Tuesday, 10 November 2026

The Orthodox Church commemorates together on 10 November six of the Seventy Apostles, all of them mentioned in the Epistles of Saint Paul.

Saint Erastus had been the steward of the city of Corinth, as Saint Paul writes in his Epistle to the Romans (Romans 16:23). After leaving his civic post he laboured with the Apostle in the work of the Gospel and ended his life as bishop of Paneas in Palestine, or, according to other traditions, of Philippi.

Saint Olympas, named in Romans 16:15, was a companion of the Apostle Peter at Rome. Together with Saint Rodion he suffered beheading on the very day and hour that Saint Peter was crucified under the emperor Nero.

Saint Rodion (Herodion), a kinsman of the Apostle Paul (Romans 16:11), left the bishop's throne at Patras to follow Saint Peter to Rome. He was bound and tortured for refusing to sacrifice to idols, and was finally beheaded with Saint Olympas.

Saint Sosipater, a native of Achaia and another kinsman of Saint Paul (Romans 16:21), was bishop of Iconium, where together with Saint Jason of Tarsus he preached the Gospel and was buried.

Saint Quartus (Romans 16:23) endured many sufferings for his faith and converted many pagans to Christ. He reposed in peace as bishop of Beirut.

Saint Tertius, the scribe to whom Saint Paul dictated the Epistle to the Romans (Romans 16:22), succeeded Saint Sosipater as bishop of Iconium and there reposed in peace, having shepherded his flock with apostolic zeal.

“Cappadocia (in eastern Turkey) is virtually devoid of Christians now, but in 1840, when St Arsenios was born there, there were still vital Orthodox communities. He became a monk and was sent to his native town, Farasa, to serve the people. He became known as a mighty intercessor before God, praying for all who came to him, Muslims as well as Christians. His countless miracles of healing became known throughout Cappadocia; those who could not come to see him would sometimes send articles of clothing for him to pray over. He became known as Hadjiefendis, a Muslim term of honour for pilgrims, because he made pilgrimage to the Holy Land every ten years on foot. He never accepted any gifts in return for his prayers and healings, saying ‘Our faith is not for sale!’

“He concealed his holiness as much as he could beneath a rough and sharp-tempered exterior. If anyone expressed admiration for him, he would reply “So you think I’m a saint? I’m only a sinner worse than you. Don’t you see that I even lose my temper? The miracles you see are done by Christ. I do no more than lift up my hands and pray to him.” But as the Scriptures say, the prayers of a righteous man avail much, and when St Arsenios lifted up his hands, wonders often followed.

“He lived in a small cell with an earthen floor, fasted often and was in the habit of shutting himself in his cell for at least two whole days every week to devote himself entirely to prayer.

“Father Arsenios predicted the expulsion of the Greeks from Asia Minor before it happened, and organized his flock for departure. When the expulsion order came in 1924, the aged Saint led his faithful on a 400-mile journey across Turkey on foot. He had foretold that he would only live forty days after reaching Greece, and this came to pass. His last words were “The soul, the soul, take care of it more than the flesh, which will return to earth and be eaten by worms!” Two days later, on November 10, 1924, he died in peace at the age of eighty-three. Since 1970, many apparitions and miracles have occurred near his holy relics, which reside in the Monastery of Souroti near Thessalonica. He was officially glorified by the Patriarchate of Constantinople in 1986.”

— Source: Orthodox Parish of St John of Kronstadt (UK)

The primary source for the life of St Arsenios is Saint Arsenios the Cappadocian, compiled by Elder Païsios of the Holy Mountain, who was baptized as an infant by the Saint.