The Orthodox Church commemorates today Saint Herodion of the Seventy Apostles and Venerable Hilarion the New, Abbot of Pelekete monastery.
Jesus Christ, on the one hand, had the narrow circle of 12 Apostles and, on the other hand, he had also a wider circle of seventy disciplines. Saint Herodion distinguished himself, as he was following the command of Jesus Christ who said, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.” So, he became a zealous preacher of the Holy Gospel and a follower of Saint Peter the Apostle. During his missionary work, he went to Greece, where he was ordained bishop of Patras succeeding Apostle Andrew the First-Called. Saint Paul the Apostle held Saint Herodion in high esteem and referred to him as “relative” into a letter to the Romans.
Saint Herodion took over as bishop with zeal and devotion inciting the wrath of idolaters. After being arrested, he was beaten, stoned, and, finally, beheaded. He reposed in the Lord and was deemed worthy to receive the wreath of martyrdom.