Aristarchos, Pudens, Trophimos the Apostles of the 70 (14 April)
Saint Aristarchus was one of the Seventy Apostles, whom the Lord Jesus Christ sent to proclaim the good news of the Gospel (Luke. 10:1-24).
Saint Aristarchus, a co-worker of the holy Apostle Paul, became bishop of the Syrian city of Apamea. His name is repeatedly mentioned in the Acts of the Holy Apostles (Acts 19:29, 20:4, 27:2) and in the Epistles of Saint Paul (Col. 4:10, Philemon 1:24). He accompanied Saint Paul on his travels (Acts 16:29), and was Bishop of Apamea, Syria.
Saint Aristarchus is commemorated on April 15 with Saints Pudens and Trophimus and on September 27 together with Saints Mark and Zenas.
Saint Aristarchus is mentioned in the Epistle to the Colossians (4:10), and also in the Epistle to Philemon (v. 24). By his ascetical manner of life, this Saint proved to be another Saint John the Baptist. He became Bishop of Apamea in Syria, and brought many to the Faith of Christ. Saints Pudens and Trophimus are mentioned in II Timothy 4:20-21. Also, Acts 21:29 mentions that Trophimus was from Ephesus. According to sources that Saint Dorotheus of Tyre (celebrated on June 5) found written in Latin in Rome, these Apostles were beheaded in Rome during the reign of Nero (54-68).
They were numbered among the Seventy Apostles. Aristarchus was bishop of Apamea in Syria. The Apostle Paul mentions him several times: The city was filled with confusion and the people rushed with one accord into the theater, seizing Gaius and Aristarchus (Acts 19:29. See also Colossians 4:10 & Philemon 1:23-24). Aristarchus was arrested in Ephesus, together with Gaius, by a multitude of people who had risen up against Paul. The Apostle Paul writes to the Colossians: Aristarchus my fellow prisoner saluteth you (Colossians 4:10). In the Epistle to Philemon, Paul calls Aristarchus my fellow laborer, together with Mark, Demas and Luke.
Pudens was a distinguished citizen of Rome. The Apostle Paul mentions him once. Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers send greetings (2 Timothy 4:21). At first, the home of Pudens was a haven for the chief apostles [Peter and Paul] and later it was converted into a place of worship, called the Shepherd’s Church.
Trophimus was from Asia. Sopater, the son of Pyrrhus, from Beroea, accompanied him, as did Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy and Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia (Acts 20:4), and he accompanied the Apostle on his travels. In one place the Apostle Paul writes: Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick (2 Timothy 4:20).
During Nero’s persecution, when the Apostle Paul was beheaded, all three of these glorious apostles were also beheaded.
Apolytikion of Aristarchus, Pudens, & Trophimus of the 70
Third Tone
O Holy Apostles, intercede to our merciful God, that He may grant our souls forgiveness of sins.
Source: oca.org / goarch.org / westserbdio.org
