labored in the sweat of his brow carrying water from the Aragvi
River, which flows around the foot of Zedazeni Mountain. Seeing the
great ascetic labors of his disciple, St. Ioane besought God with
tears that He would supply them with a spring of water on top of this
high mountain. God heard the prayer of His servant and a spring of
delicious water began to flow.
St. Ilia the Deacon often accompanied St. Ioane on his travels. Fr.
Ioane once took him to the monastery of St. Shio, and Ilia the Deacon,
as requested, presented St. Ioane with a cup of wine in the refectory.
The blessed Ioane made the sign of the Cross over the cup, raised it
aloft, prayed to God, and left the cup suspended in the air. It
remained where he had placed it, as if supported by an invisible hand.
One day St. Ilia went to the spring to draw water. Glancing up he saw
opposite him a bear of enormous size approaching the spring. Ilia was
terrified and, leaving his bucket, turned and fled to the great
schemamonk Ioane to tell him about the bear. St. Ioane followed his
disciple to the well and saw the bear drinking water. St. Ioane meekly
said, Drink if you are thirsty and go away from here. But I tell you
that henceforth, you and your kind shall never dare to cause any harm
to anyone on this mountain. Hearing the words of the saint and
inclining its head like an obedient servant, the bear immediately left
the spring. And to this day the animals continue to obey St. Ioanes
command.
The holy deacon Ilia remained with St. Ioane the rest of his life. The
Georgian Apostolic Church beseeches the protection of the venerable
Evagre, Ilia the Deacon, and all the blessed and pious elders who
dwelt with the Thirteen Syrian Fathers and continued laboring in
holiness to the end of their lives.
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Martyr Ilia, the Deacon of the Shio-Mgvime Monastery
The Thirteen Syrian fathers arrived in Georgia in the 6th century,
having received a blessing for their journey from the Most Holy
Theotokos. They settled on Zedazeni Mountain, living an ascetic life
of prayer and fasting. Their spiritual leader, Ioane, then sent them
to perform good works throughout various regions of Georgia. The
founding of many monasteries and the revival of monastic life in
Georgia today are linked to the names of the Thirteen Syrian Fathers.
St. Ioane sent one of his disciples, Shio, the son of a God-fearing
Antiochian nobleman, to take up his abode in the nearby Sarkineti
Mountains. By the grace of God, a dove brought food to St. Shio in the
deserted highlands where he labored.
A certain ruler, Evagre of Tsikhedidi, would often go hunting in the
area where St. Shio lived. On one of his excursions he happened upon
venerable Shio and was so awed by his wondrous way of life that he
decided to remain there with him. St. Evagre gave up all his
possessions and was found worthy to be appointed abbot at the time of
St. Shios death.
St. Ioane remained on Zedazeni Mountain with only one disciple, the
holy deacon Ilia. Fr. Ilia was a great consolation to St. Ioane in his
infirmities. St. Ilia was also a great ascetic in his own right,
laboring in prayer, fasting, and mortification of the flesh.
The mountain on which they lived was completely lacking water. St.
Ilia labored in the sweat of his brow carrying water from the Aragvi
River, which flows around the foot of Zedazeni Mountain. Seeing the
great ascetic labors of his disciple, St. Ioane besought God with
tears that He would supply them with a spring of water on top of this
high mountain. God heard the prayer of His servant and a spring of
delicious water began to flow.
St. Ilia the Deacon often accompanied St. Ioane on his travels. Fr.
Ioane once took him to the monastery of St. Shio, and Ilia the Deacon,
as requested, presented St. Ioane with a cup of wine in the refectory.
The blessed Ioane made the sign of the Cross over the cup, raised it
aloft, prayed to God, and left the cup suspended in the air. It
remained where he had placed it, as if supported by an invisible hand.
One day St. Ilia went to the spring to draw water. Glancing up he saw
opposite him a bear of enormous size approaching the spring. Ilia was
terrified and, leaving his bucket, turned and fled to the great
schemamonk Ioane to tell him about the bear. St. Ioane followed his
disciple to the well and saw the bear drinking water. St. Ioane meekly
said, Drink if you are thirsty and go away from here. But I tell you
that henceforth, you and your kind shall never dare to cause any harm
to anyone on this mountain. Hearing the words of the saint and
inclining its head like an obedient servant, the bear immediately left
the spring. And to this day the animals continue to obey St. Ioanes
command.
The holy deacon Ilia remained with St. Ioane the rest of his life. The
Georgian Apostolic Church beseeches the protection of the venerable
Evagre, Ilia the Deacon, and all the blessed and pious elders who
dwelt with the Thirteen Syrian Fathers and continued laboring in
holiness to the end of their lives.
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