Holy Apostles Erastus, Olympas, Herodion, Sosipater, Quartus and Tertius, of the Seventy (I)

The holy Apostles of the Seventy Erastus, Olympas, Herodion, Sosipater, Quartus and Tertius were disciples of the holy Apostle Paul. The apostle mentions them in the epistle to the Romans: “Salute… Olympas, and all the saints which are with them” (16:15); “Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you” (16:21); “I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord” (16:22); “Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother” (Rom. 16:23).

The Apostle Sosipater was from Achaia. He was bishop of Iconium and died there (see the readings for 28 April about him). The Apostle Erastus was at first a deacon and steward of the Church of Jerusalem, and afterwards bishop of Paneas. Saint Quartus converted many pagans to the Christian faith, and at last, in the rank of bishop of the city of Berytus, committed his soul to the Lord in peace. The holy Apostle Tertius, who wrote down the Apostle Paul’s epistle to the Romans, was the second bishop of Iconium and died there. The holy Apostle Herodion (Rodion) was beheaded in 67 (see the reading for 8 April).