The Orthodox Church commemorates today six disciples from the Seventy Apostles. Saint Stachys was ordained by Apostle Andreas, the first Bishop of the Church of Byzantium, who later fell asleep in the Lord. Saint Apelles became Bishop of Heraclea and was a very important figure in the Christian mission.
Saints Amplias and Urban were also ordained bishops by Apostle Andrew, the former in Odessos (Varna) and the latter in Macedonia. After converting many Jews and pagans to Christianity, the Lord deemed them worthy to receive the wreath of martyrdom. Saint Narcissus became Bishop of Athens and became a martyr, and Saint Aristobulus distinguished himself during his Christian mission and, according to the Synaxarion, he had the gift to capture the souls with his word.
Saint Aristobulus, according to tradition, was of Cypriot origin and the brother of Apostle Barnabas. He traveled to various areas of the Roman Empire and is regarded as the enlightener of Britannia. He was the first Bishop of Britannia.
Every time we honor the Lord’s Disciples and Apostles, with fervent prayer, we ask for their intercession in our lives. They obeyed the command of Christ, who also addresses all the Orthodox Christians, as successors of the Apostles: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28, 19-20).
Source: Church of Cyprus
