Holy Apostles Philemon and Archippus, of the Seventy, and the Holy Martyr Apphia, Equal to the Apostles (I)

The holy Apostle Philemon and his wife Apphia lived in the Phrygian city of Colossae. After they had been baptised by the hand of the Apostle Paul, the saints turned their house into a house of prayer, where the Orthodox gathered to celebrate divine services. The Apostle Philemon was appointed Bishop of the city of Gaza and preached the word of God throughout Phrygia. The Apostle Paul sent the blessed one an epistle full of love, in which he writes: “Unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, and to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house” (Philem. 1:1–3). Saints Philemon and Apphia and the holy Apostle Archippus died as martyrs during the persecution of the Christians by the Emperor Nero (54–68). During a pagan festival an enraged mob burst into the Christian church where divine service was being celebrated. Everyone took fright and scattered; only Philemon, Archippus and Apphia remained. The godless seized them. Archippus, cruelly beaten and slashed with knives by the savage pagans, did not reach the tribunal but died on the way, while Saints Philemon and Apphia were stoned by order of the governor.

The Church also commemorates the holy Apostles Philemon and Archippus and Apphia, Equal to the Apostles, on 19 February.