Holy Apostles Silas, Silvanus, Crescens, Epaenetus, and Andronicus

Life

All from the Seventy Apostles. St. Silas was sent from Jerusalem to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas to resolve the dispute among the faithful concerning circumcision, namely, that it was not necessary to circumcise Gentiles when they convert to Christianity (Acts 15:22). After that, Silas traveled with Paul through Asia and Macedonia, and was appointed Bishop of Corinth, where he peacefully reposed. Silvanus assisted both chief Apostles (I Peter 5:12; II Corinthians 1:19). As Bishop of Thessalonica he labored greatly and suffered much before exchanging his earthly life for the heavenly one. Crescens was a fellow laborer of the Apostle Paul (II Timothy 4:10), then Bishop of Galatia, and afterward a missionary in Gaul, where he ended his life as a martyr for Christ in the time of Trajan. Holy Epaenetus, mentioned by the Apostle Paul (Romans 16:5), was a bishop in Carthage. Andronicus (Romans 16:7), Bishop of Pannonia, is commemorated separately on May 17.

From the Hymn of Praise

The pagan ruler, the dread Emperor Decius,In fury cried out: "O Polychronius,Why dost thou not honor the Roman gods, old man?Why wilt thou not heed the imperial commands?"