Holy Apostle Onesimus (+c. 109)

The holy Apostle Onesimus (of the Seventy) was the slave of Philemon, a rich Christian living in the city of Colossae in the region of Phrygia. Once he did some wrong to his master, and then fled from punishment and went to Rome. Here the runaway slave was arrested and thrown into prison. In prison Onesimus found the Apostle Paul in chains, who instructed him in the word of the Gospel and then baptised him. The newly baptised man served the imprisoned saint like a son. Paul, who knew Philemon personally, sent Onesimus to him with a letter, and asked him lovingly to pardon the erring slave and receive him as a brother. In answer to this letter Philemon (commemorated 4 January, 19 February and 22 November) not only forgave the future saint but also set him free and sent him back to Rome, to the chief of the apostles. Here Onesimus was consecrated bishop. After the death of the Apostles Peter and Paul he travelled through Spain and Asia preaching the Gospel. In deep old age the saint succeeded Timothy in the episcopal see of Ephesus. When Ignatius the God-bearer was being led to Rome to be put to death, the blessed Onesimus came out to meet him on the way with several Christians, which Ignatius himself mentions in his Epistle to the Ephesians.

In the reign of the Emperor Trajan, Onesimus was seized and brought before the tribunal. For courageously confessing Christ he was first shut up in prison, and then struck with stones and beheaded. A noble and pious woman placed the holy body of the martyred apostle in a silver shrine. This happened around 109.