Apostles of the Seventy Archippus and Philemon

Saints commemorated

Saint of the day

Apostles of the Seventy Archippus and Philemon

Archippus was an apostle of the Seventy and a minister of the church of Colossae in Phrygia, greeted by the Apostle Paul as "our fellow soldier" (Philemon 2) and charged in the Epistle to the Colossians to "take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it" (Colossians 4:17). The Byzantine tradition remembers him as the son of Philemon and Apphia, in whose house the Colossian church assembled, and numbers him with his father among the Seventy. Under Nero he received the crown of martyrdom at Colossae, dragged before the mob and stoned to death — the hymnography singing that he "longed for the cornerstone Stone" and so "was battered with stones for love of Him." He is kept with the whole Colossian household on November 22, and again on February 19, where the day is led by his own name and his proper hymns.
Saint of the day

Philemon, Archippus, Onesimus and Apphia

Philemon and his wife Apphia were a Christian couple of Colossae in Phrygia whose house became the church addressed in the Apostle Paul's shortest surviving letter, the Epistle to Philemon; Archippus, greeted in the same letter as Paul's "fellow soldier," is remembered as their son, and Onesimus is the runaway slave whose return the letter pleads for, later himself a bishop and martyr. Counted among the Seventy Apostles, Philemon and Archippus laboured for the Gospel throughout Phrygia — Philemon becoming, by the tradition, bishop of Gaza — and under Nero the three of Colossae received the crown of martyrdom, Archippus cut down with knives and Philemon and Apphia stoned. They are commemorated together on November 22 and again on February 19; Onesimus keeps his own principal feast on February 15.
Our Venerable Mother Philothea of Athens (1589)

Philothei of Athens (1522–1589), born Regoula Benizelou to one of the noblest families of Ottoman Athens, is the great nun-martyr and philanthropist of the enslaved city — venerated as a patroness of Athens, where her incorrupt relics rest in the Metropolitan Cathedral. Married against her will as a girl and widowed within a few years, she refused all further marriage and, after her parents' death, took the monastic name Philothei and founded on her own estate the convent of St Andrew, gathering about it a great complex of schools, workshops, hospices and refuges. From it she ransomed Christian captives, and above all sheltered and spirited to safety women fleeing the harems and the slavery of the conquerors — for which the Turkish authorities seized her at a night vigil, beat her savagely, and left her mortally hurt. She lingered some months and reposed of her wounds on February 19, 1589, and was numbered among the new martyrs of the Church under the Turkish yoke.
Conon of Penthucla

Conon (sixth century) was a Cilician who from his youth was a monk of the monastery of Penthucla near the Jordan, ordained presbyter and appointed to baptize the many pilgrims and converts who came down to the holy river. Grievously troubled at having, by the rite, to anoint women with the holy oil, he resolved to abandon his charge and flee — until John the Baptist appeared to him and strengthened him, promising to bear the struggle for him, so that thereafter he ministered the baptism in peace and without disturbance for many years. He reposed in great old age and is commemorated on February 19.
Dositheus of Gaza

Dositheus (sixth century) was the young disciple of Abba Dorotheus of Gaza, and the living illustration of his master's teaching on obedience. A pampered youth of a rich house, ignorant of the faith, he was converted by a vision at the holy places of Jerusalem and entered the coenobium of Abba Seridos near Gaza, where he was given wholly into the care of Dorotheus. In some five years he was so refined by a perfect, unquestioning obedience — cutting off his own will in the smallest things, even his fondness for fine food and his craft as an infirmarian — that when he died young of consumption, the great elders Barsanuphius and John declared his measure equal to that of the aged ascetics. His Life, written by Dorotheus, and the sayings that frame it, are a classic of the literature of monastic obedience.
Eugene and Macarius of Antioch

Eugene and Macarius were presbyters of the Church of Antioch who, under the emperor Julian the Apostate (361–363), boldly reproached him to his face for his apostasy from Christ and his restoration of the worship of idols. For this they were tortured and sent into a harsh exile — the tradition places it in the desert of Mauretania (or Arabia) — where, near a spring of poisonous water made sweet and healing by their prayer, they ended their lives about the year 363, confessors who sealed their witness with death. They are commemorated on February 19.
Rabulas of Samosata

Rabulas (c. 450 – c. 530) was a Syrian ascetic of Samosata on the Euphrates who, after taking the monastic habit young and long labouring as a solitary in the deserts and mountains after the pattern of the Prophet Elijah and John the Forerunner, passed into Phoenicia and there became a renowned founder of monasteries. Aided by the emperors Zeno and Anastasius, he built a great house of prayer near Berytus (Beirut) and others besides, governing them in meekness and mercy and famed for the gift of intercession. Warned of his end by a heavenly voice — "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden" — he reposed in peace at a great age about the year 530, and is commemorated on February 19.
Theodotus, Asclepiodota and Maximus of Adrianople

Theodotus, Asclepiodota and Maximus were martyrs of Thrace under the emperor Galerius (305–311). Maximus and Asclepiodota, eminent citizens of Marcianopolis whose Christian life had drawn many to baptism, were arrested by Tiris, governor of Thrace; Theodotus was seized for rebuking the governor's cruelty. Tortured at Marcianopolis and again at Adrianople — where the beasts of the arena refused to touch them — they were beheaded near the village of Saltys on the road to Philippopolis, and the tradition adds that the governor was struck dead by lightning on his judgment seat. They are commemorated together on September 15.

British Isles and Ireland

St. Odran the Martyr (452)

Troparia & kontakia

Kontakion — Tone 4

Possessing thee, O Archippus, as a great star, the Church, illumined by the beams of thy wonders, crieth out to thee: Save those who with faith honour thy memory.

Kontakion — Tone 2

As stars of many rays enlightening the ends of the earth, let us praise the apostles of Christ — Philemon the glorious and Archippus the sacred, Onesimus and Mark and Apollos, and with them Apphia the all-wise — crying out to them: Pray without ceasing for us all.

Troparion — Tone 3

O holy Apostle Archippus, intercede with the merciful God, that he may grant to our souls the forgiveness of transgressions.

Troparion — Tone 8 (from the common of a venerable one)

By a flood of tears thou didst make the barren desert bloom, and by thy deep sighing thou didst bring forth fruit a hundredfold in labours, and wast made a beacon shining upon the world by thy miracles, O Conon our father. Intercede with Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Troparion — Tone 8 (from the common of a venerable one)

By a flood of tears thou didst make the barren desert bloom, and by thy deep sighing thou didst bring forth fruit a hundredfold in labours, and wast made a beacon shining upon the world by thy miracles, O Dositheus our father. Intercede with Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Troparion — Tone 4 (from the common of martyrs)

Thy martyrs, O Lord, in their courageous contest received incorruptible crowns from thee our God; for possessed of thy might, they cast down the tyrants and shattered the feeble arrogance of the demons. By their prayers, O Christ God, save our souls.

Troparion — Tone 3

Holy Apostles, intercede with the merciful God, that he grant to our souls the forgiveness of offences.

Troparion — Tone 4

Having received the radiance of the venerable saints, O modest one, thou didst make bright the city of the Athenians by thine ascetic struggle and by thy grace; for, bearing the fruit of love for thy neighbour, thou wast lawfully perfected in contest, and hast received from the Lord a divine crown. O Philothei our mother, entreat Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Troparion — Tone 8 (from the common of a venerable one)

By a flood of tears thou didst make the barren desert bloom, and by thy deep sighing thou didst bring forth fruit a hundredfold in labours, and wast made a beacon shining upon the world by thy miracles, O Rabulas our father. Intercede with Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Troparion — Tone 4 (from the common of martyrs)

Thy Martyrs, O Lord, in their contest received incorruptible crowns from Thee our God; for possessing Thy strength they cast down the tormentors and broke the feeble insolence of the demons: at their intercessions save our souls.

Readings

Epistle

Jude 11-25

¹¹Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. ¹²These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; ¹³Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. ¹⁴And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, ¹⁵To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. ¹⁶These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. ¹⁷But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; ¹⁸How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. ¹⁹These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. ²⁰But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, ²¹Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. ²²And of some have compassion, making a difference: ²³And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. ²⁴Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, ²⁵To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Gospel

Luke 23.2-34, 44-56

²And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. ³And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it. ⁴Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. ⁵And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. ⁶When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilæan. ⁷And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time. ⁸And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. ⁹Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. ¹⁰And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. ¹¹And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate. ¹²And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves. ¹³And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, ¹⁴Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: ¹⁵No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. ¹⁶I will therefore chastise him, and release him. ¹⁷(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.) ¹⁸And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: ¹⁹(Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.) ²⁰Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. ²¹But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. ²²And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. ²³And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. ²⁴And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. ²⁵And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will. ²⁶And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. ²⁷And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. ²⁸But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. ²⁹For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. ³⁰Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. ³¹For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? ³²And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. ³³And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. ³⁴Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. ⁴⁴And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. ⁴⁵And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. ⁴⁶And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. ⁴⁷Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. ⁴⁸And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. ⁴⁹And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things. ⁵⁰And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: ⁵¹(The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathæa, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. ⁵²This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. ⁵³And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. ⁵⁴And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. ⁵⁵And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. ⁵⁶And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.