Equal-to-the-Apostles Martyr Apphia

Equal-to-the-Apostles Martyr Apphia was the wife of Apostle Philemon of the Seventy and mother of Apostle Archippus, residents of the city of Colossae in Phrygia. She came to believe in Christ and was personally baptized, together with her whole household, by Apostle Paul upon hearing his preaching. The house of Philemon and Apphia became a gathering place for the prayers of the Colossian Christians; the couple devoted themselves to serving the sick and needy. Apostle Paul mentions her at the very beginning of the Epistle to Philemon: "to our beloved Apphia" (Philemon 1:2). During the reign of Emperor Nero (54-68), the city governor Artoklis condemned Philemon and Apphia to death by stoning for confessing the Christian faith; Apostle Archippus was martyred together with them. Unlike her husband and son, who are canonized as apostles, Apphia is numbered by the Church among the Equal-to-the-Apostles. Her memory is kept on February 19/March 4 together with the Apostles Archippus and Philemon (see apostle_philemon, apostle_archippus).