Today the Church celebrates the memory of the Holy Apostles of the Seventy and Deacons Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, and Parmenas, who together with Stephen, Nicholas and Philip constitute the group of seven deacons mentioned in the Acts of the Holy Apostles.
The role of these saints was very important for the Church since, in addition to belonging to the seventy disciples of the Lord, their election was the first step in the formation of the ecclesiastical hierarchy. After the stoning of Stephen, during which Nicanor was also martyred, they accompanied the Apostles on their journeys, following them both in the preaching and martyrdom.
Saint Prochorus initially followed Saint Peter the Apostle, who appointed him Bishop of Nicomedia, according to Saint Symeon the Metaphrast. After the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, he followed John the Evangelist, with whom he preached the Gospel in many places and endured many difficulties. Upon his arrival in Antioch, he was martyred.
Saint Timon came from Cyprus, specifically from the village of Lampadistou. He was Bishop of Bostra in Arabia, and suffered from the Jews and pagans for preaching the Gospel. He was brutally tortured and was probably crucified.
Saint Parmenas ministered to the Apostles and the entire first Christian community of Jerusalem. According to a tradition, he became seriously ill and passed away. Another tradition says that the saint received the crown of martyrdom.
Source: Church of Cyprus