Holy Apostles Evodius and Onesiphorus

Life

These apostles were of the Seventy. Evodius is mentioned by Saint Ignatius the God-bearer in his epistle to the Antiochians with great praise. Evodius was a disciple of the Apostle Peter and his successor in the office of Bishop of Antioch. The Apostle Peter, his instructor, appointed him Bishop of Antioch. Evodius wrote a work about the Holy Theotokos, in which he set forth how the Holy Virgin Mary was brought to the Temple at the age of three; how she remained in the Temple for eleven years; how, upon entering her fifteenth year, she was entrusted to Saint Joseph for safekeeping; and how she gave birth to the Lord in her fifteenth year. He also wrote another work entitled "The Luminary." But both of these works were destroyed during the persecutions of Christians. He was killed for Christ during the time of Emperor Vespasian's stay in Antioch. Saint Onesiphorus is mentioned by the Apostle Paul (II Timothy 1:16-18) as his sincere friend and helper. He suffered for Christ in Colophon, where he was also bishop. It is said that he was tied to wild horses and torn apart. And thus these faithful soldiers of Christ honorably served on earth and departed into the joy of their Lord.