Apostle
Apostle Philemon
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Apostle Philemon of the Seventy, Bishop of Gaza — a distinguished resident of Colossae in Phrygia, to whom Apostle Paul addressed a personal Epistle asking him to receive the runaway slave Onesimus as a brother in Christ; husband of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Martyr Apphia and father of Apostle Archippus.
Apostle Philemon of the Seventy was a distinguished resident of the city of Colossae in Phrygia. He came to believe in Christ together with his wife Apphia and son Archippus, upon hearing the preaching of Apostle Paul. It is to him that Apostle Paul's personal Epistle to Philemon is addressed — asking him to forgive and receive as a brother in Christ the runaway slave Onesimus (who later also became an Apostle of the Seventy and Bishop of Ephesus). He was made bishop of the city of Gaza and preached the Word of God throughout Phrygia. The Apostles Archippus and Philemon, together with St. Apphia, endured various tortures and were martyred during the reign of Emperor Nero (54–68). His main commemoration is kept on November 22/December 5; also February 19/March 4 together with Apostle Archippus and the Equal-to-the-Apostles Martyr Apphia.
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