April 28 / April 15
The Holy Apostles Aristarchus, Pudens and Trophimus, of the Seventy (ca. 67)
They were numbered among the Seventy Apostles. Aristarchus was Bishop of Apamea in Syria. The Apostle Paul mentions him several times (Acts 19:29, Colossians 4:10, Philemon v. 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 (II Timothy 4:21). At first, the home of Pudens was a haven for the chief apostles and later it was converted into a place of worship, called the Shepherd’s Church. Trophimus was 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 Miletumsick (II Timothy 4:20). During Nero’s persecution, when the Apostle Paul was beheaded, all three of these glorious apostles were also beheaded.
