Holy Apostles Mark, Aristarchus and Zenas, of the Seventy (I)

The holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark was one of the Lord’s seventy closest disciples. He is also called John. Luke the Evangelist mentions Mark in the Acts of the Apostles (12:25; 15:37–39), and the Apostle Paul in his epistles to the Colossians (4:10) and to Philemon (1:23). The holy apostle preached the word of God together with Paul and Barnabas and was appointed bishop of the city of Byblos. The blessed one won such boldness before the Lord that even his shadow healed the sick (for more about him see the reading for 25 April).

The holy Apostle Aristarchus is mentioned in the epistles of the chief of the apostles, Saint Paul, to the Colossians (4:10) and to Philemon (1:23). He accompanied Paul in his preaching work, and was afterwards appointed bishop of the Syrian city of Apamea. The holy Church also commemorates Aristarchus on 15 April.

The holy Apostle Zenas, one of the Seventy, a disciple and fellow labourer of the chief of the apostles, Paul, was a lawyer before he followed Christ. Distinguished for his learning, he was called “the lawyer”. The blessed one is mentioned in Paul’s epistle to the Apostle Titus: “Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them” (3:13). According to tradition, Zenas was afterwards consecrated bishop of the Palestinian city of Diospolis, or Lydda.