A Holy Group of Christ’s Disciples

In St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans, several of Christ’s “Seventy Apostles” are mentioned. Six of them are on this icon: Stachys, Amplias, Urbanus, Apelles, Aristobulus, and Narcissus. These zealous and dedicated labourers in the vineyard of Christ are all commemorated on the same day on our Church Calendar.

In addition to their connection with the Apostle Paul, these six saints were closely connected with the Apostle Andrew as well. In fact, five of them were ordained bishops by St. Andrew for various Christian communities.

The APOSTLE STACHYS might be viewed as the most prominent of this illustrious group. He was ordained as the first Bishop of Byzantium, which eventually became known as the great city of Constantinople. ST. AMPLIAS became the first Bishop of Odyssopoulos, where he was eventually martyred for the Faith. URBANUS was chosen to be the first Bishop for the region of Macedonia, where he too, suffered martyrdom. NARCISSUS, according to the Tradition of the Church, was ordained by St. Andrew as Bishop of Athens, while ARISTOBULUS received similar acclaim as Bishop of Brittany. Like their fellow apostles, they too gave their lives in the service of the Lord.

Each of these saints exhibited a total dedication to our Saviour. This was evident in their ceaseless efforts to foster this new faith called “Christianity” to not only gain a foothold but thrive for centuries to come.

The Orthodox Weekly Bulletin ...... Vestal, Cliffwood, New Jersey ...... Litho in U.S.A.

The Apostle Luke - A Nourisher of the Soul

Apostle Luke is one of the saints that might be described as being “larger than life.” Born in Antioch, Luke was a great student of philosophy, medicine and art. Luke’s life changed one day when he came to Jerusalem and encountered Jesus Christ face to face. After hearing the Saviour’s teachings and witnessing His miraculous works, Luke became a devoted disciple of the Lord. According to the Tradition of the Church, Luke, together with Cleopas, saw the Risen Christ on the road to Emmaus immediately after His Resurrection.

Luke accompanied the Apostle Paul on his second missionary journey. He chronicles their travels to Philippi, Rome, Caesarea and Jerusalem in the Book of Acts, It is thought that he authored the Gospel that bears his name in 60 A.D.

After Paul’s death, Luke preached the Gospel in Italy, Dalmatia and Macedonia. He ultimately suffered martyrdom at the age of 84 when he was hanged from an olive tree in the town of Thebes.

In addition to his other accomplishments and achievements, the Apostle Luke is widely accepted as being the first iconographer of the Church. His works include three icons of the Mother of God as well as icons of the Apostles Peter and Paul.

Luke is also referred to as a historian, for his Gospel dates biblical events by reference to secular history. Since his Gospel was directed mainly at Christians with a Gentile background, it greatly emphasizes the challenge of evangelization for the Church.

The Orthodox Weekly Bulletin ...... Vestal, Cliffwood, New Jersey ...... Litho in U.S.A.

St. Mary Magdalene

One of the myrrh-bearing women and equal to the apostles, Mary was born in the town of Magdala, along the shore of Lake Gennesaret, of the tribe of Issachar. She was tormented by seven evil spirits – from which she was freed by the Lord Jesus and made whole. She was a faithful follower and servant of the Lord during His earthly life. She stood beneath the Cross on Golgotha, and grieved bitterly with the All-holy Theotokos. After the death of the Lord she visited His sepulcher three times. When the Lord rose again she saw Him on two occasions: once by herself, and once with the other myrrh-bearing women. She traveled to Rome and appeared before Tiberias Caesar, presenting him with a red egg, and giving him the salutation: “Christ is Risen!” She also denounced Pontius Pilate to Caesar for his unjust condemnation of the Lord Jesus. Caesar accepted her accusation, and transferred Pilate from Jerusalem to Gaul where, in disfavour with the emperor, this unjust judge died of a dread disease. After this, she returned from Rome to Ephesus, to assist St. John the Theologian in the work of preaching the Gospel. With great love toward the resurrected Lord, with great zeal for the Faith and as a true apostle of Christ, she proclaimed the Holy Gospel to the world. She died peacefully in Ephesus. According to tradition, the cave she was buried in was the same cave in which the Seven Youths (August 4) later slept a wondrous sleep for hundreds of years, then came to life and again died. The relics of St. Mary Magdalene were later transferred to Constantinople. There is a beautiful Russian Orthodox convent dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene near the Garden of Gethsemane.

Hymn of Praise - Saint Mary Magdalene

Magalene was shrouded in dark sorrow

Because of the bloody death of the Son of God.

Sorrow from love is most bitter sorrow –

She had neither consolation nor friend in the world.

Her tears were her comfort, and pain was her only friend.

For St. Magdalene, the world was turned to darkness

As a weak human, she sought light,

And Mary groped in the darkness, without hope.

Even His tomb to her was light – but lo! The tomb is empty!

“He has been stolen,” she thought, “naked and unanointed!”

Bitterly she wept, and there was no end to her weeping.

Then she heard the voice of a man beside her:

Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?

“You ask Whom I seek? Do you wish to calm me?

If you have taken His body, tell me where you have put it.”

Jesus looked upon her as she wept and sorrowed

And called to her in a sweet voice: “Mary!”

Light shone forth in Mary’s heart:

O voice now recognized, incomparably sweet,

O voice overflowing with life and power!

With this voice the Lord healed the sick,

With this voice He raised the dead.

O life-giving voice – O wondrous voice!

Mary sprang up and turned around:

“Rabboni!” she cried as the sun rose.

For Mary and for the world, a new Day dawned.

The Lord’s Apostles

The first thing we are told about the newly Spritit-filled church on the Day of Pentecost is that “they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching (Acts 2:42). Clement of Rome wrote at the end of the first century: “The apostles received the gospel for us from the Lord Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ was sent forth from God.” Approximately 200 A.D., Tertullian was more explicit: “We Christians are forbidden to introduce anything on our own authority, or choose what someone else introduces on his own authority. Our authorities are the Lord’s Apostles, and they in their turn chose to introduce nothing on their own authority. They faithfully passed on to the nations the teachings which they had received from Christ” (Prescription against Heretics).
When the time came to settle the canon of the New Testament, the supreme question about every disputed book was whether it possesses apostolic authority. Had it been written by an apostle? If not, did it come from their circle and represent their teaching?

The Orthodox Church today is the Church of the Apostles. It continues to teach not one person’s interpretation of the faith, i.e. Luther’s or Calvin’s but the complete deposit of faith as it was handed down to the Apostles of Jesus.

Kontakion
Today Christ the Rock glorifies with supreme honour The Rock of Faith and Leader of the Apostles, together with Paul and the Company of the Twelve, whose memory we celebrate with eagerness of faith, giving glory to the One who gave glory to them.

SS. Peter and Paul

Peter and Paul were martyred in Rome under Emperor Nero in the year 67. Peter was crucified head down, at his own request, and Paul, as a Roman citizen, was beheaded. The Church unites them in a common celebration and gives them identical honour.

After his conversion from being a persecutor of Christians, St. Paul became, in heart and soul, a zealous and courageous apostle of Christ. “Paul was a wolf,” says St. Chrysostom, “but he became a lamb. He was a thorn, but he became a fruitful vine. From an enemy, he became a friend; from a weed, he became wholesome bread… The blasphemer became a theologian; the persecutor, a herald of good news; the tormentor – a leader; the traitor – a fellow champion.”

On the feast of SS. Peter and Paul, St. Ambrose said, “This day, brothers, is well known to us and to the whole world, for today is the commemoration of SS. Peter and Paul. Their feast cannot be confined to one part of the world.” St. Augustine, in one of his sermons in their honour, says; “Although we know from tradition that they did not die at the some time, nevertheless, we hour the memory of both on this same day, since St. Paul died a year later on the some day on which Peter was freed from the bonds of the body and was transferred to the world of the angels.”

In the aposticha of Small Vespers we read: “O Peter, foundation of Apostles, rock of Christian faith, head of the Christians … O Paul, preacher of the gentiles, protector of Christians, lamp of the universe, great voice of Christ, the living God… O Peter, supreme disciple; Paul, the ideal of the Apostles.” The stichera of the Great Vespers service extols them with these praises: “Terrible swords of the spirit, splendid ornaments of Rome, nourishers of the whole universe; spiritual tablets of the New Testament written by God… founders of the Church, true pillars, foundation, and trumpets of the divine teachings of Christ, sharers in his sufferings… O Peter, rock and foundation of faith, and Paul, chosen vessel…”

Their voices went out through all the earth and their words to the far ends of the world.

The Holy Apostle Bartholomew of the Twelve

The Holy Apostle Bartholomew was born at Cana of Galilee and was one of the Twelve Apostles of Christ. After the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, it fell by lot to the holy Apostles Bartholomew and Philip (November 14) to preach the Gospel in Syria and Asia Minor. In their preaching they wandered through various cities, and then met up again. Accompanying the holy Apostle Philip was his sister, the holy virgin St Mariamnne.

Traversing the cities of Syria and Myzia, they underwent much hardship and tribulations, they were stoned and they were locked up in prison. In one of the villages they met up with the Apostle John the Theologian, and together they set off to Phrygia. In the city of Hieropolis by the power of their prayers they destroyed an enormous viper, which the pagans worshipped as a god. The holy Apostles Bartholomew and Philip with his sister confirmed their preaching with many miracles.

At Hieropolis there lived a man by the name of Stachys, who had been blind for 40 years. When he received healing, he then believed in Christ and was baptized. News of this spread throughout the city, and a multitude of the people thronged to the house where the apostles were staying. The sick and those beset by demons were released from their infirmities, and many were baptized. The city prefect gave orders to arrest the preachers and throw them in prison, and to burn down the house of Stachys. At the trial pagan priests came forth with the complaint that the strangers were turning people away from the worship of the ancestral gods.

Thinking that perhaps some sort of magic power was hidden away in the clothes of the apostles, the prefect gave orders to strip them. But St Mariamne became like a fiery torch before their eyes, and none dared touch her. They sentenced the saints to death. The Apostle Philip was crucified upside down. Suddenly there was an earthquake, and a fissure in the earth swallowed up the prefect of the city, together with the pagan priests and many qf the people. Others took fright and rushed to take down the apostles from the crosses. Since the Apostle Bartholomew had not been suspended very high, they soon managed to take him down. The Apostle Philip, however, had died. After making Stachys Bishop of Hieropolis, the Apostle Bartholomew and St Mariamne left the city and moved on.

Preaching the Word of God, Mariamne arrived in Lykaonia, where she peacefully died (February 17). The Apostle Bartholomew went to India, where he translated the Gospel of Matthew into their language, and he converted many pagans to Christ. He also visited Greater Armenia (the country between the River Kura and the upper stretches of the Tigrus and Euphrates Rivers), where he worked many miracles and healed the daughter of King Polymios from the demons afflicting her. In gratitude, the king sent gifts to the apostle, who refused to accept them, saying that he sought only the salvation of the souls of mankind.

Then Polymios together with his wife, daughter, and many of those close to them accepted Baptism. And people from more than ten cities of Greater Armenia followed their example. But through the intrigues of the pagan priests, the Apostle Bartholomew was seized by the king's brother Astiagus in the city of Alban (now the city of Baku), and crucified upside down. But even from the cross he did not cease to proclaim the good news about Christ the Savior. Finally, on orders from Astiagus, they flayed the skin from the Apostle Bartholomew and cut off his head. Believers placed his relics in a leaden coffin and buried him.

In about the year 508 the holy relics of the Apostle Bartholomew were transferred to Mesopotamia, to the city of Dara. When the Persians seized the city in 574, Christians took the relics of the Apostle Bartholomew with them when they fled to the shores of the Black Sea. But since the enemy overtook them there, they were compelled to leave the coffin behind, and the pagans threw it into the sea. By the power of God the coffin miraculously arrived on the island of Lipari. In the ninth century, after the taking of the island by the Arabs, the holy relics were transferred to the Neapolitan city of Beneventum in Italy, and in the tenth century part of the relics were transferred to Rome.

The holy Apostle Bartholomew is mentioned in the Life of St Joseph the Hymnographer (April 4). Having received from a certain man part of the relics of the Apostle Bartholomew, St Joseph conveyed them to his own monastery near Constantinople, and he built a church in the name of the Apostle Bartholomew, placing in it a portion of the relics. St Joseph ardently desired to compose hymns of praise in honor of the saint, and he fervently besought God to grant him the ability to do so.

On the Feast day in memory of the Apostle Bartholomew, St Joseph saw him at the altar. He beckoned to Joseph and took the holy Gospel from the altar table and pressed it to his bosom with the words, "May the Lord bless you, and may your song delight the whole world." And from that time St Joseph began to write hymns and canons to adorn not only the Feast day of the Apostle Bartholomew, but also the Feast days of many other saints, composing about 300 canons in all. Sts John Chrysostom, Cyril of Alexandria, Epiphanius of Cyprus and certain other teachers of the Church regard the Apostle Bartholomew as being the same person as Nathanael (John 1:45­51,21:2).

The Holy Apostle Jude, the Brother of the Lord

Jude was a cousin of the Lord according to the flesh. Matthew refers to him as “Labbeus, known as Thaddeus.” He wrote the last of the Ecumenical Epistles, addressed to the Jews of the Dispora. This letter was written sometime after the catastrophic destruction of Jerusalem under Emperor Vespasian in the year 10.

Kontakion
O Apostle Jude, brother of the Lord and his witness, a preacher of Christ perfect in your wisdom, you came forth from a noble ancestry. You nourish the whole world with the wealth of your doctrine, teaching the Orthodox Faith of the Lord, for you are closely related to Christ, the Source of Grace.

The Holy Apostle Mark the Evangelist

Mark, or John-Mark, was a cousin of Barnabas. He belonged to the tribe of Levi and went to Antioch with St. Paul in the year 44. He also accompanied St. Peter to Rome. At the request of the Christians of Rome, he wrote in Greek the Gospel that bears his name. Later, he founded the church in Alexandria in Egypt. He is symbolized by the lion the second beat of the Vision of Ezekiel (1:10). St. Mark’s feast day is on April 25th.

Kontakion
You were granted from on high the grace to solve the philosophers’ problems, to triumph by preaching the divine Gospel to the Gentiles, and to lead them to your Master, O Apostle Mark worthy of all praises!

The Holy Apostle James the Greater

Since two of the 12 apostles bore the name James, it became necessary to distinguish one from the other by calling one the Less and the other the Greater – a distinction based solely on physical stature. James the Less, whose feast day is celebrated on October 9, is also referred to as the “son of Alphaeus.” James the Greater was the “son of Zebedee” and the brother of the Apostle John. See Matt 4:21-22. Jesus called James and John “sons of thunder” because of their sometime violent eagerness to conquer souls for Christ. His martyrdom is mentioned in Acts 12:1-2.

 

Kontakion

O glorious James, when you heard the Divine Word calling you, you put aside your love for your father and hurried to Christ with John your brother, wherefore you were made worthy to see the divine Transfiguration of the Lord.

Hieromartyr Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna

He was born at Ephesus around the year 70. St Irenaeus of Lyons, his disciple, says that St Polycarp was “a disciple of the Apostles and acquainted with those who had seen the Lord.” His parents died as martyrs, and he was given into the care of a devout lady named Callista. As a child, the Saint was so eager to follow the commandments of Christ that he repeatedly emptied his foster-mother's pantry to feed the poor. Since her supplies were always miracu­lously renewed, Callista changed his name from Pancratius to Polykarpos, meaning “Much fruit.”

When grown, Polycarp became a disciple of St John the Theologian, and in time became Bishop of Smyrna; it is told that the messages to the Church at Smyrna in the Book of Revelation are addressed to St Polycarp and his flock. He knew St Ignatius of Antioch person­ally, and some of their correspondence is preserved.

Polycarp led his Church in holiness for more than fifty years, and became known throughout the Christian world as a true shepherd and standard-bearer of the Faith. About the year 154 he traveled to Rome and consulted with Pope Anacletus on the defense of the Faith.

Not long after he returned to Smyrna, a fierce persecution was unleashed against Christians in Asia Minor; along with many others, St Polycarp was arrested, having predicted his immi­nent martyrdom. (The account of his martyrdom that follows is based on eyewitness accounts gathered immediately after his death.)

On the evening of Holy Friday, soldiers burst into the farmhouse where he was staying. The Bishop welcomed them cheerfully, and ordered that a meal be prepared for them. He was granted some time to pray, and for two hours stood commemorating everyone that he had known and praying for the Church throughout the world. His captors sorrowed that they had come to take such a venerable man, and reluctantly took him to the Proconsul. When urged to deny Christ and save his life, the aged Saint replied, “For eighty-six years I have been his ser­vant, and he has wronged me in nothing; how can I blaspheme my King and Savior?” Told that he would die by fire if he did not apostatize, Polycarp replied “You threaten me with a fire that burns for a short time and then goes out, while you know nothing of the fire of the judgment to come and of the everlasting torment awaiting the wicked. Why wait any longer? Do what you will!”

Placed on the pyre, Polycarp lifted his eyes heavenward and gave thanks to God for finding him worthy to share with the holy Martyrs of the cup of Christ. When he had said his Amen, the executioners lit the fire. The eyewitnesses write that the fire sprang up around him like a curtain, and that he stood in its midst glowing like gold and sending forth a delightful scent of incense. Seeing that the fire was not harming him, the executioners stabbed him with a sword. His blood flowed so copiously that it put out the fire, and he gave back his soul to God. His rel­ics were burned by the persecutors, but Christians rescued a few fragments of bone, which were venerated for many generations on the anniversary of his repose.

A Slave Becomes an Apostle

We see the image of a man who experienced a tremendous SPIRITUAL and SOCIAL transformation. ONESIMUS was the personal slave of a distinguished citizen of Colossae named Philemon in the days of the early Church. After stealing from his master’s treasury, it is said that Onesimus fled to Rome. It was in this ancient capital of the Empire that his life would be changed forever!

While in Rome, Onesimus first heard about Jesus Christ through the preaching of the Apostle Paul, who was imprisoned there. Soon he was baptized into Christianity and became a companion of the famous “Apostle to the Gentiles.”

Knowing of Onesimus’ background, Paul was faced with a moral dilemma. He himself preached that “… in Christ, there is neither slave nor free man.” (Gal 3:28) According to Roman law, however, Onesimus still belonged to Philemon! Scriptures tell us that St. Paul sent Onesimus back to Colossae with a special letter to Philemon, which would later become a part of the canonical books of the New Testament. In his epistle, Paul urges Philemon to receive Onesimus with forgiveness as a brother of in the Lord. “Perhaps he departed for awhile for this purpose,” Paul writes, “that you might receive him forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave – A beloved brother.” Deeply moved by Paul’s words, Philemon gave freedom to his former slave.

According to Church tradition, Onesimus later became Bishop of Ephesus. He suffered martyrdom in Rome, like his mentor St. Paul, in 109AD.

The orthodox Weekly Bulletin …… Vestal, Cliffwood, Neew Jersey …… Litho in USA

Apostle Stephen the Protomartyr

Icon is from Orthodox Wiki

The Holy Protomartyr Stephen is commemorated on December 27 by the Eastern Orthodox Church. Stephen was the first of the seven deacons chosen to minster to the material needs of the early Christian community. He was a wise administrator and a profound preacher. Read his great sermon to the Jewish authorities in the seventh chapter of the book of Acts, which also recounts his death by stoning and his final words, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them … Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Troparion (Tone 4)

O First Martyr and Apostle Of Christ,

Thou hadst fought the good fight.

And didst expose the perversion of the persecutors,

For when thou wast killed by stoning at the hands of wicked men,

Thou didst receive a crown from the right hand on high,

And didst cry out to God saying,

"O Lord do not charge this sin against them!"

Kontakion (Tone 3)

Yesterday the Master came to us as a man,

And today his servant departs from life.

Yesterday the King was born as a man,

And today His servant is stoned to death.

For the sake of Christ Holy Stephen became the first martyr.

The Holy and Illustrious Apostle Andrew, the First-Called

Andrew was the brother of Peter and a disciple of John the Baptist. Born in Bethsaida of Galilee, he brought his brother Peter to the Lord. After the resurrection, he preached the Gospel in Byzantium, Thrace, Russia, the Black Sea, Epirus, and the Peloponnese. He is believed to have been the first bishop of Byzantium or Constantinople. Tradition says that he was crucified in Patras, Greece, in 62 A.D. Pope Paul VI returned his relics to Constantinople from the Vatican in 1964.

Life’s defining moments …

Every person’s life is filled with significant milestones. We commemorate birthdays and anniversaries with great fanfare and revelry. We fondly remember many of the ‘firsts’ that we experience: our first date … our first car … our first day of school … our first job. Yes, these are moments and events that we all treasure greatly.

But have you ever thought about what the most important moment – that special moment that has truly defined your entire existence – has been for you? Many of us would, no doubt, have a difficult time coming up with an answer to that question. This would not, however, have been the case for the Apostle Andrew, who is depicted in the accompanying icons. For him, the “defining moment” of his life as his first encounter with Christ.

The Gospel of St. John relates the exact time of day (the 10^th hour, or 4 pm) when Andrew shared his first conversation with the Man Who would change his life – and change the world as well. Undoubtedly they spoke of the Kingdom of Heaven, and what must be done to gain entrance into it. Surely they spoke of God’s love for mankind, and how we are expected to serve He Who loves us so much. What an impression that moment made on Andrew! From that moment on, he was willing to put aside his old life and embark upon a new life with the Lord. Indeed, that moment became so engrained in his heart and upon his soul that Andrew would later willingly die for the One he would affectionately call “Master.”

Perhaps we have not had such a dramatic encounter with Christ. Nevertheless, as His followers, our lives must be defined by our relationship with Him. Anything else pales in comparison and importance.

Orthodox Weekly Bulletin … Cliffwood, Vestal, New Jersey

The Apostle and Evangelist Matthew

It is fascinating to note that our Lord did not select scholars and religious leaders of His time to be His trusted disciples, but rather those who would be classified as "common, ordinary men." The Apostle Matthew certainly fits that description! Matthew, also known as Levi, was a tax collector in the town of Capernaum. Paying taxes has never been a popular task, and those who gathered these funds for the Romans were despised and hated by their own people. While hard at work one day, Matthew heard two words from Christ that changed his entire life: FOLLOW ME! Immediately, he obeyed, leaving his job and leaving behind his former way of life.

It is recorded in the Gospel that bears his name that the first thing Matthew did after his calling was invite, Jesus to his house for a feast. Christ was criticized for being in the company of those who were "publicans and great sinners," to which He replied: THOSE WHO ARE WELL HAVE NO NEED FOR A PHYSICIAN, BUT THOSE WHO ARE SICK DO.

After the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles on Pentecost, Matthew spread our Saviour's message to the Jews in Palestine. Some ancient writers credit him with carrying the "good news" to Ethiopia, as well as the regions of Persia and Syria. It was in Ethiopia that he is thought to have died a martyr's death at the hands of pagans.

The Gospel of St. Matthew was written in Aramaic, the common language of the Jews during the time of Christ. In his writings, Matthew presents Christ as being the Fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, conclusively showing Him to be the Incarnate Son of God.

Troparion (Tone 3)
With zeal, you followed Christ the Master,
Who in His goodness, appeared on earth to mankind.
Summoning you from the custom house,
He revealed you as a chosen apostle:
the proclaimer of the Gospel to the whole world!
Therefore, divinely eloquent Matthew,
we honor your precious memory!
Entreat merciful God that He may grant our souls remission of transgressions.

Kontakion (Tone 4)
Casting aside the bonds of the custom house for the yoke of justice,
you were revealed as an excellent merchant, rich in wisdom from on high.
You proclaimed the word of truth
and roused the souls of the slothful
by writing of the hour of Judgment.
The Orthodox Weekly Bulletin … Vestal, Cliffwood, New Jersey … Litho in USA

Apostle Philip (of the Twelve)

The holy, glorious, all-laudable Apostle Philip was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. The Church remembers St. Philip on November 14. He was not the St. Philip (October 11) who was one of the Seventy Apostles.

Born in Bethsaida beside the Sea of Galilee, Philip was so well versed in the Holy Scriptures that he immediately recognized Jesus as the Messiah upon seeing him the first time. After Pentecost, St. Philip preached in Asia and Greece. In Greece, the Jews hated him and the high priest even ran at him to club him to death, but miraculously this Jewish priest was blinded and turned completely black. Then the earth opened up and swallowed him. Many of the sick were healed, and many pagans believed.

St. Philip found himself in the company his sister Mariamma, the Apostle John and the Apostle Bartholomew while preaching in Hieropolis. Through prayer he killed a giant snake that the pagans worshipped, which angered the unbaptized so much that they crucified him and St. Bartholomew upside-down. Again, the earth opened and swallowed his judge along with many pagans, and being terribly afraid the people rushed to bring the Apostles down from their torment. But St. Philip had already reposed.

St. Bartholomew then ordained Stachys—whom St. Philip had healed of a forty-year blindness and baptized—as bishop for those who were baptized in that area. Later, St. Philip's relics were translated to Rome. He is numbered among the Twelve Great Apostles.

Troparion (Tone 3)

Holy Apostle Philip,

entreat the merciful God

to grant our souls forgiveness of transgressions.

Kontakion (Tone 8)

Your disciple, friend and imitator of Your passion,

the God-preaching Philip, proclaimed You to the universe!

By his prayers deliver Your Church from her enemies;

through the Theotokos protect every city, most merciful Christ!

From OrthodoxWiki

Holy Apostle James, Brother of the Lord

James is the First Bishop of Jerusalem. He is called “the Lord’s brother” because he was the son of righteous Joseph, the betrothed of the Holy Mother of God. He served as bishop of Jerusalem for thirty years. He also composed the first liturgy and wrote “The Letter of James” that is included in the New Testament. He was martyred under Nero in 62.

James is considered one of the Seventy Apostles of Christ (Luke 10:1-23) who help spread our faith. James is also known as "James the Just".

Troparion (Tone 4)
As the Lord's disciple you received the Gospel, O righteous James;
As a martyr you have unfailing courage;
As God's brother, you have boldness;
As a hierarch, you have the power to intercede.
Pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Kontakion (Tone 4)
When God the Word, the Only-begotten of the Father,
Came to live among us in these last days,
He declared you, venerable James, to be the first shepherd and teacher of Jerusalem
And a faithful steward of the spiritual Mysteries.
Therefore, we all honor you, O Apostle.

The Holy Apostle Luke the Evangelist

Copyright © by St. Isaac of Syria Skete (Boscobel, Wisconsin). All Rights Reserved.

Luke is numbered among the 70 Apostles of Christ. He was born in Antioch of Syria where he practiced medicine. He is also the first iconographer. St. Luke wrote the first icon of the Most Holy Theotokos called Directress. He saw the Lord face to face in Jerusalem. Following Pentecost he became St. Paul's faithful companion and friend. He is the author of the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. He later preached the gospel in Italy, Dalmatia, Macedonia, and Greece where he was hanged from an olive tree in the town of Thebes in Beothia. He is remembered by the Church on October 18.

Troparion (Tone 5)
Let us praise with sacred songs the Holy Apostle Luke,
The recorder of the Joyous Gospel of Christ,
And the scribe of the Acts of the Apostles,
For his writings are a testimony of the Church of Christ:
He is the Physician of human weaknesses and infirmities.
He heals the wounds of our souls,
And constantly intercedes for our salvation!

Kontakion (Tone 4)
You became a disciple of God the Word,
With Paul you enlightened all the world,
Casting out its darkness by composing the Holy Gospel of Christ.

Kontakion (Tone 2)
Let us praise the godly Luke:
He is the true preacher of piety,
The orator of ineffable mysteries
And the star of the Church,
For the Word who alone knows the hearts of men,
Chose him, with the wise Paul, to be a teacher of the gentiles!

The Holy Apostle James, Son of Alphaeus

Today we commemorate the holy apostle James, son of  Alphaeus, one of the twelve. He was the brother of the Apostle Matthew. He was a witness of the miracles of Jesus. Following Pentecost, he was sent to Egypt where he preached Christ and was martyred.

Troparion (Tone 3)
Holy Apostle James,
entreat the merciful God
to grant our souls forgiveness of transgressions.

Kontakion (Tone 2)
Let us bless James, praising him as the messenger of God,
for he filled the souls of the pious with wise dogmas.
Standing at the throne of glory before the Master,
he rejoices with all the angels unceasingly praying for us all.

The Holy and Glorious Apostle Thomas

Thomas was one of the twelve apostles who would not believe in the resurrection of Jesus until he saw Him. Thomas later went to India where he founded a church. Arriving late for the Theotokos' funeral, the tomb was opened for him. It was discovered that her body was not there but had been translated to heaven. He was martyred in India.

The Orthodox Weekly Bulletin ... Vestal Cliffwood, New Jersey ... Litho in USA

Impressions of people are very difficult to change. The Apostle Thomas, for will always be remembered for having a lack of faith. His statement - UNLESS I SEE IN HIS HANDS THE PRINT OF THE NAILS, AND PUT MY FINGER INTO THE PRINT OF THE NAILS, AND PUT MY HAND IN HIS SIDE, I WILL NOT BELIEVE - will forever label him as the "doubting Thomas."
It should be noted, however, that Thomas also leaves behind a rich legacy of missionary service. After the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, tradition tells us that the Apostles cast lots to see where each of them would go to preach the Gospel. It fell upon Thomas to travel to India to spread the message of the Risen Christ. Although reluctant to embark upon such a lengthy journey, Thomas went to India, winning over a great number of converts to the Christian faith. Among his converts were two sisters, Tertiana and Mygdonia, who were married to Indian princes. The husband of Tertiana was so angered by this that he ordered Thomas to be executed. Five soldiers were sent to put him to death by running him through with their lances.
Before his death, Thomas, along with the other Apostles, were miraculously borne to Jerusalem for the funeral of the Mother of God. Arriving late, Thomas asked that the tomb of Mary be opened, so that he could pay his final respects properly. Miraculously, the body of the Theotokos was not there! The Lord had taken His Mother to His heavenly home!

Troparion of St. Thomas the Apostle (Tone 2)

Thou wast a disciple of Christ and one of the Twelve,

and by thy unbelief didst proclaim Christ's Resurrection.

By touch thou wast assured of His holy Passion,

O glorious Apostle Thomas.

Pray to Him to grant us peace and mercy

The Falling Asleep of the Glorious Apostle John the Theologian and Evangelist

St. John the Theologian from Orthowiki

John was "the apostle Jesus loved." When all had forsaken Jesus, John stayed beneath the cross with the Theotokos whom he cared for as a mother right to her falling asleep. Exiled to Patmos by Emperor Domitian, he wrote the Revelation and his Gospel there. He is called "the theologian" because his five New Testament writings, that is the Gospel, Revelation, and the three epistles show him to be " the breath of the Holy Spirit." He was over a hundred years old when he died. When his disciples later opened his tomb, they found his body was not there. Often the expression "dormition" or "falling asleep" is used for his death.
by Anthony Coinaris in Daily Vitamins for Spiritual Growth

St. John the Evangelist from Wikipedia
TROPARION OF ST. JOHN

O APOSTLE, SPEAKER OF DIVINITY, THE BELOVED OF CHRIST GOD, HASTEN AND DELIVER THY PEOPLE POWERLESS IN ARGUEMENT; FOR HE ON WHOSE BOSOM THOU DID LEAN ACCEPTETH THEE AS AN INTERCESSOR. BESEECH HIM, THEREFORE, TO DISPERSE THE CLOUD  OF THE STUBBORN NATIONS, ASKING FOR US SAFETY AND THE GREAT MERCY.