By Bishop Grigorios of Mesaoria
Today the Church commemorates six disciples from the circle of the Seventy Apostles. Saint Stachys was ordained by the Apostle Andreas, the first Bishop of the Church of Byzantium, and fell asleep in peace. Saint Apelles became Bishop of Heraclea and was a preeminent figure of 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 was martyred, and Saint Aristobulus, distinguished himself in 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 travelled to various areas of the Roman Empire and is regarded as the enlightener of Britannia. He was the first Bishop of Britannia.
