LIFE OF THE

12 APOSTLES
The ancient tradition of
the early church
Dr. ++ Luis Carlos
Ospina Romero
Venezuela 2018
 Printed by UZETHI, first edition 2016, World-wide rights reserved.

© Dr. Luis Carlos Ospina Romero

Cover Design Architect Sibil Cairel Carla Ospina Castillo

[email protected], Aachen, Germany.

Helps
Camilai Keres Ospina

Bank of America Swift BOFAUS3N, Routing 063100277

8980 6231 8175

Steps of 12 apostles you must know
Introduction
1. Golgotha Possible place of the crucifixion of Jesus (Matthew 27: 33-
1
37) .

1 33
Matthew 27:33-37. They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of
34
the skull”). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it,
35
he refused to drink it. When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by
36 37
casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. Above his head they
placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF JEWS.
2. The sepulcher in the garden A possible place of the sepulcher in which the body
2
of Jesus was placed (John 19: 38-42) . The resurrected Christ appeared to Mary
3
Magdalene in the garden outside His tomb (John 20: 1-17) .

3. Tower (Castle) Antonia It is possible that Jesus was accused, condemned,

4
ridiculed and scourged in this place (John 18: 28-19: 16) . There Paul was arrested
5
and related his conversion (Acts 21: 31-22: 21) .

2
John 19:38-42. The Burial of Jesus, 38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the
body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the
Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39 He was
accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus
brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.40 Taking Jesus’ body,
the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with
Jewish burial customs. 41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and
in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42 Because it was the
Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

3
John 20:1-17, The Empty Tomb, 20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still
dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from
the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus
loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where
they have put him!”3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were
running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.5 He bent over and
looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came
along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying
there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still
lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the
tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from
Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where
they were staying.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene. 11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she
wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where
Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.13 they asked her,
“Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t
know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing
there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you
crying? Who is it you are looking for?”Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you
have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”16 Jesus said
to her, “Mary.”She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (Which means
“Teacher”)?17 Jesus said “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.
Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to
my God and your God.’”

4
John 18:28-19:16.Jesus before Pilates, 28 Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from
Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid
ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to
eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you
bringing against this man?”30 “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not
have handed him over to you.”31 Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your
own law.”“But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. 32 This took place to
fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.33 Pilate then went
back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the
34
Jews?” “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about
me?”35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over
to me. What is it you have done?”36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it
were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my
kingdom is from another place.”37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.Jesus
answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the
world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”38 “What is
truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I
find no basis for a charge against him.39 But it is your custom for me to release to you one
prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the
Jews?”40 They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken
part in an uprising.

Jesus Sentenced to Be Crucified. 19 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2 The
soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a
purple robe 3 and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And
they slapped him in the face. 4 Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered
there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge
against him.” 5 When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple
robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” 6 As soon as the chief priests and their
officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” But Pilate answered, “You take him and
crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.” 7 The Jewish leaders
insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be
the Son of God.” 8 When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9 and he went back
inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no
answer. 10 “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power
either to free you or to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power over
me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to
youis guilty of a greater sin.” 12 From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish
leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who
claims to be a king opposes Caesar.” 13 When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and
sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaicis
Gabbatha). 14 It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon. “Here is
your king,” Pilate said to the Jews. 15 But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away!
Crucify him!” “Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the
chief priests answered. 16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

5
Acts 21:31-22:2, 31 as they were trying to kill him, word reached the commander of the
Roman regiment that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32 He immediately called out his
soldiers and officers and ran down among the crowd. When the mob saw the commander
and the troops coming, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the commander arrested him
and ordered him bound with two chains. He asked the crowd who he was and what he
had done. 34 Some shouted one thing and some another. Since he couldn’t find out the
truth in all the uproar and confusion, he ordered that Paul be taken to the fortress. 35 As
Paul reached the stairs, the mob grew so violent the soldiers had to lift him to their
shoulders to protect him. 36 And the crowd followed behind, shouting, “Kill him, and kill
 6
4. Pool of Bethesda Jesus healed there a paralytic on the Sabbath (John 5: 2-9) .

5. Temple Place where Gabriel promised Zechariah that Elizabeth would give birth
7
to a son (Luke 1: 5-25) . The veil of the temple was split at the death of the Savior
8
(Matthew 27:51) .

him!” Paul Speaks to the Crowd. 37 As Paul was about to be taken inside, he said to the
commander, “May I have a word with you?” “Do you know Greek?” the commander
asked, surprised. 38 “Aren’t you the Egyptian who led a rebellion some time ago and took
4,000 members of the Assassins out into the desert?” 39 “No,” Paul replied, “I am a Jew
and a citizen of Tarsus in Cilicia, which is an important city. Please, let me talk to these
people.” 40 The commander agreed, so Paul stood on the stairs and motioned to the
people to be quiet. Soon a deep silence enveloped the crowd, and he addressed them in
their own language, Aramaic. 22 “Brothers and esteemed fathers,” Paul said, “listen to me
as I offer my defense.” 2 When they heard him speaking in their own language, the silence
was even greater.
6
John 5:2-9, 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called
Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. 3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind,
lame, and paralyzed. 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight
years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long
time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I
have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going
another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and
walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that
day was the Sabbath.
7
Luke 1:5-25. The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold
5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to
the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of
them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees
blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and
they were both very old.8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving
as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood,
to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning
of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.11 Then an angel of
the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When
Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to
him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will
bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and
many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is
never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even
before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their
God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the
hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the
righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”18 Zechariah asked the angel,
“How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”19 The
angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to
speak to you and to tell you this good news.20 and now you will be silent and not able to
speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come
true at their appointed time.”21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and
wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak
 6. Portico of Solomon Jesus proclaimed there that He was the Son of God and
9
the Jews tried to stone him (John 10: 22-39) . Peter preached repentance after
10
having healed a man who was lame from birth (Acts 3: 11-26) .

to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to
them but remained unable to speak.23 When his time of service was completed, he
returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months
remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has
shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

8
Matthew 27:51-53, 51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to
bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened;
and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of
the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
9
John 10:22-39. The Father and me are one,
22 At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and
Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered
around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the
Christ, tell us plainly.”25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The
26
works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe
27
because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and
28
they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will
29
snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,
30
and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are
one.”31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have
shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone
me?” 33 The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you
but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” 34 Jesus answered
35
them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? If he called them gods to
36
whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— do you say of him
whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I
37
said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not
38
believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that
you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” 39 Again
they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.

10
Acts 3:11-26. Peter Speaks to the Onlookers
11 While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came
running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said
to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our
own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be
killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You
disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to
you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are
witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was
made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely
healed him, as you can all see.17 “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in
ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had
7. Beautiful Door Where Peter and John healed a man who was lame from birth
11
(Acts 3: 1-10) .
12
8. Temple pinnacle Jesus was tempted there by Satan (Matthew 4: 5-7) .

9. Saint Mount. a. Tradition holds that it was there that Abraham built an altar for
the sacrifice of Isaac (Gen. 22: 9-14). b. Solomon built the temple (1 Kings 6: 1-10;
2 Chron. 3: 1). c. The Babylonians destroyed the temple approximately in the year
587 a.C. (2 Kings 25: 8-9). d. Zerubbabel rebuilt the temple about 515 BC. (Ezra 3:
8-10; 5: 2; 6: 14-16). e. Herod extended the esplanade of the temple and began its
reconstruction in the year 17 a.C. Jesus was presented in the temple as a baby
(Luke 2: 22-39). f. Jesus taught in the temple at the age of twelve (Luke 2: 41-50.
G. 9. The Romans, under the command of Titus, destroyed the temple in the year
70 of our era.

foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. 19 Repent, then,
and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come
from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—
even Jesus. 21 Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore
everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. 22 For Moses said, ‘The
Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you
must listen to everything he tells you. 23 Anyone who does not listen to him will be
completely cut off from their people.24 “Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the
prophets who have spoken have foretold these days. 25 And you are heirs of the prophets
and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your
offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed. 26 When God raised up his servant, he sent
him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

11
Acts 3:1-10. Peter Heals a Lame Beggar, 3 One day Peter and John were going up to the
temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from
birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful door, where he was put every
day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about
to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter
said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from
them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the
name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up,
and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began
to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and
praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized
him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful
door, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
12
Matthew 4:5-7, 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the
highest point of the temple, the pinnacle 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw
yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they
will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” 7 Jesus
answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test
10. Garden irrigated of Gethsemane Jesus suffered, was delivered and arrested in
13 14
this place (Matthew 26: 36-46 , Luke 22: 39-54 ).

11. Mount of Olives where:a. Jesus predicted there the destruction of Jerusalem
15
and the temple. He also spoke of the Second Coming (Matthew 24: 3-25: 46) .
16
Jesus ascended to heaven in this place (Acts 1: 9-12) .

13
Matthew 26:36-46. Gethsemane
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to
them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of
Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to
them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep
watch with me.”39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and
prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as
you will.”40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men
41
keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will
not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”42 He went away a
second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away
unless I drink it, may your will be done.”43 When he came back, he again found them
sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more
and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.45 Then he returned to the disciples and
said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of
46
Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

14
Luke 22:39-54. The Garden of Gethsemane
39 And He came out and proceeded as was His custom to the Mount of Olives; and the
disciples also followed Him. 40 When He arrived at the place, He said to them, “Pray that
you may not enter into temptation.”41 And He withdrew from them about a stone’s
throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove
this cup from me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” 43 Now an angel from heaven
appeared to Him, strengthening Him. 44 And being in agony He was praying very
fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the
ground. 45 When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping
from sorrow, 46 and said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may
not enter into temptation.” Jesus Betrayed by Judas47 While He was still speaking, behold,
a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was preceding them; and he
approached Jesus to kiss Him. 48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son
of Man with a kiss?” 49 When those who were around Him saw what was going to
happen, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the
slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear.51 But Jesus answered and said, “Stop! No
more of this.” And He touched his ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief
priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come against Him, “Have you come
53
out with swords and clubs as you would against a robber? While I was with you daily in
the temple, you did not lay hands on Me; but this hour and the power of darkness are
yours.” Jesus’ Arrest54 Having arrested Him, they led Him away and brought Him to the
house of the high priest; but Peter was following at a distance.
 17
12. Spring of Gihon Where Solomon was anointed king (1 Kings 1: 38-39 ).
Hezekiah had a tunnel excavated to lead the water from the spring to the city (2
18
Chron. 32:30 ).

13. Gate of the Waters In this place Ezra read and interpreted the law of Moses to
19
the people (Neh 8: 1-8) .

14. Valley of Hinnom There was worshiped the false god Moloch, it was
understood the sacrifice of children (2 Kings 23:10, 2 Chron. 28: 3).

15
Matthew 24:3-25:46 The Message, 3 later as he was sitting on Mount Olives, his disciples
approached and asked him, “Tell us, when are these things going to happen? What will be
the sign of your coming that the time’s up?” 4-8 Jesus said, “Watch out for doomsday
deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities, claiming, ‘I am Christ,
the Messiah.’ They will deceive a lot of people. When reports come in of wars and
rumored wars, keep your head and don’t panic. This is routine history; this is no sign of
the end. Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Famines and
earthquakes will occur in various places. This is nothing compared to what is coming. 9-
10 “They are going to throw you to the wolves and kill you, everyone hating you because
you carry my name. And then, going from bad to worse, it will be dog-eat-dog, everyone
at each other’s throat, everyone hating each other……
16
Acts 1:9-12, 9 and when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken
up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly
toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 which
also said, you men of Galilee, why stand you gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who
is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go
into heaven. 12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet.
17
1 Kings 1:38-39, 38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of
Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride on
King David's mule and brought him to Gihon. 39 There Zadok the priest took the horn
of oil from the tent and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the trumpet, and all the
people said, “Long live King Solomon!”
18
2 Chronicles 32:30, 30 It was Hezekiah who stopped the upper outlet of the waters
of Gihon and directed them to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered
in all that he did.
19
Nehemiah 8:1–8, 8 Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open
square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book
2
of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded Israel. So Ezra the priest
brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with
3
understanding on the first day of the seventh month. Then he read from it in the open
1
square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men
and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were
attentive to the Book of the Law.
15. House of Caiaphas Jesus was brought before Caiaphas (Matthew 26: 57-68).
Peter denied knowing Jesus (Matthew 26: 69-75)

16. Upper Room A place where, according to tradition, Jesus ate the Passover and
instituted the Lord's Supper (Matthew 26: 20-30). There he washed the feet of the
Apostles (John 13: 4-17) and taught them (John 13: 18-17: 26).

17. Herod's palace Christ was brought before Herod in this place (Luke 23: 7-11).

Roman Provinces visited by the apostles

Saint Andrew, the first apostle convoked by Christ, son of a Hebrew named Jonah
and brother of the apostle Peter; was born in the Galilean town of Bethsaida. He
not married, he hears that the Precursor John preached repentance through the
Jordan, abandoned everything and went with him to become his disciple. When
John the Baptist Precursor, pointing to Jesus passing by, said to him, "Behold the
Lamb of God" (John 1:36), St. Andrew, along with another disciple of the
Precursor, left the Baptist to follow Christ. He sought out his brother Simon Peter
and said, "We have found the Messiah", and brought him to Jesus. Later, when he
was fishing with Peter along the coast of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus called them,
saying, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men". Andrew abandoned his
nets and followed Christ Along with his brother Peter. Andres is known to be known
as the First Called because he was the first follower and disciple of Jesus before
any of the apostles.

Then, from the voluntary passion of the Lord and his resurrection, Andrew, with
the other apostles, received the Holy Spirit, who descended upon him in the form of
a tongue of fire, and when they emigrated to the countries, Andres preached the
Gospel in Bithynia,Propontis, Chalcedon, Byzantium, Thrace, Macedonia,
throughout the Black Sea region and the Danube River, as well as Thessaly,
Helas, Achaia, Amis, Trapezo, Heracles and Amastris. The apostle passed through
all these lands and cities, preaching Christ and his deeds and miracles, suffering
many afflictions and pain; but, strengthened by the omnipotent help of God, he
joyfully endured all these tribulations for Christ.

In Amiso, a city east of the Black Sea and about 76 miles from Sinope, the apostle
found many Jews immersed in spiritual ignorance and inhumanity. However,
people were happy. Thus, when Andrés arrived at Amiso, a Jew stayed in his
house. Then the saint predicted the conversion there of many people.

In the morning the apostle went to the Jewish synagogue, where he was asked
directly who he was, why he had come, and what he preached. Andres, told them
about the messages brought from the Eternal Father preached by Jesus, and
showed them that Jesus was the Messiah God and man predicted by the prophets
and pointed out that He came to save mankind from sin, making friends again to
God and the men.

Then the word of Christ was fulfilled, "I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew
4:19). The Jews listened attentively to the words, and the teaching of the apostle of
Christ instantly believed they repented, and were baptized, becoming servants of
our Lord. They brought to the apostle all the sick, whom Andrew healed of all the
diseases that afflicted them. Thus the holy apostle was not only a physician of
bodies, but also of souls, there he built a church and ordained one of them to the
priesthood.

From Amiso he went to Trapezo, where he taught and baptized many converts,
and ordained priests, went to Laziki, converting Greeks and Jews to Christ. And he
returned to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover, desiring to see his brother
Peter, and the apostle of Gentiles Paul.

He returned to Ephesus with St. John the Evangelist, the Theologian, who
preached in that city; but when he came to this place, he received a revelation from
God to preach in the Roman province of Bithynia. Immediately he went to the city
of Nicaea, where he taught many Greeks and Jews and performed miracles, these
coming to convert to Christ. There he also immediately healed many sick and with
his iron staff, which wore the emblem of the cross, expelled some of the wild
beasts that overwhelmed the people and killed other beasts of that class. On the
other hand, it destroyed the foundations of the pagan temples dedicated to the
stone idols Aphrodite and Artemis.

Meanwhile the Greeks who had resisted the teachings of the apostle were
possessed by evil spirits, who entered into them and tormented them by their
obstinacy and unbelief; In their madness they bite their own bodies, but Andrew, as
a disciple of Christ, who came down from heaven to save sinners, took pity on
them and drove out the demons from them; They began to believe and were
baptized.

The apostle spent two years in Nicaea, he ordered a priest. Then he moved to
Nicomedia, a populous city, where he baptized Greeks; before moving to
Chalcedon, near Proponto; To Escutari, near Byzantium; and finally to Neocastra,
where he converted and baptized many. He also traveled to Pontoheráclea; And
from there to Amastrida, city of the province of Bitinia, and its surroundings. After
ordaining priests there, he traveled to Sinope, the city of Pontus, where his brother
Peter was said to have come to see him. To this day, the Christians of Sinope
show two marble thrones where, as they claim, - these apostles sat down. They
also show an ancient Icon of the holy apostle Andrew very miraculous.
But before Andrew was there, the apostle Matthias, one of the twelve, had already
gone to Sinope, who was chosen to take the place of Judas Iscariot the traitor. As
soon as he began to preach in that city, he was imprisoned. When the apostle
Andrew arrived and heard that his fellow student was in prison, he prayed for his
good, then the shackles with which Matthias was bound were instantly released
and the prison gate opened, whence he was released. However, by that time
Sinope was populated by unbelieving ferocious people. When they saw that
Andrew had violated the firmness of his prison, they surrounded him; some wanted
to burn the house where it stayed, others planned how they would take it. Finally,
they imprisoned his hands and feet and, pushing him, led him down the road,
beating him in the meantime. When they left the city, they threw him into a place
full of dung, hoping that he had died from abuse.

However, the apostle patiently endured all these abuses, emulating his teacher,
Christ. But the Lord did not allow his disciple to suffer in bad condition and suffering
in this way, so he appeared to him to heal and exhort him to have good spirits.
Although these barbarian people had broken the teeth with the apostle and cut off
his fingers, he completely recovered his health. After blessing him and asking him
not to cease in his efforts to teach and convert the wicked, the Savior ascended
into heaven.

The next morning the apostle returned very early to Syncope; Full of health, without
any trace of wounds or blows in his body and with a face full of joy and joy. The
locals marveled greatly at the superhuman resistance and the great miracle Christ
had wrought; because they were convinced of the death of the apostle. But now, all
saw that their wounds disappeared during the night, reason why they repented and
they prostrated before Andrew, asking for pardon. Then he taught them the word of
truth and baptized them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
because they accepted the Christian faith and believed in the savior and redeemer
of his body and soul. On that occasion, the holy apostle performed a wonderful
miracle. A certain woman, whose only son had been killed by an enemy, fell down
before the apostle, confessing his belief in Christ with all his heart and soul.
Pityingly, the saint resurrected his son from the dead, so that the newly converted
could know the true God. Seeing this, all the others also became to Christ.

It is he who practices rhetoric or the art of reasoning, and conviction, much

practiced by the Roman lawyers.

After ordaining priests, the divine apostle visited Amiso and Trapezo for the second
time, to baptize the few remaining people who had renounced their false stone
gods. From there he went to Samosata, and to Neocesarea, where many Greeks
regarded themselves as the wisest men on earth. Nevertheless, the wise preaching
of the apostle annulled the rhetorical reasoning of his weaver-writers of a spider
web that entangled people in their rhetorical traps, showing them their deceit; then
they were convinced by both the words and the miracles of the saint and they all
 20
repented and received the baptism, until the rhectors became and ordained
priests.

He then went to Jerusalem to meet the other apostles and celebrate the Christian
Passover. There they called the first synod, which is mentioned in the book of the
Acts of the Apostles, as the divine evangelist Luke points out: "Then the apostles
and elders gathered to consider this matter (whether it was necessary to
circumcise the converts) "(Acts 15: 6).

After the feast of Easter, St. Andrew, accompanied by the apostles Matthias and
Thaddeus, departed for the city of Corasan, in the region adjoining Mesopotamia.
Andres, however, stayed with them only for a few days, leaving them to preach in
that region; while he continued to the east of the Black Sea, to Alani and the
Abbasgians. In the cities of these places, he converted many to the Christian faith.
Then he visited the villages of Cigi, Bosporus and the Straits of Kafa; where he
stayed for a long time preaching and teaching all, so that many began to believe in
Christ and were baptized.

His next center of activity was the city of Constantinople (present-day Byzantium,
or modern Istanbul, capital of Turkey), there he performed many miracles, and
instructed many in the knowledge of the Christian God. In Byzantium they not only
converted to Christ but also built an imposing church in honor of the most holy
Mother of God. The apostle consecrated as a bishop to Estaquio, one of the
21
seventy apostles, whom St. Paul mentions in his Epistle to the Romans (see
Romans 16: 9). Later it traveled to the nearby Heráclea ofThrace that is located to
the west of Byzantium, turning there many towards the Christian faith and orders
like bishop to Apeles.

Subsequently, with great suffering in spreading the gospel of Christ, Andrew

traveled by Pontus, on the shores of the Black Sea, and then by Sitia and
Chersones. Thanks to Divine Providence, he came to the Dnieper River in the land
of Russia; Stopping at the bank of it, under the Kiev hills,) the present Ukraine) lay
there to rest. When he woke up in the morning, he said to his disciples, "Believe
me, in these hills the grace of God will shine. There will be a great city here, and
the Lord will build many churches and illuminate the entire Russian land with holy
baptism." Then he climbed to the top of the hills, where, after blessing them, he
planted a cross, prophesying that the inhabitants of that place would receive the
faith of the apostolic thirst he had established in Byzantium.

20
It is he who practices rhetoric or the art of reasoning, and conviction, much practiced by
the Roman lawyers.
21
The seventy disciples or seventy-two disciples (known in the Eastern Christian traditions
as the Seventy Apostles) were early emissaries of Jesus mentioned in the Gospel of
Luke 10:1–24
 22
After visiting the Russian cities that were to the north, where Novgórod the Great
is now, he traveled to Rome. He then moved to the Greek region of Epirus and to
Thrace, where he reaffirmed Christians in their faith and ordained bishops and
guides for them. Having passed through many countries, he reached the
Peloponnese, and in the Achaean city of Patras he stayed where a certain
respectable man named Sosio. He lifted him from his sickbed and then converted
the entire city of Patras to Christ. On that occasion, Maximilian, who was the wife of
the proconsul Egeates, fell prey to a painful affliction. In spite of visiting all the
doctors, it was not improved at all with the recipes of these and the only thing that
obtained was to spend almost all its amount in fees and medicines. Egeates,
seeing the manifest worsening of his wife, fell into despair, because not with his
great wealth could buy her health. When Maximilia was near death, he was so
dejected that he began to think of suicide.

Seeing Egeates this miracle, he brought a large sum of money and placed it at the
saint's feet. He knelt to beg her to accept the offer in gratitude for healing; but the
23
apostle, desiring only the repentance of the people of Achaia and Patras, rejected
the money and any other reward. He told Egeates, "Our Master has said, 'You
have received grace and grace' (Matthew 10: 8), and then taught him many more
things before he left.

As he passed through the city, he found on his way a paralytic who had been
deprived of his members. His misfortune was really great, because nobody cared
about him or took pity on his condition. But the apostle was moved and placed his
right hand on the unfortunate; He arose and began to walk, because of this, the
name of the saint became known throughout the city. Many of the sick came to him
and prostrated themselves at his feet; and he healed them all. He was healed by
the laying on of hands; others suffered from leprosy or other horrible diseases, but
he purified and healed them.

On the other hand, all the converts baptized them in the sea, in the name of the
Holy Trinity. At that time, on the outskirts of the city there were lepers living in the
sands; when they learned of Saint Andrew, they began to believe and were healed
of their evil. One of them, named Job, was baptized, and followed the apostle
everywhere, proclaiming the power of the saint and the Christian faith, as if he
were a herald. Thanks to the teaching of Andres and his many miracles, the
inhabitants of Patras came to know the true God. The saint rejoiced over this and

22
The Republic of Novgorod (in Russia) was an extensive medieval state that occupied
territories of present-day Russia, from the Baltic Sea to the Urals, between the 12th and
15th centuries. Its capital was the eponymous city of Novgorod.
23
Acaya (Latin, Achaea) was a province of the Roman Empire whose extension extended
the Peloponnese peninsula and other zones of the southern Greece, limiting by the north
with the provinces of Epirus and Macedonia. The region was annexed to the Roman
Republic in 146 a. C. after a campaign in which the city of Corinto was destroyed by the
general Lucio Mumio. In the year 31 a. C. was separated of Macedonia and, after the
reforms of Diocleciano, happened to comprise of the diocese of Macedonia.
became extremely happy for the salvation of these souls and continued to glorify
God, the giver of all good things.

The Christians themselves demolished the temples of the idols and destroyed the
images that were in them. Some of them gathered a great treasure and placed it at
the feet of Andrew. The apostle of Christ rejected his offer, but acknowledged his
attention and good will. To those who gathered the flows, he ordered them to be
distributed among the poor and the beggars, but leaving a part for the construction
of the church where the Christians could enter to glorify God. In time, a magnificent
church was built, where everyone came to listen to the sweet teachings of the
saint, when he spoke to them about the meaning of the scriptures and the sacred
prophecies, showing that Christ was the only God, who came down from the
heavens and Was incarnated through the Blessed Mother of God and the ever
Virgin Mary, for the salvation of humanity.

Shortly after, the said proconsul Egeates traveled to Rome to inform Caesar on his
administration and to receive from him more instructions. In his absence, he left as
his regent his brother Estrátocles, who was a wise man and dedicated to
mathematics. As he lived in Athens, during his trip to Patras, one of his faithful
servants, whom he wanted as a brother to be sensitive and sincere, suffered a
violent epileptic attack, caused by the action of the demons. The very distressed
Estrátocles began to cry, because no doctor was able to help the unfortunate.
When his sister-in-law Maximilia learned this, he invited him to his house, where he
said to him, "Brother-in-law, it is impossible for your servant to be healed, not even
with all the help of the doctors and all the medicines of this world, but you are
losing your money in vain. A doctor from outside, named Andres, who heals all
diseases and does not charge anything,

I trust that he will immediately heal your servant from this grievous disease. I
myself was grievously ill, but they could not save even a myriad of sacrifices to the
gods, nor any physician or medicine; "The wise and learned Scythescles of Athens
sent for the saint, and when he had hardly entered the house, the demons
miraculously departed, and the servant regained his health. They were baptized by
the apostle and joined him forever, wishing to hear every word and teaching of the
Holy Spirit.

Not long after, Egeates returned from Rome. Maximilia wanted to avoid any
relationship with her unbelieving husband, but it was impossible to keep her secret
forever. Some eunuchs and other people then said to him, "From the day of your
departure to Rome until now, she has not taken her food, and has followed a strict
fast. She blasphemes our deities, preferring to worship the Christ who the foreigner
Andrew announces the truth that his thought and his heart are fixed on that God
and only on Him. Egeates was puzzled and astonished to hear this; immediately
the demons seized him and began to act as if he had lost his reason, uttering
insults and threats against the Lord's apostle. Then he ordered his guard to arrest
the saint, while the way in which he would kill him was devised.
But at midnight, Estrátocles went to find Maximilia, and they hurried to the prison
where the saint was, under the watchful eye of the Egeates sentries. The saint
made them enter when he heard the soft touch of the door; Inside, the two fell
down at their feet, imploring the apostle to strengthen them and support them in
the true faith of Christ. Saint Andrew advised him extensively and then proceeded
to ordain Estrátocles as bishop of the Ancient Patras. After blessing and sending
them in peace, he closed the door of the cell by the power of his prayer, remaining
as firm as if he were locked.

Then he sat down, patiently waiting for the judgment of the evil Egeates.
Meanwhile, the proconsul was convinced that it was impossible to share the
bedroom with Maximilia, despite his pleas and threats; Therefore, Satan seized his
heart and blinded him with rage, and the apostle made him bind on a cross. This
event is described by the priests and deacons of the Achaean land as follows: All
of us, priests and deacons of the church of Achaia, are writing about the suffering
of the holy apostle Andrew, which we saw with our own eyes, all the churches of
the four winds. Peace be with you and with all who believe in God, perfect in the
Trinity: the true God Father, the true Son begotten, and the true Holy Spirit who
comes from the Father and rests in the Son. This faith was learned from Saint
Andrew, the apostle of Jesus Christ, whose suffering, of which we were present
witnesses, we are describing.

"When he came to the city of Patras, he attempted to compel the believers of

Christ to offer sacrifices to the idols. But Saint Andrew, appearing before him on
the road, said to him," You, Men, it is expedient for you to acknowledge your Judge
in the heavens and, recognizing him, to worship him; and worshiping the true God,
away from the false deities. "Egeates replied:" Are you that Andrew who destroys
the temples of the gods and seduces people into that magical religion that only
recently appeared and which the emperors of Rome have ordered to extirpate? "

"In fact, the emperors of Rome do not recognize what the Son of God, who came
down to earth for the salvation of man, said to us: These idols are not only not
gods, but are Unclean demons, full of wickedness with the human race, who teach
men to hate God and keep him away from them so he will not listen to them. And
when God turns away from them in anger, the demons hold them back to make
them their slaves and deceive them, until their souls emerge naked from their body,
possessed of nothingness except their own sins. "

"When Jesus preached these fables and empty words, the Jews nailed him to the
Cross." But Andrew replied, "Oh, if you could only understand the mystery of the
Cross, how the Creator of the human race , In his love for us, willingly endured
suffering on the cross; Because He already knew that He was going to suffer; He
prophesied his resurrection on the third day; At the mystical supper he announced
that he would be betrayed, speaking as much of the future as of the past; And it
was of his own free will to the place where it would be delivered at the hands of the
Jews. "

It amazes me, exclaimed Egeates - that an intelligent person like you follow
someone who was crucified; the same is whether it was voluntary or involuntary.
The apostle answered: "Great is the mystery of the cross; and if you deigned to
listen, I would tell you. Egeates replied, "That is not a mystery, but only the
execution of a malefactor." (But who does evil?) But Saint Andrew replied: "This
mystery is the execution of the renewal of man, just dare to listen to me patiently "I
will," he answered. But if you do not do what I command you, I will make you apply
the same mystery of the cross. "The apostle answered," If I feared the crucifixion, I
would never glorify the cross. "Egeates said to him: "If in your insanity you praise
the cross, in your audacity you do not fear death." The apostle replied: "I fear not
death, not out of boldness, but out of my faith: for the death of the saints is
precious, and the death of the fishermen is a baleful thing: I would have you hear
what I have to say concerning the mystery of The cross, so that, recognizing the
truth, you believe, and by believing you can win your soul.‖ But Egeates said to
him, "You are looking for a lost soul, is my soul really lost, so that you may order it
to be found by faith, I do not know how?"

"Saint Andrew replied," This is what you can learn from me: I will show you where
the soul of men is lost, so that you may recognize the salvation of it, which has
been done through the cross. The first man brought death to the world through the
tree of disobedience; and it was necessary for the human race that this death be
abolished through the tree of suffering.

And as the first man, who brought death to the world through the tree of
disobedience, was molded of pure and immaculate earth, then it was worthy that
Christ, the perfect man who at the same time is the Son of God who formed the
first man , Was born of the pure Virgin, so that she could restore the eternal life that
all men lost; And as the first man sinned, stretching out his hands to the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil, it was worthy for the salvation of man that the Son of
God should also extend his hands to the cross, because of the incontinence of the
hands of the Men, and that for the sweet fruit of the forbidden tree he would take
the bitter gall. "

"Egeates replied," Say these things to those who listen to you. But if you do not
obey me and if you refuse to offer sacrifices to the gods, I will order you to nail to
the cross you glorify, after having made you lash with a club. "Andres answered
him:" I offer every day, the only true and omnipotent God not the smoke of incense,
nor the flesh of oxen, nor the blood of goats, but the Immaculate Lamb that was
offered as a sacrifice on the altar of the cross. All faithful believers communion with
their most pure Body and partake of their Blood, even if this lamb remains whole
and alive, even when it is truly sacrificed; All of them really eat their Flesh and drink
their Blood, even though, as I say, they always remain whole, immaculate and
alive. "

Then Egeates said to him, "How can such a thing be?" Andres replied, "If you wish
to learn, become a disciple so that you may know what you ask." Egeates replied,
"I will take that teaching from you with torture." The apostle replied: "I am
astonished that a man educated like you, speak unthinkingly, could you learn from
me the mysteries of God by torturing me?" You have heard of the mystery of the
cross and of the mystery of sacrifice. Believing that Christ, the Son of God who was
crucified by the Jews, is the true God, I will reveal to you how he lives after he has
died and how he remains whole in his kingdom after being offered as a sacrifice
and eaten. "
"Then Egeates was angry and had the apostle thrown into jail, and when he was
sent to a dungeon, many people came from all parts in his defense and tried to kill
Egeates and free Andres from his seclusion., And he said rebuking them: "Do not
make the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ in a devilish tumult; Because when our
Lord Jesus Christ was delivered to death, He showed great patience. He did not
contradict, nor cry out, nor his voice heard in the streets. Then you must also
remain silent and remain calm. I forbid you to offer any opposition to my
martyrdom, but prepare yourselves as good athletes and warriors of Christ, to
patiently endure all kinds of wounds and tortures in your body. If you are going to
have to fear torments, fear only those who are eternal and know that the terrors
and threats of men are only like smoke: they barely appear they vanish. If you are
going to have to fear the sufferings, fear only those who begin but never end.
Passive sufferings, when insignificant, are easily endured; And when they are
large, they end quickly, releasing the soul from the body. But terrible are the eternal
sufferings. Therefore, be ready to pass through eternal sufferings to eternal joy,
where you will rejoice and flourish and reign with Christ. "

The saint spent the whole night teaching the people. The next morning, Egeates
ordered Andrew to be brought to the tribunal where he was and said, "Have you
resolved to abandon this folly and stop announcing Christ so that you can share
our happiness in this life? Madness to be tortured and burned voluntarily. ―But the
saint replied, "I would rather share your happiness if you believed in Christ and
rejected idols, for He has sent me to this earth, where I have gained for Him not a
few people."

"Then Egeates said to him:" I will make you to sacrifice, that those who have been
deceived by you may abandon the vanity of your teaching and offer sacrifices that
please the gods; because there is no city in Achaia where they have not left the
temples of the gods. That is why it is necessary that the honor bestowed upon
them be restored to you so that the deities whom you have infuriated will be
pacified and you may remain with us in brotherly love. And if not, to dishonor them,
then you will be subjected to various tortures and you will be hung on a cross, just
like the one you glorify. "

Listen to this servant of the Lord, an apostle of Jesus Christ! "I have so far talked
with you humbly, wanting to teach you the holy faith, so that you, As an intelligent
person, you may recognize the truth and, rejecting the idols, worship the God who
lives in the heavens, but as you remain obstinate and imagine that I am afraid of
your tortures, submit me to the most terrible tortures you know; More pleasing to
my King, the more painful the tortures I will bear for Him.‖

Then Egeates ordered the saint to be extended and then whipped. And after
alternating seven times those who beat him, three at a time, made him stand the
saint and took him before the judge. Then he said to him, "Listen to me, O Andrew,
do not pour your blood in vain, for if you do not obey me, I will make you crucify on
a cross."
To this the saint replied: "I am a slave to the cross of Christ and I wish to die on a
cross. You can escape the eternal torment if, after having tested my resistance,
you believed in Christ, because your condemnation hurts me more than my own
My sufferings will end in one day, or in two, but yours will not be finished even after
a thousand years, so do not increase your torments, nor ignite the eternal fire in
you. ―Furious, Egeates then ordered to crucify the saint, with his hands and feet
tied. He did not want to make him nail so that he would not die soon; because he
thought that by hanging him tied up, he could be subjected to greater tortures.

When the servants of the tyrant took him to the place of crucifixion, the people
crowded, shouting, "How has this righteous man and friend of God sinned? Why do
they want to crucify Him? But Andrew urged the crowd not to hinder their suffering;
and walked happily to his torment, without stopping for a moment his teaching.
When he arrived at the place of crucifixion, he saw at a certain distance the cross
that had been prepared for him, and cried aloud: "Rejoice, O cross, sanctified by
the flesh of Christ and adorned with its members like pearls! Crucified over you,
you were abominable to men, but now they love you and embrace you with
longing: for the faithful know of the joy that you hold and the reward that is offered
for bearing you.With courage and joy I go to you. Receive me, for I have always
wanted and wished to embrace you, O beautiful cross, which you received from the
members of the Lord, the beautiful and glorious adornment, long-desired and
ardently dear beauty, which I sought without Take me from among men and give
me my Master, so that he who has redeemed me through you may receive me. '

Saying this, he took off his garment and gave it to his torturers. They put him on the
cross and bound his feet and hands with ropes; so they crucified him with his head
down and suspended him. A crowd of about twenty thousand people gathered
around him, among whom was Starchus, the brother of Egeates, who exclaimed
with the rest of the people, saying, and ―This saint is unjustly suffering." But
Andrew strengthened those who believed in Christ and exhorted them to endure
the suffering of the passing, teaching that no torment can be compared with the
reward gained by it.

Then the people went to the house of Egeates, where he exclaimed: "This
honorable holy and wise teacher, kind, good and humble, should not suffer and
should be brought down from the cross, because, although it is already the second
day. There, continue to teach the truth. "

Then Egeates was afraid and immediately went with them where Andrew was to
get him off the cross. When he saw the saint, he said to him, "Why do you come
here, Egeates? If you wish to believe in Christ, the portal of grace will be opened to
you as I promised you, but if you come just to get me off the cross, But I am
suffering for you, because the eternal perdition prepared for you is waiting for you.
Take care while you can, unless you want to start by quoting already youcannot do
it like that.

When the servants went to untie him from the cross, they could not touch him;
many others tried to do it, one after another, but neither could, because their hands
became numb. Then the holy Andrew shouted loudly: "O Lord Jesus Christ, do not
let me be taken down from the cross on which I have been suspended in Your
name, but if not, receive me, O Master, whom I have loved, whom I have known,
To Whom I wish to see, for Whom I have become as I am: O Lord Jesus Christ,
receive my spirit in peace, for the time has come for me to go to You, and to look
upon You, whom I have so earnestly desired. , O good Teacher, and do not let me
be taken down from the cross before you receive my spirit. "

When he said all this, from the sky came a light like lightning that illuminated it
before the sight of all and shone around him, so that the eyes of the impure could
not see it. This celestial light shone around him for half an hour and when he
disappeared the holy apostle gave up his spirit and departed in the bright light to
stand before the Lord.

When Andrew had left, the Lord, Maximilian, a woman of noble birth and virtue and
holy life, with great honor, threw her body down, and after embalming him with
expensive ointments, she threw herself into the grave where she tried to bury
herself.

Egeates became infuriated with the people, and began to plan how to inflict
revenge on them and punish those who had openly challenged him. As for
Maximilia, he wanted to denounce her to the emperor. But in that, a devil suddenly
fell upon him and began to torment him; Because of this, Egeates died in the
middle of the city. Quoting his brother Estrátocles he learned of this, he ordered
that he be buried; But he touched nothing of his property, saying, "O my Lord
Jesus Christ, make me touch nothing of the treasures of my brother, lest he defile
me with his sin: for he loved the vain goods to kill the apostle Of the Lord. " So he
decided to distribute all the wealth of his brother to the poor and destitute; And with
the same money, had a diocesan house built in the place where the relics of the
saint rest. In time, he also rested as a good shepherd of the right-handled flock.
Maximilian also distributed her gold to the poor; And in a separate place, he
founded two monasteries, one for men and one for women. After living a good and
pleasing life to God, she also left for the mansions of heaven.

"This happened on the last day of November, in the city of Patras, in Achaia, where
since then the people have benefited from many favors, thanks to the prayers of
the apostle. Not believing in our God and Savior, he who desires to save all men
and bring them to the knowledge of the truth, to whom be glory forever.

After many years, the relics of the apostle Andrew were transferred to
Constantinople by the martyr Artemius, by order of the holy emperor Constantine
the Great, where they were kept in a reliquary along with those of the holy
evangelists Luke and Timothy, disciple of the holy apostle Paul, in the most
splendid church of the apostles, inside the altar.Through the prayers of your
apostle, O Christ the Christ, affirm your faithful servants in orthodoxy and save us
all. Amen.
 24
The Holy Apostle Bartholomew

Was one of the Twelve Apostles of Christ, after receiving the Holy Spirit, who
descended on the Apostles in the form of tongues of fire, Saint Bartholomew,
together with the Apostle Philip, had to preach the Gospel in Syria and Asia Minor?
They both moved there, first preaching together and then separately, through
various cities, then coming together again, leading people to salvation through faith
in Jesus Christ.

In Asia Minor, the Apostle Philip separated from Saint Bartholomew for a time,
where he converted Christ to the fierce and savage inhabitants of Lydia and Misia.
At that time, Saint Bartholomew, who announced Christ in the neighboring cities,
received a mandate from the Lord to go to the aid of Saint Philip. Once assembled,
St. Bartholomew strove in his apostolic tasks with him in a single union of thought.
Philip was followed by his sister, the virgin Mariamna, and together they began to
work for the salvation of the human race. During their passage through the cities of
Lydia and Misia and in spreading the good news of the word of God, they had to
endure many tests, scourges and tribulations at the hands of the infidels; Were
imprisoned and stoned; But in spite of all these persecutions, by the grace of God,
they continued alive for the tasks that awaited them in the diffusion of the Christian
faith.

In one of the villages of Lydia they met with St. John the Theologian, the beloved
disciple of Christ, and with him they traveled to the land of Phrygia. As they entered
the city of Hierapolis, they announced Christ. At that time, the city was full of idols
that all its inhabitants worshiped; and among these false deities there was an
immense viper, for which they had built a special temple. There they brought him
food and offered him Innumerable and varied sacrifices. These irrational ones
likewise worshiped other snakes and vipers. Saint Philip and his sister protected
themselves with prayers against the viper, and were aided by Saint Bartholomew
and John the Theologian, who was still with them at that time. All together they
conquered the serpent by prayer, as if it was a spear, and through the power of
Christ they killed it. Subsequently, John the Theologian departed from them,
leaving Hieropolis to announce the word of God there, while he went to other cities
to spread the joyful sacred news. Philip, Bartholomew, and Mariamna remained in

24
According to a tradition collected by Eusebius of Caesarea, Bartholomew went to preach
the gospel to India, where he left a copy of the Gospel of Matthew in Aramaic. The
Armenian tradition also attributes to him the preaching of Christianity in the Caucasian
country, next to San Judas Tadeo. Both are considered patron saints of the Armenian
Apostolic Church. His martyrdom and death are attributed to Astiages, king of Armenia
and brother of the king Polimio that Saint Bartholomew had converted to the Christianity.
As the priests of the pagan temples, who were running out of clientele, protested to
Astiages of the evangelizing work of Bartholomew, Astiages sent for him and ordered him
to worship his idols, just as he had done with his brother? In the face of Bartholomew's
refusal, the king ordered him to be martyred in his presence until he renounced his god or
died.
Hierapolis, striving hard to eliminate the darkness of idolatry, so that the light of the
knowledge of truth might shine among the backsliders. In this they labored day and
night, teaching the word of God to the unbelievers, whipping fools and leading the
wanderers on the path of truth.

In that city there was a man named Stachus, who had been blind for Forty years.
The Holy Apostles, through the power of prayer, gave light to their bodily eyes, and
by preaching Christ they also illuminated their spiritual blindness. After baptizing
Estaquio, the Saints stayed in his house. When the rumor that the blind Estaquio
had recovered the sight, a great multitude of people began to crow in the house.
The Holy Apostles taught all the arrivals the faith in Christ Jesus. Many of the sick
were also taken away, and the Holy Apostles healed everyone by prayer and cast
out demons, so that a great number of people came to believe in Christ and were
baptized.

The wife of the governor of that city, a man named Nicanor, was bitten by a snake
and lay sick, about to die. Knowing that the Holy Apostles were staying at
Estaquio's house and that they healed all sorts of evils with only one word, in the
absence of her husband she took her slaves with them. There he received a
double cure: in the body, of the bite of the serpent; And in the spirit, of the demonic
deception; because when he received the teachings of the Holy Apostles, he came
to believe in Christ. When the governor returned, his slaves informed him that his
wife had been taught to believe in Christ some strangers who lived in Estaquio's
house. With great fury, Nicanor ordered the immediate arrest of the Holy Apostles
and burning the house of Estaquio, orders that were fulfilled.

Then a large number of people gathered, dragged the Holy Apostles Philip and
Bartholomew, and even the holy virgin Mariamna, mocking them, beating them,
and finally imprisoning them. Subsequently, the governor of the city took his place
in the court, to preside over the judgment to those who proclaimed Christ. All the
priests of the idols and the priests of the dead serpent came and exposed their
grievances against the Holy Apostles, saying, "O Lord, let the dishonor done to our
gods come: for since these strangers appeared in our city, Altars of our great gods
remain forgotten and people no longer remember offering them their accustomed
sacrifices, our renowned goddess, the serpent, has died, and the whole city is filled
with iniquity. Sorcerers

Then the governor of the city ordered Philip to be stripped of their garments,
thinking that within them were their magical charms; but when they took it away,
they found nothing. They did the same thing to Saint Bartholomew, but neither did
they find anything in his clothes, and when they approached Mariamna with the
same intention, that is to say, to take off his garment and to leave naked his virginal
body, suddenly she became a burning flame before the sight Of all, so that the
wicked had to flee in fear. The Holy Apostles were condemned by the governor to
the crucifixion.

The first to suffer was San Felipe. They pierced holes between the bones of his
ankle, through which they made ropes, and crucified him on a cross with his head
down, before the portal of the temple of the serpent, and in the meanwhile cast
stones at him. Then they crucified the Holy Apostle Bartholomew on the wall of the
temple. Suddenly, a great earthquake shook the earth; It opened and swallowed up
the governor, all the priests, and a great many infidels. All those who remained
alive, both believers and pagans, trembled and, wailing, begged the Holy Apostles
to pity them, begged the true God not to let the earth swallow them as well. They
hurriedly took the apostles out of the cross. St. Bartholomew was not suspended
high above the ground, so he could be removed soon. But Philip was not able to
remove it, because he was suspended above, particularly because it was God's
will that his Apostle, after these sufferings and death on the cross, should pass
from earth to heaven, where his steps had been directed throughout his life.

Hanged in this way, Saint Philip prayed to God for his enemies, so that he could
forgive them of their sins and enlighten their minds so that he would learn the
knowledge of the truth. The Lord acceded to his request and immediately made the
earth throw alive the victims he had swallowed, with the exception of the governor
and the priests of the serpent. Then they all confessed and glorified aloud the
power of Christ, expressing their desire to be baptized. When they were preparing
to remove Saint Philip from the cross, they realized that he had already delivered
his holy soul into God's hands, then they lowered him dead.

His sister, Saint Mariamna, who had always witnessed the sufferings and death of
her brother Philip, embraced and kissed her body with love, when they lowered him
from the cross and was glad that he had been honored to suffer for Christ. St.
Bartholomew baptized those who came to believe in the Lord and ordained as
bishop to Estaquio. The newly converted Christians buried with great honor the
body of the Holy Apostle Philip. In the place where the blood of the Holy Apostle
was shed, a vine grew in three days, as a sign that St. Philip was enjoying eternal
bliss with his Lord in his Kingdom for the blood he had shed in the name of Christ.

After the burial of the Apostle Philip, St. Bartholomew and the blessed virgin
Mariamna remained for a few more days in Hierapolis, in order to affirm the newly
founded church in Christ's faith, and then separated. Saint Mariamna went to
Lycaonia, where after triumphantly announcing the word of God, she quietly rested
in the Lord (commemorating her on February 7). While Saint Bartholomew went to
the land of India, where he spent much time working on the preaching of Jesus
Christ, going through towns and villages and healing the sick on his behalf. After
enlightening many, pagans and establishing churches, he translated into the local
language the Gospel according to St. Matthew, which he had brought with him, and
showed them. He also left them a Gospel written in the Hebrew language, which
was brought to Alexandria a century later by the Christian philosopher Panteno.

From India, St. Bartholomew went to Greater Armenia. When they arrived at this
place, the idols, or rather the demons who lived in them, were silent, lamenting with
their last words that Bartholomew was tormenting them and that soon he would
expel them. In fact, the unclean spirits were expelled not only from the idols, but
also from the people, with the only approach of the Apostle; for this reason many
were converted to Christ.

Polimius, the king of that land, had a daughter who was possessed by the devil,
who exclaimed through her lips: "Bartholomew, will you also drive us out of this
place?" When the king heard this, he ordered Bartholomew to be sought
immediately; and when the Apostle of Christ stood by the possessed girl, the devil
fled at once, the daughter of the king being healed. The king, wishing to show his
gratitude to the Holy One, brought him camels loaded with gold, silver, pearls, and
precious stones. The Apostle, in his great humility, kept nothing of what he had
received, but returned everything to the king, saying, "I seek not these things, but
rather the soul of men, and if I get them and take them The mansions of heaven, I
will be a great merchant before the eyes of the Lord.‖ King Polimius, shocked by
these words, began to believe in Christ with all his family and received the baptism
of the Holy Apostle, together with the queen and daughter that the Holy One had
healed, as well as a great number of nobles and That land; On that occasion also
received Holy Baptism as many as ten cities, following the example of their king.

However, when they saw this, the idolatrous priests raged against the Holy
Apostle, deeply lamenting the destruction of their gods, the fall of idolatry and the
abandonment of the temples, from which he had obtained his means of life. Then
they convinced the king's brother, Astiago, to inflict vengeance on him for the
offense made to his deities. Astiago, waiting for the precise moment, captured the
Holy Apostle in the city of Albano and had him crucified with his head down. The
Holy Apostle suffered with joy for Christ and, thus suspended from the cross, did
not cease to proclaim the word of God. He made the faithful stand firm in their faith
and exhorted the believers to know the truth and move away from the darkness of
the demons into the light of Christ.

The tyrant refused to hear this and, instead, ordered the Apostle to be skinned
alive; yet the Holy One, bearing all with great patience, did not remain silent, but
taught all about God and offered to Him the glorification. Finally, the tyrant ordered
the head of St. Bartholomew to be removed from his body, along with his skin. Only
then did his lips quieted; though his body, being lifted off his head, hung on the
cross; while his legs, which were placed upward, gave the impression of pointing
the way of the Apostle to heaven. Thus ended the earthly life of Bartolomeus the
Apostle of Christ, who had passed through much pain, to the glory of his Lord
(circa AD 90). The faithful who were present at the time of the Holy Apostle's rest
drew their body from the cross, as well as their head and skin, placed it in a lead
coffin and arranged their burial in the City of Albano (now Baku) in Armenia Higher.
With their relics the sick received miraculous healings, which is why many believers
converted to the Christian Church.

During the year AD 508, during the reign of Emperor Anastasius, the relics of the
Holy Apostle Bartholomew were transferred from Albano to the city of Dura in
Mesopotamia. When the Persians took control of the city in 574, the citizens of
Dura carried such relics to the shores of the Black Sea, where their enemies
caught them unawares. There, the infidels threw the relics into the Black Sea, next
to the remains of four other saints - the martyrs Papias, Luciano, Gregorio and
Acacio. God, in His providence, arranged for them to sanctify great stretches of the
sea which they traversed until they reached the lands that were to receive them.
The relics of the Holy Apostle Bartholomew toured the deep abyss of the Black
Sea, the narrow strait of the Hellespont, the open Aegean and Ionian seas, to the
small island of Lipari, far from the northern coast of Sicily. In this place, the relics of
San Papias went to Amila in Sicily, those of San Luciano to Messina, those of San
Gregorio to Colimi, a city of Calabria, and those of San Acacio to the city of Ascalo.
The Divine Apostle then sent a vision to the local bishop, Agathon, revealing to him
that his relics had reached Lipari. The bishop immediately hurried to the coast
along with his clergy and all the people. Seeing the relics of the Holy Apostle, the
pious hierarch and all those who accompanied him marveled deeply that the lead
coffin had not sunk beneath the waves and had sailed as far as the sea, as the
lightest of the ships. The bishop exclaimed: "For what reason and for what, O
island of Lipari, do you possess this wealth and great treasure?" They have
honored you in the extreme! With your hands this treasure and shouts loudly:
Welcome, welcome, O Apostle of the Lord. "

Desiring to keep the sacred chest in a place of honor in a reliquary, they thought to
build a church for the glory of the renowned Apostle. The lead case was quite
large, and although several times they tried to move it to different places, it
remained in its place. Then Agathon received a divine revelation telling him that
they should bind him with ropes and bring him with two heifers to the place where
the Saint wanted to stay. As the heifers dragged the chest, the neighboring island
of Priano permanently expelled boiling water that damaged Lipari. But by the
power of God, this moved about a mile away and ceased to involve any threat to
Lipari. Oh wonderful miracle! Who has ever heard such a fact? When all these
things happened Bishop Agatón erected a beautiful church. The holy Church
commemorates the miraculous translation of the precious relics of St. Bartholomew
on 25 August.

Later, the island was captured by the Arabs, who disseminated the relics of the
Apostle Bartholomew; but these came together in a miraculous way; Because St.
Bartholomew appeared to a certain monk and indicated the place where they
would be found. Afterwards the relics of the Holy Apostle were transferred to the
city of Benevento, near Naples (in the ninth century), from where they were taken
(though only a part) to Rome in the tenth century.

One cannot fail to mention an incident that has been recorded in the life of the
venerable Joseph the Hinmograph. One day, in Thessaly, the venerable Joseph
received a portion of the relics of the Holy Apostle Bartholomew from a virtuous
man known to him. After taking them to his monastery, which was near
Constantinople, Joseph had a special church built in honor of the Holy Apostle
Bartholomew, where he kept the part of the sacred relics he had received. For the
great love and faith in the Holy Apostle, he often had the privilege of seeing in
visions in his dreams, which is why he adorned the feast of the Holy Apostle with
hymns of prayer; However, he resolved not to do so, since he doubted whether or
not this would please the Saint; Then he prayed intensely to God and his Apostle
to reveal his will and give him wisdom from above to compose the verses of prayer
that were appropriate for Saint Bartholomew. By fasting and pleading with tears,
the venerable Joseph prayed for forty days; Then when there was very little left for
the day of the commemoration of the Apostle, on the eve of solemnity, in a vision
he witnessed Saint Bartholomew appear in the sanctuary, dressed in his garments
of dazzling whiteness.

The Holy One opened the curtain of the sanctuary and motioned for him to
approach; And when the venerable Joseph did, the Holy Apostle took from the
table of the altar the Holy Gospel and placed it near the breast of Joseph, saying:
"May the right hand of God Almighty bless you and that the waters of heavenly
wisdom Sprinkle your tongue, may your heart be a temple of the Holy Spirit and
may your hymn-song please the whole world!‖

Thus speaking the Holy Apostle Bartholomew, he became invisible; but the
venerable Joseph, feeling within himself the grace of wisdom, was filled with
inexplicable jubilation and gratitude. From that moment on, he began to compose
sacred hymns and canons, with which he decorated the feasts not only of Saint
Bartholomew, but also of many other saints. He is known mainly for the great
amount of canons that he composed in honor to the pure Mother of God and the
Holy Nicholas Nicholas. He adorned the holy Church with his abundant
hymnography, which is why he was known as the "Himnographer" and is
commemorated on April 3 (although according to some calendars, on the 4th). For
all this, glory be to Christ our Savior, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, for ever
and ever. Amen.

There are some who think that Bartholomew is Nathaniel, whom Philip led to
Christ. To corroborate this, they maintain that the name of the Apostle of Christ
was Nathaniel; But that his family name, derived from his father's, was
Bartholomew, that is, the son of Ptolemy. The word "bar" in Hebrew means "son,"
just as the Lord Christ also used it in reference to the Apostle Peter, when he said:
"Blessed are you, Simon Barjona" (Matthew 16:17), meaning "son of Jonah . " Also
the blind man of Jericho was called Bartimaeus, that is, son of Timaeus. Thus, they
consider that Bartholomew was called son as a patronymic, son of Ptolemy;
because Ptolemy was an ancient name among the Jews and was used frequently.

There are grounds for this because in none of the Gospels does Bartholomew‘s
call to the apostolate speak unless the narrative of Nathaniel is considered as
such. On the other hand, the first three evangelists - Matthew, Mark and Luke, who
mention Bartholomew, say nothing about Nathaniel; While the evangelist John,
who mentions Nathaniel, does not say anything about Bartholomew; And when he
refers to the gathering of fish in the appearance of the resurrected Savior, he
mentions Nataniel as among the men closest to the Apostles. To point out, "Simon,
Peter and Thomas, called the Didymus, and Nathaniel, the Canaanites of Galilee,
and the sons of Zebedee and two of his disciples were together" (John 21: 2).
 25
Saint Philip

Next to the Sea of Galilee, on the banks of Lake Gennesaret and Capernaum, was
the village of Bethsaida. In this town were born three of the twelve apostles of
Christ: Peter, Andrew and Philip. The first two were fishermen, an occupation they
performed even when Christ called them; While Philip from his childhood had
devoted himself to theoretical study. After reading and studying regularly the Holy
Scriptures and the prophecies that spoke of the longed for Messiah, suddenly
came to him a fervent love for Him and an intense desire to witness to the Lord
face to face. As he had not yet seen it, he did not know that the one whom many
wanted to see was already on the earth.

While Philip was infatuated with love for the Messiah, Christ entered the
neighborhood of Galilee and found there. "Follow me!" Christ told Philip. He,
hearing the call of the Lord, believed with all his heart that he was indeed the
Messiah, promised by God through the prophets; and then he followed. Listening
to the most holy life of the Lord, Philip endeavored to emulate him and to learn
from him the divine wisdom, by whose power he was able to subdue the
foolishness of the pagans. Feeling rejoicing to have discovered this Treasure, by
which the whole world would be redeemed, Felipe did not want to keep this
treasure for himself, but wanted to share it with others.

25
The tradition of the second century concerning him is unsafe, all the more so since a
similar tradition is recorded regarding Philip the Deacon and evangelist - a phenomenon
that must be the result of a confusion caused by the existence of two Philips In his letter
to Saint Victor, written about 189-98, Bishop Polycrates of Ephesus mentions among the
"great luminaries," whom the Lord will seek "the last day", "Philip, one of the Twelve
Apostles, who is buried In Hieropolis with his two daughters, who came virgins to old age,
"and a third daughter, who" lived a life in the Holy Spirit and rested in Ephesus. " On the
other hand, according to the Dialogue of Gaius, directed against a Montanist called
Proclus, he affirmed that "there were four prophetesses, the daughters of Philip, in
Hieropolis in Asia where his tomb and his father's tomb are still situated." The Acts of the
Apostles (21: 8-9) actually refer to four prophetesses, the daughters of the deacon and
"Evangelist" Philip, then living at Caesarea with his father, and Eusebius, who gives the
extracts quoted above ., III, xxxii), refers to the latter the affirmation of Proclus. The
assertion of Bishop Polycrates has more authority in itself, but it is extraordinary to
mention three virgin daughters of the Apostle Philip (two buried in Hieropolis), and that
the deacon Philip also had four daughters, and that they were said to have been Buried in
Hierópolis. Here too we may suppose that there has been confusion between the two
Philips, although it is difficult to decide which of the two, the Apostle or the deacon, was
buried in Hieropolis. Many modern historians believe that he was the deacon; However, it
is possible that the Apostle was buried there and that the deacon also lived and worked
there and was buried there with three of his daughters and that these were then
erroneously considered as daughters of the Apostle. The apocryphal "Acts of Philip,"
which are, however, purely legendary and a fabric of fables, also refer to the death of
Philip in Hieropolis. The remains of Philip, who were buried in Hieropolis, were later
transferred (like those of the Apostle) to Constantinople and thence to the church of the
DodiciApostoli in Rome. The Feast of the Apostle is celebrated in the Roman Church on
May 1 (together with that of James the Less), and in the Greek Church on November 14.
When he met his friend Nathaniel, he joyfully announced to him, "We have found
him, whom Moses in the law and the prophets wrote: Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of
Joseph." But Nathaniel, doubting that an insignificant people and simple people
could give rise to the Messiah, the King of Israel, said: "Can anything good come
from Nazareth?" Philip, without answering, advised him to only see Him. "Come
and go," he said. He had the feeling that Nathaniel needed only to see Jesus and
hear his words of salvation, in order to believe that he was the Messiah; and this
was how it really happened.

When they both went to Jesus, the Lord, who tests hearts and restrains, and reads
the hidden thoughts of the hearts of men, when he sees Nathaniel coming to him,
recognized him and said: "Behold a true Israelite! , In whom there is no deceit. "
When Nathaniel heard these words, he was amazed and said to Jesus, "How do
you know me?" The Lord replied, "Before Philip called you, when you were under
the fig tree, I saw you." For when Nataniel was sitting there, he was thinking of the
Divine Messiah, in whom all the joy and joy of the faithful servants of God were
incarnated; And at that moment God granted him repentance of heart and fervent
tears, which added to his sincere plea that the Lord should fulfill what he had
promised in time past to his parents and to send the Savior of the world to the
earth.

God, who sees all things, observed Nathaniel at that moment, because he had a
spirit of compunction. It was for this reason that the Lord told Nathaniel that he had
seen him when he was under the fig tree. With these words Nataniel was even
more astonished. He began to remember what he was thinking when he was under
the tree, as well as the compunction with which he had implored God to send the
Messiah. He also concluded that at that time there was no one else who could
have seen him and caught his thoughts except God. That is why Nathaniel
immediately believed that Jesus was the Messiah, whom God had promised to
send to save the human race, and recognized the divine essence in Jesus Christ,
who had seen the secrets of his heart; for this reason, he exclaimed: "Rabbi, You
are the son of God, You are the King of Israel!" (John 1: 43-49).

How many feelings of gratitude did Nathaniel later experience Philip for having
announced to him the coming to the land of the Savior and to have led him to the
promised Messiah! The saint Felipe felt joy in his heart because the people had
found his divine Treasure hidden in the depths of the human nature, reason why its
love for the Lord grew still more with fervor. Nevertheless, Saint Philip saw in his
Divine Master only the outstanding human perfections and did not realize that He
was at the same time Divine. For this reason Christ resolved to remove him from
his error. One day, when the Lord passed by the sea of Tiberias with five thousand
people, wishing to feed his followers in a miraculous way, Jesus asked Philip:
"Where can we buy bread so that they can eat?" He told this to prove it, because
he knew in advance what Philip would say in response. For this reason, he asked
Philip about this, so that he would come to know more and, ashamed of his lack of
faith, he would come out of his error. In fact, Philip was not aware of the
omnipotence of Jesus Christ, nor would he say, "You can do all things, O Lord, it is
not for this question to be asked of anyone. Open your mouth, all things will be
filled with goodness "(Psalm 103: 28).
Philip did not say this, but, taking his Lord as a man and not as God, he said: "Two
hundred denarii of bread will not suffice for them, that each of them take a piece"
(John 6: 7) And then with the other disciples, he said, "Send them, that they may
go into the farms and villages round about, and buy bread for themselves: for they
have nothing to eat" (Mark 6:36). But when Jesus broke the five loaves and the two
fish for the five thousand people, Philip saw that from the hand of the Lord, as if it
were an inexhaustible barn, each received enough food, until all were satisfied.
Then the disciple was greatly ashamed for his lack of faith and, strengthened in his
soul, with others he glorified the power of God in Christ Jesus.

Subsequently, the Lord chose him for the choir of his twelve apostles, granted him
grace, and gave him the honor of remaining in his close company. It happened that
on a holiday gathered in Jerusalem some Greeks. These could not approach
Jesus, because they were pagans without faith; for this reason, they approached
Philip and asked him to make them see Jesus. This one went to inform Andres
first, and together they dared to tell the Lord of the desire of the Greeks, rejoicing
that even the pagans were trying to see and hear their Lord and Master. Then he
heard from Jesus the wonderful teaching and prophecy about the Gentiles who
would come to believe in Him, though not then, but after His death. "The time has
come when the Son of man is to be glorified ... If the grain of wheat does not fall on
the earth and die," he said, "he remains alone, but if he dies, much fruit bears"
(John 12 : 21-24). In this way Christ was really saying, "While I am on the earth, I
will have only part of the house of Israel, but if I die, I will have not only the house
of Israel, but many of the Gentiles will believe in me.‖

On another occasion, after the mystical supper, Philip dared to ask the Lord about
the great mystery of his divinity, how much he begged the Father to manifest
through him, saying, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.‖(John 14:
8). In asking this question, he did much good to the church of Christ; because since
then we have learned to recognize the consubstantiality of the Father and the Son
and to restrain the mouths of heretics who reject the Divine Truth. For the Lord
reproached Philip with a reproach, "How long have I been with you, and still do not
know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen My Father.

How then do you say: Show us the Father? Do you not believe that I am in the
Father and that the Father is in me? The words I tell you, I do not speak of myself;
But the Father that is in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father,
and the Father in Me; otherwise believe me for the works themselves "(John 14: 9-
11).

This response of the Lord taught the holy Philip and through him the whole
Catholic Church to believe in the equality essential of the divinity of the
26
Father and the Son and Holy Spirit, denouncing the blasphemy of Arius
(that heresy of Arius is heresy Of the current Jehovah's Witnesses), who
pointed out that the Son of God is a creature and not the Creator. (Thoughts
on the Blasphemy and Heresy of Arius (Arianism,Who Thought Jesus Was
Created, therefore Jehovah‘s witnesses are no Christians,Charles Taze Russell

26
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arianism
(1852-1916), who founded the Jehovah‘s Witnesses, a modern-day revival of
Arianism, in the 1870s

After the voluntary passion and resurrection of the Son of God, Saint Philip,
together with the other apostles, saw his Lord in his immortal and glorified body,
received from him his peace and blessing, and also witnessed his Ascension. Then
he was honored with the grace of the Holy Spirit and became a preacher of Christ
among the Gentiles, because he had to announce the Word in Asia Minor and
Syria. However, he first went to evangelize Galilee. There, once it happened that a
woman came to him who carried in his arms his dead child and lamented
disconsolately. When he saw her, he took pity on her; then he stretched out his
hand and laid it on the boy and said, "Arise, it is Christ who commands you, for it is
he whom I proclaim." Instantly the child came back to life. The mother, seeing her
son alive and well, was filled with joy and stood at the feet of the apostle,
expressing his gratitude for having raised his son and then asked him to baptize
her; Because she had come to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ whom he preached.
The apostle baptized the mother and the son, after which he left for pagan lands.

During his preaching of the Gospel in Greece, the apostle performed numerous
miracles, healed diseases, and raised a dead man through the power of Christ.
This last miracle left the Jews who lived there astonished, which informed
Jerusalem, the chief priests and the princes of the Jews, saying that a stranger had
come there named Philip, to announce the name of Jesus, by which Expelled the
demons, healed all diseases, and even raised a man from the dead by the same
name of Jesus; And that many had come to believe in Christ.

Soon a chief priest came from Jerusalem to Greece, accompanied by scribes, who
struck Philip bitterly. Dressed in his clerical vestments, the apostle sat in the
courtroom, in the presence of a large number of people, both Jews and Gentiles.
Then they took him farther, in the middle of that group. The chief priest, with a
menacing glance, said angrily, "Is it not enough to have deceived these simple and
ignorant people of Judea, Galilee, and Samaria? But you have gone far as far as
the Greek scholars, to spread the evil teachings Which you have learned from
Jesus, the adversary of the law of Moses, whereby he was condemned, crucified,
and perished of an ignominious death, buried only by the feast of the Passover,
and you, his disciples, secretly stole His body; To deceive many, you spread the
word everywhere saying that he himself had risen from the dead. ―Hearing these
words of the chief priest, the crowd began to exclaim against Philip: "What do you
have to say in response to this, Philip?"

There was a loud rumor among the people; some asked that they immediately put
Philip to death; others, to be sent to Jerusalem to be executed. Then the Holy
Apostle said to the chief priest, "You love your vanity and say falsehoods! How is it
that your heart is hard and why you do not want to confess the truth? Have you not
sealed the tomb and placed a guard there And when the Lord rose from the dead
without breaking the seal of the tomb, did they not give money to the guards to
blame themselves, saying that while they slept the disciples had stolen the body of
Him? Day of Judgment, the very seals of the tomb will openly unmask your
falsehood, for they were an indisputable evidence of the true resurrection of Christ.
"

Hearing this, the chief priest became even angrier, and in a fit of insane
wickedness he threw himself upon the apostle with the intention of seizing him and
killing him; but at that moment he became blind, turning black. Those who were
present, seeing what had happened, attributed this fact to sorcery, then also
pounced on Philip to eliminate him, as if he were a sorcerer; but they all suffered
the same punishment as the chief priest. Meanwhile, the earth began to tremble
strongly, then all trembled with fear and came to know the great power of Christ.
The apostle Philip, seeing in them the blindness of his spirit and his body, began to
weep for them and then turned to God to pray, begging him to forgive them. And,
how wonderful! With the prayers of the saint, from above came healing over all
those who were afflicted. This miracle caused many to convert to Christ and
believe in Him. However, the chief priest, blinded most of all by evil, not only did
not want to amend his behavior after the punishment inflicted on him, but began to
utter blasphemies against Our Lord Jesus Christ. Then an even greater
punishment fell upon him. Suddenly the earth opened and swallowed it alive, just
as it once did for Dathan and Abiram (Numbers 16: 1-3).

After the priest died, there St. Philip baptized many and appointed as bishop a
certain respected and worthy man named Narcissus; after which he departed for
Parthia. Along the way, the apostle asked God to help him in his tasks. Then,
wonder! As he was kneeling to pray, from the sky appeared the figure of an eagle
that stretched its sprockets forming the cross of Christ.

Strengthened by this manifestation, St. Philip again went forth to preach; And after
crossing the towns of Arabia and Candacia, resolved to cross the sea until the city
Syria of Azot. But in the night a strong storm came on the sea, which made all of
them despair to save their lives. Then the holy Apostle began to pray, and
immediately in the sky appeared the sign of the cross bearing light, which shone
through the darkness of the night; and the sea was instantly quieted, and its waves
were gradually extinguished.

When the ship anchored on the coast of Azotus, Philip disembarked there, where
he was received at the house of a certain hospitable man named Niocledes, who
had a daughter named Caritina, who suffered from a disease that affected one of
his Eyes. After listening to the preaching of the apostle, all came to believe and
accept the sacred baptism. Later, Niocledes asked Felipe to heal the eye of his
daughter. Then the apostle said to the girl, "Caritina, to reveal the miraculous
power inherent in sacred baptism, I want you to heal your own evil." So, in the
morning, place your right hand in your eye and call on the name Of Christ, the
Master Savior of souls, that you may be healed. ―Following the saint's instructions,
Caritina was healed of the evil, for which she thanked the Lord. Then the apostle
left.

From Azotus, the apostle Philip traveled to Hierapolis from Syria. There, in
preaching Christ, he aroused the people's great wrath, which threatened to kill him
by stoning. However, the aid of the ruler, a man named Iro, saved him from the
indignation of the crowd. "Citizens," he told them, "listen to my advice, do not harm
this stranger until we know for sure if his doctrine is true, but if it turns out not to be
so, then we will kill him." The crowd did not dare to oppose Iro, so he took Philip to
his house. But when they came to the house together, the wife of the ruler,
Marcela, was offended by this. She asked him to let her out of his marital bonds
and to give him back the dowry, if he did not throw Felipe away from his house.

The apostle, seeing that the governor was filled with consternation, urged him to
remain steadfast in faith; then he offered to beg Marcela. In such circumstances,
Iro's maid had heard the apostle speak, then said to his master, "Where does this
wonderful man come from? How sweet are his words and how laudable is his
character!" The ruler answered, "Woman, this is the herald of the great God and
the ambassador of the Eternal Kingdom." Therefore, we believe in his words. ―The
maid went immediately to Marcela to tell her about the great virtue of Philip. After
listening to her words, Iro and all his family honored the apostle and were baptized,
together with many of his neighbors.

When the people learned that Iro had accepted the baptism, they gathered at night
and surrounded the house, intending to burn it while Iro, the apostle and all his
servants slept. However, the Holy Spirit warned this to the apostle, who presented
himself without fear; but these, grinding their teeth like wild beasts, rushed upon
him and brought him to the place of meetings. When the head of the mob, whose
name was Aristarchus, saw the apostle, he said to him, "I know that they want to
burn you for your witchcraft, and if you do not repudiate these things
spontaneously, I will make you stoned until you die. I will question you about it on a
later occasion. ―Saying this, he reached out and grabbed the apostle's hair and, to
make a fool of himself, tossed him to and fro. The apostle, in order to correct
Aristarchus's bad attitude, or perhaps for all to know the power of God's servants,
exclaimed in a loud voice, so that they would all hear, saying, "O Lord, Thou who
hast formed Our heart and know our actions and thoughts, listen to my words,
which do not come from the wrath of the heart, but from the desire to correct
others.‖He paralyzes the arm of this rebel, who dares raise his hand against the
Head that you have blessed! ―And Miracle! ... At that very moment his arm began
to dry, and he stopped seeing and hearing. The attitude of the crowd changed: his
anger became astonished to see this miracle. Then they begged the apostle to
heal his exarch Aristarchus; but he said to them, "If he is not willing to believe in
the God whom I preach, he will not be healed."

At that moment a funeral began to happen, and then the people, wishing to mock
the apostle, said: "If you raise this dead man, Aristarchus and all of us will believe
in your God." The apostle then looked up at the sky, prayed for a moment, and
then turning to the dead, said to him: "Theophilus." The dead man immediately sat
on the coffin and opened his eyes. Then Philip again said to him, "Christ
commands you," Get up and talk to us! ―The man came out of the coffin and stood
at the apostle's feet, saying: "I thank thee, O holy servant of God, that thou hast
delivered me at this hour of this great harm, because two evil black Moors seized
me and dragged me; But if you had not prevented it and had delivered me from
them, I would have been cast into the dark hell!‖ In witnessing this glorious miracle,
all felt fear and admiration; Because Philip knew the name of the dead man, whom
he had never seen before, and instantly raised him up; then they all began to
glorify the true God who announced Philip.
Then the apostle silenced the people by shaking his hand, and commanded Iro,
who had arrived, to make the sign of the cross with his hand upon the sick
members of Aristarchus. As soon as this one did, the exarhca's dry arm regained
its form immediately, which also recovered its vision and heard, being completely
healthy. With this, the people dispelled all doubt and hesitation, and began to
believe in Christ, exclaiming, "That whom thou preachest, O wondrous man, is the
only true and almighty God, who hath done all these marvelous miracles. We all
praise him and believe him firmly. ―Then he again calmed the tumult by making a
gesture and ordered Aristarchus to make the sign of the cross and invoke the
name of the Holy Trinity. In doing so, he fully recovered. He was then one of the
first to receive the redeeming baptism, together with Prefect, the father of the
resurrected man, who was an elder of that city. Aristarchus came to believe in
Christ with all his soul, so he gave the apostle the gold drawn from twelve idols
which he had, which was distributed among the poor. In addition to this, he
dumped the rest of his wealth and preserved faith to the end, ending his life in a
way that pleased God. Then the apostle affirmed and confirmed in them the
orthodox faith. Iro, Marcela's husband, ordained him as bishop; And among the
others he appointed priests and deacons, commanding them to erect a church.
Finally, with his teachings he gave them strength, before leaving to proclaim Christ
in other lands.

After founding the church in Hierapolis of Syria and affirming to them in the faith the
newly enlightened San Felipe departed to other places, passing through other
regions of Syria and the mountainous regions of Asia. In Lydia and Misia, when he
crossed these lands, he made God unbelieving pagans unbelievers. . There he
joined the holy apostle Bartholomew, who at that time preached in the neighboring
cities and was sent by God to help Philip. Philip was also joined by his sister
Mariana (commemorated by the Church on February 17), and they all began to
work together for the salvation of the human race. During their passage through
Lydia and Misia proclaiming the good news of the word of God, they had to endure
many afflictions, burnings and tribulations at the hands of the unbelievers. They
were imprisoned, stoned and beaten; but in spite of all these persecutions, by the
grace of God, they continued to live to fulfill their appointed task of spreading the
faith of Christ.

It is one of the villages of Lydia that they met with St. John the Theologian, the
beloved disciple of Christ, and with him they set out for the land of Phrygia. There
they visited a city also known as Hierapolis, where they preached Christ. This city
was home to numerous idols, to which all the people worshiped; besides these
gods, they had a viper for which they had built a special temple. They brought him
food and offered him many and varied sacrifices. But these foolish people also
worshiped other snakes and snakes. St. Philip and his sister first protected
themselves with prayers; St. John the Theologian, who accompanied them at that
time also helped them. Together, they managed to kill the viper by prayer, as if it
were a spear, giving it death through the power of Christ. After this, St. John took
his own way, leaving them Hierapolis as the ground for his missionary activities,
while he went to other cities, spreading the holy gospel everywhere. St. Philip
stayed in that city together with St. Bartholomew and Mariamna, trying hard to
destroy the darkness of idolatry, so that the light of the knowledge of the truth
shone on those who went on the wrong road; For which they labored day and
night, teaching the believers about the word of God, educating the ignorant and
returning the misguided on the right path.

The apostle taught them who were the true God, the only author of creation and
the universe, of all things visible and invisible, and how he had shaped man. He
further explained to them the divine indulgence of God by becoming man, their
saving crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. He also told them that the Son and
Word of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, would come again and resurrect the human
race and reward everyone according to their works. All those who were baptized in
the name of God and kept His commandments, will inherit eternal bliss. But those
who would have disobeyed his law will be condemned to eternal torment. With
these and other words of salvation, the apostle catechized the people. He baptized
all those who, as he realized, would have accepted his words of faith in his heart.
And then ordained for them bishops and priests.

In that city there lived a man named Stachus, who had been blind for forty years.
Through the power of prayer, the holy apostles gave light to their corporeal eyes,
while with the preaching on Christ they also illuminated their spiritual blindness.
After baptizing Estaquio, the saints stayed in his house. When the fact that the
Blind Estaquio spread had recovered the vision, numerous people began to come
together in his house. The holy apostles taught everyone to believe in Jesus Christ.
Many of the sick had been taken to them, and they healed them by prayer and cast
out demons, so that a great number of people came to believe in Christ and were
baptized.

The wife of Nicanor, the mayor of the city, was bitten by a snake and lay sick to
death. When she heard of the holy apostles who were in the house of Estaquio,
and that by their very word they healed all kinds of diseases, she ordered her
slaves to take her to them while her husband was absent. Once there, she was
healed miraculously: in her body, from the bite of the snake; And in his spirit, of the
deceit of the demons; And after being instructed by the holy apostles, came to
believe in Christ. When the mayor returned home, his slaves informed him that his
wife had come to believe in Christ because of strangers who were living in
Estaquio's house. Enraged, Nicanor ordered the apostles to be arrested
immediately and the house of Estaquio burned, all of which was carried out
promptly. After a great multitude gathered, the holy apostles Philip and Bartolomeo
and the holy maid Mariamna were dragged through the streets of the city, beaten
and humiliated, and finally imprisoned.

Then the alcalde took his place in court to judge the preachers of Christ; He
summoned all the pagan priests and the priests of the dead viper and let them
present their complaints against the apostles. They said, "Lord, come and see the
dishonor shown to our gods, for since these strangers have appeared in our city,
the altars of our great gods have been emptied, and the people no longer care to
offer sacrifices to them." Our renowned viper goddess He is dead and the whole
city is filled with iniquity. That is why ... Give Death to these sorcerers! "

Then the mayor ordered that the robes of San Felipe be removed, thinking that the
magic charms could be hidden inside; But found nothing. Neither was anything
found under the garments of St. Bartholomew. However, when they approached
Mariamna, with the intention of removing her garment and undressing her virginal
body, she suddenly transformed before them into a burning flame, so that the
wicked fled in fear. The mayor condemned the holy apostles to be crucified. The
first to suffer was San Felipe. After piercing holes between his ankle bones and
passing strings, he was crucified on a cross with his head down, in front of the
portals of the viper temple; There they threw stones at him. Then they crucified St.
Bartholomew on the wall of the temple. Suddenly a great earthquake occurred and
the earth opened, swallowing the mayor along with all the pagan priests and a
large number of impious. All who remained alive, both believers and pagans, felt a
great fear and, lamenting, they begged the holy apostles to pity them and they also
prayed to their One and True God, but the earth would swallow them as well.
Hastily they ran down from the cross to the apostles. Saint Bartholomew was
suspended only a short distance from the earth, so they were able to remove it with
little difficulty. But they could not get down quickly to Philip; because it was hanging
above, especially due to the particular will of God, wishing that his Apostle, through
such sufferings and his death on the cross, could pass from earth to heaven, where
his steps had been directed throughout his life. Hanging in this way, St. Philip
prayed to God for his enemies, so that the Lord would forgive them of their sins
and enlighten their minds with an understanding of the truth. The Lord heard this
supplication and immediately ordered the earth to vomit alive the victims he had
swallowed, with the exception of the mayor and priests of the viper. Then they all
confessed and glorified aloud the power of Christ, expressing their desire to be
baptized. But when they went down to Philip of the cross, they realized that he had
already delivered his holy soul into the hands of God, so they removed him already
dead. Saint Mariamna, her sister, who had witnessed at all times the suffering and
death of her brother St. Philip, embraced and kissed her holy body with love when
he was taken from the cross, and was glad that Philip had been honored with
Suffering for Christ. The apostle Philip rested in martyrdom in 71 AD.

Saint Bartholomew baptized all who came to believe in Christ, and designated
Estaquio as his bishop. The newly converted people later buried with honor the
body of the holy apostle Philip. In the place where the blood of the holy apostle
was shed grew in three days a vine, as a sign that St. Philip, because he shed his
blood for the name of Christ, enjoyed eternal holiness with his Lord in His Kingdom.
This precious death happened on May 1 of the year 94 according to Baronius, or
towards the year 90, in the opinion of those who give San Felipe eighty-seven
years.

After the burial of St. Philip, St. Bartholomew and the blessed virgin Mariamna
stayed in Hierapolis for a short time, and after establishing the newly founded
church in the faith of Christ, they went to the city of Albano, in Armenia Mayor,
where St. Bartholomew would be crucified. Santa Mariamna traveled to Lycaonia,
where she would rest in peace after converting many to holy faith.

By the year 560, the relics of the holy apostle Philip were transferred to Rome,
where they now rest in the church of the twelve apostles. One of the saint's arms
was preserved in Constantinople, in the church of the DeparaPammacaristos.
 27
Saint James Brother of the Lord

27
According to legend, after Pentecost (AD 33), when the apostles were sent to preaching,
James would have crossed the Mediterranean Sea and landed to preach the Gospel in
Hispania (present Spain and Portugal). According to some accounts, his preaching would
have begun in Gallaecia, to which he would have arrived after passing the Columns of
Hercules, bordering the Betica and the uninhabited coast of Portugal; Other traditions
affirm its arrival in Tarraco and its trip by the Ebro valley, until joining with the Roman way
that crossed the foothills of the Cantabrian Mountain range and ended in the present
Corunna. This tradition makes Santiago the patron saint of Spain. Archeology does not
provide data that fully corroborate this history - as almost no preaching, except for
Pauline, testifies, since the first Christians did not arrive in Galicia in the first century, but
in the middle of the third century. It is known, however, that there were important
Christian populations already during the second century in the cities of Bética and
Tarraconense, although the remains do not allow to distinguish them clearly from the
preexisting Jewish communities, as in the rest of the Empire, until the III century. The
development of Christianity in the Peninsula was rapid and intense, as indicated by other
traditions and, fundamentally, that it was in Spain where the first council known after
Jerusalem (Council of Elvira, about 303) was celebrated, just after the persecution of
Diocletian. Apart from the Gospels, he is only named in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 12:
2), when, after a preaching, he was martyred in Jerusalem (he was one of the first
Christian martyrs) around the year 44, Agrippa I, king of Judea. This story seems to
contradict the preaching of Santiago in Hispania, but neither is it real. It is known that
almost all the apostles leave Jerusalem and begin the preaching shortly after Jesus died on
the cross, and it is also known that they returned from time to time to the city (as in the
case of the so-called Council of Jerusalem, recounted in Acts Of the Apostles). The
tradition that places James the Greater in Jerusalem, shortly before his martyrdom, is
picked up by various neo-testamentary apocryphal books (The Book of the Dormition of
Mary, etc.), all of which preceded the "discovery" of the Tomb of the Apostle. According to
these accounts, when Mary sees her death close, she receives the visit of the risen Jesus
Christ. She asks him to want to be surrounded by the apostles on the day of his death, but
that they are all scattered throughout the world. Jesus Christ grants it and allows it to be
the same Mary, through a miraculous apparition, who warns his disciples. The appearance
of Mary to Santiago would have taken place on a pillar in Caesaraugusta, a column that is
still venerated in the Basilica of Our Lady of Pilar, in the Aragonese capital. Then he would
have made the entire journey back from Spain to Jerusalem to find the Virgin (since she
was alive there, in the capital of Judea) before her dormant, and then she would have met
death in martyrdom. The legend closes with the fact that his disciples would have carried
his body (preserved in some way) by the Mediterranean Sea in a mythical stone boat and
would have covered the Atlantic again to Galicia, where they would have buried it just in
IriaFlavia, where Bishop Teodomiro He found it.
The Dormition of the Mother of God (Greek: Κοίμησις
Θεοτόκου, Koímēsis Theotokou often anglicized as Kimisis, Slavonic:
James, brother of the Lord and divine Apostle, was the first bishop of Jerusalem.
He came from Judea and was the son of St. Joseph the Bride. There was no one
as fervent in piety and sweet in virtues as James the Just, who lived according to
his appellation in full and deservedly was called brother of Christ. As has been
said, he was one of the sons of Joseph with his first wife, Salome. Being an elder
and widower, Joseph was betrothed to the Virgin Mary, who was a virgin before
and after the birth of His Son. James, who was holy from his birth, was first called
Joblián, which in Hebrew means "just," because even as a child he showed control
over all his senses and limbs, which was really extraordinary. His eyes were
directed only to good things and he was granted divine mercy. His ears opened to
the saving readings of the soul and his mouth rejoiced with the law. Her right hand
was always ready to give alms and sympathy for all. He controlled his appetite and
did not use anything superfluous or unnecessary. In all his life he consumed
nothing alive, that is, meat, fish or crustaceans. He never drank wine, only water to
quench his thirst. He subsisted with bread and tears. By his prostrations, his knees
were torn to the bone, and his bodily appearance revealed extreme skepticism. He
wore a horsehair shirt, but he wore a linen robe when he entered the Sanctuary.
He prayed and worked tirelessly. He was loved by both relatives and friends, and
foreigners and those who came from afar were venerated by his virtues. Among
these there were not only devotees, but also pagans, who had great esteem.

James the righteous was the first chosen by our Savior and the Apostles for the
episcopate of the Church of Jerusalem. He was adorned with all the virtues, but he
had two of them in particular: he was able to guide men to perfection in theory as
well as in practice. He was both humble and moderate. His name said: "James,
servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ." From his own personal experience he
understood the patience that came from afflictions and encouraged others with
these words: "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials ...
Blessed is the man who suffers temptation; Tested, will receive the crown of life
"(James 12: 2, 12).

He corrected those who said that sin is natural, declaring that God is the author of
evil. As an outstanding physician, he healed these fools in these words: "When any
man is tempted, let him not say that he is tempted of God: for God cannot be
tempted with evil, neither tempteth any man: He is tempted, when he is drawn and
seduced out of his own lust "(James 1: 13-14). He taught them that God was not
the cause of man's illnesses and warned them to acknowledge their own indolence
and weakness, be humble and ask for forgiveness. He also said that without Divine
grace, we are incapable of doing only one good thing, for "every good gift and

УспениеПресвятыяБогородицы, UspeniePresvetiaBogoroditsi) is a Great Feast of

the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches which
commemorates the "falling asleep" or death of Mary the Theotokos ("Mother of God",
literally translated as God-bearer), and her bodily resurrection before being taken up into
heaven. It is celebrated on August 15 (August 28, N.S. for those following the Julian
calendar) as the Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God. The Armenian Apostolic
Church celebrates the Dormition not on a fixed date, but on the Sunday nearest August
15.
every perfect gift comes down from on high, from the Father of lights" (James
1:17). He urged all to give alms to the needy, to find mercy of the judge at the hour
of judgment, and pointed out: "For judgment without mercy will be done to him who
does no mercy, and mercy triumphs over judgment" (Jac. 2:13). The righteous also
said that faith alone does not benefit those who do not keep the commandments of
God; because without works, these are considered dead, just as if the body were
dead and lifeless without soul. On this point, he points out: "Do you want to know,
vain man, that faith without works is dead?" (James 2:20). He also taught men to
restrain words, and not to utter lies, babblings, insults or judgments, but especially
to depart from false testimony, which is very harmful to the soul. In fact, not only
should this kind of perjury be uttered, but not even true prosecutions. Man should
not swear by heaven or earth or anything created. These and many other sweet
teachings came from the mouth of the Apostle James, the hierarch and brother of
our Lord, which are found in his epistle.

All the Apostles venerated James and considered his word as law. His opinion
prevailed in several situations in the Acts of the Apostles, as in the question of
whether or not it was necessary to circumcise the Gentiles. When the apostles and
elders came together to discuss this matter, James answered them, after Peter,
Paul, and Barnabas had spoken, saying, "For I judge that those of the Gentiles
should turn to God. But to write to them to turn away from the defilements of idols,
from fornication, from drowning, and from blood "(Acts 15: 19-20). His voice and
his vow were valid, for the Apostles worshiped him above all. To further
demonstrate their pre-eminence among them, St. Paul went with the other Apostles
to see James, when the elders were present, in order to declare the things which
God had wrought among the Gentiles through his ministry; and then they glorified
God.

Only Santiago, the Just One, was allowed to enter the sacred place and entered
the sanctuary alone. According to Hegesípo, only priests of the lineage of Aaron
could enter the sanctuary, although priestly privileges were granted to the
Nazarenes. They often found him kneeling, offering supplications for the
forgiveness of the people, especially those who were under the Law of Moses; His
knees had calluses like camels. The extraordinary James really counted on the
high favor of God for the conduct of his life.

However, members of one of the heretical sects of the Jews once dared, at the
instigation of Ananias, the high priest, to surround James to ask him to renounce
his faith in Christ. The enemies of Christ asked him, "Tell us, O Just, what the ―door
of Jesus‖ means? He replied," This is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, of one
essence with the Father. " To believe only in James, and to accept their just words
of truth, some of various sects were against him, yet they considered him deceived,
for they did not believe in the resurrection, nor did they all receive a reward for their
actions And there was a great murmur among the Pharisees and scribes, who
were convinced that there was a danger that all the world would believe in Christ:
and they went to James and said unto him, We beseech thee, O Just, to teach The
people, because they have turned aside from the road and believe in Jesus saying
that he is Christ. Therefore, at the Passover feast, when all have gathered
together, make them sure that they are not deceived by a simple man. We beg
you, be good to do this, because we all recognize that you are a fair and impartial
man. Therefore, we pray that you ascend to the parapet of the temple, where
people will see you easily and listen to your just words, so that you may instruct
them. "

At the feast of Passover, all the tribes gathered, there being even Christians there.
It was then that the shameless liars, believing that Jacob shared their beliefs, made
him stand on the parapet of the temple and for all present to hear, they shouted
aloud: "As we all accept thee, O righteous one, tell us: What do you think Of Jesus,
who was crucified by Pilate, and after whom the people departed from the way,
thinking that he is Christ, even believing that he is God? Clear this to us and
proclaim the truth! " When the time came to speak the truth against the false,
James did not recoil from fear of death or deny the truth, but rather, contrary to the
expectations of those, raised his voice and with a spontaneous spirit and word,
Replied:

"Why do you ask me about Jesus? He is sitting in heaven at the right hand of his
Father with the heavenly powers, and will come again on the clouds of heaven to
judge the world with justice." In witnessing this, many were convinced and
exclaimed: "Hosanna to the Son of David!" But the obsessed Pharisees and
scribes complained that they had allowed James to address this audience,
because he had not given the answer they expected. Then they went up to the
parapet and grabbed him like wild beasts, throwing him to the ground, but the
blessed did not expire, and they began to stone him. He received the stones with
ease, as if he were a precious treasure, knelt down and prayed, "Lord God and
Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

O blessed soul! Oh wonderful humility! These were the authentic words spoken
both by the Master on the cross and by the long-suffering Protomartyr Stephen. So
Jacob, the pure brother of the Lord, prayed for his ruthless murderers. Although
some managed to hear him pray for them, the ungrateful had no respect for their
clemency and continued to throw stones at him. One of the descendants of
Rechab, the son of Racabim, of the priestly caste, exclaimed, "Enough! Wicked,
what are you doing?" The righteous is praying for us, unjust as we are and we
stoned him! "Then one of the attackers took a club of batán, that is used to strike
on cloth, and hit Jacobo strongly on the head, to which the just He was buried near
the sanctuary, and at his death he was named Simeon, the son of his uncle
Cleopas, because he was the cousin of the Lord and because of a unanimous
desire that he should be next.

There were some compassionate and just Jews who secretly sent a letter about
this ungodly death to the tetrarch Agrippa, who was Herod's successor. In the
letter, they asked him to order Ananias to never again call a council without their
authorization. King Agrippa had appointed him as high priest, but he was not in the
position more than three months, when he was replaced by another, Jeshua ben
Dammeo.

After the resting of James, many Jews considered that the calamities that came
upon them were the retribution for the vile death of that just man; because in AD 67
Vespasian stormed Jerusalem. This concludes this narrative, because Josephus
recorded the later events in his writings. Saint James, the son of Alphaeus
The Holy Apostle James was the son of Alphaeus and brother of the Apostle and
evangelist Matthew, who was formerly a publican. When our Lord Jesus Christ,
during his physical abode on earth, chose simple and pious men for the dignity of
the apostolate, in order to send them to preach the Gospel throughout the whole
world, he also chose James and included him in the choir of the Apostles as worthy
of it. James became one of the twelve Apostles, witness and minister of Christ,
preacher of his mysteries and his follower.

After receiving together with the other Apostles the Holy Spirit, who descended
upon them in the form of tongues of fire, went to the Gentiles to preach Christ and
guide the lost in the way of salvation. Inflamed by the flame of divine zeal, he
destroyed the thorns of ungodliness, destroyed the idols in pieces, demolished
their temples, healed various diseases, expelled evil spirits from the people and
converted a great number of people to Christ, for whom Gave him a new man: the
"Divine Seed." Because he sowed the seed of the Word of God in the hearts of
men, he planted the faith and cultivated piety, for which he was called "Divine
Seed."

When he visited many lands, he sowed the seed of heaven, gathered the harvest
of the salvation of men, and completed his earthly work in the footsteps of Christ;
Emulating the sufferings of Christ, surrendered his spirit into God's hands by being
nailed to a cross in Egypt. After this "Divine Seed," the Holy Apostle, was gathered
in the heavenly barn with the fruits he produced a hundred times more.
Saint Judas

He was born in Cana (Galilee), is said to have died in Beirut, although other
accounts claim that he and St. Simon suffered martyrdom in Suanis (Persia), about
62 AD. According to the Bible, he was brother of the apostle James the Less, and
cousin of Jesus Christ Feast: October 28, next to the apostle Simon the Canaanite.
San Judas Thaddeus has often been confused with the San Thaddeus of the
legend of Abgar.

It has been said that he died peacefully in Beirut of Edessa although according to
Western tradition, as it appears in the Roman liturgy, met in Mesopotamia with San
Simón and both preached several years in Persia and there they were martyred.
There is an alleged account of the martyrdom of the two Apostles; But the Latin
text is certainly not before the second half of the sixth century. This document has
been attributed to a certain Obadiah, who is said to have been a disciple of Simon
and Judas and consecrated by them the first bishop of Babylon. According to the
old tradition, St. Simon was killed by sawing it in half, and San Judas Thaddeus cut
off his head with an ax and so they paint him with an ax in his hand. Therefore, the
Church of the West celebrates them together, while the Eastern Church separates
their respective festivals.

Judas Thaddeus, we must differ from the Iscariot, the one who gave Jesus to the
Jewish authorities of the time, was a family of farmers. Son of AlphaeusCleopas,
who was the brother of Joseph the father of Jesus, and his mother, was Miriam
Antera, cousin sister of Mary, mother of Christ. Miriam Antera was the sister of
Joaquim father of the Virgin Mary. His brothers were four, James the younger who
was also an apostle, Justo; St. Simon, then Bishop of Jerusalem and companion
on his travels and the elder sister who was Mary Salome, mother of his nephews
both apostles James the Greater and St. John the Evangelist. From what we see in
this little genealogical account, Judas Thaddeus was a close relative of Jesus, they
were cousins, therefore perhaps they grew up, were educated and worked almost
together. Judas Tadeo, according to some compilations, is also the BRIDE of the
Marriage of Cana where Jesus, according to the Biblical writings, makes his first
Miracle by turning water into wine on the initiative of his mother, the Virgin Mary.
After his life as an apostle of the Christ, he carried the message of this with his
brother.
 28
St. James, Son of Zebedee

Saint James, the son of Zebedee and brother of the Holy Evangelist John the
Theologian, was one of the twelve Apostles chosen by the Lord among the simple
fishermen to be his disciple. Called by Jesus Christ, James, along with his brother,
left his father, boat and fishing nets, and joined Christ (Matthew 4: 21-22), following
him everywhere, listening to his preaching and seeing the miracles That he
worked.

The Lord so esteemed both brothers that John allowed him to recline in his womb
(John 13:23) and promised to give James drink in the same vessel that he had
used (Matthew 20: 22-23). The Apostles also came to love their Lord so much and
showed their loyalty by wanting to bring down fire from heaven on the believers to
destroy them (Luke 9:54); They would have done it had it not been for our merciful
Lord Jesus Christ, who forbade them. The Lord gave preference to these two
Apostles, James and John, as well as to the Apostle Peter, when he revealed to
them mainly His divine character and its mysteries; as when it happened, for
example, on Mount Tabor, when the Lord, desiring to demonstrate the glory of His
divinity, led Peter, James, and John there, where he was transfigured before them
(Matthew 17: 1 ff.).

After the voluntary suffering and the resurrection and ascension of our Lord and
the descent of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Apostle James traveled to Spain and other
countries to preach the word of God. He later returned to Jerusalem, where he
became for Jews a threat like thunder (Mark 3:17), because he boldly and openly
announced Jesus Christ, proclaiming him as the true Messiah, the Savior of the
world. James began to argue with the Pharisees and scribes, denouncing them
and reproaching them for his hard heart and his disbelief. Feeling incapable of
confronting him, they called a certain sorcerer by the name of Hermogenes to
quarrel with him and put him to shame. But the magician refused to do so because
he was a proud person and instead sent a disciple of his, called Fileto, saying, "Not
only I myself, but even my disciple caused James to be unable to win in
arguments."

When Philetus went to converse with the Holy Apostle, he saw that he had no
basis for opposing the wisdom of the Holy Spirit with which the Apostle had filled
himself, and he was silent and could not even open his mouth to express himself.
Recognizing the truth, Fileto humbled himself and, when he returned to his master,
informed him that nothing had been able to overcome James, who even confirmed
his words with miracles. In addition, Fileto advised his teacher to abandon his

28
James, son of Zebedee (Hebrew: ‫ י ַעֲ ק ֹב‬Yaʿqob, Greek: Ἰάκωβος; died 44 AD) was one of
the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, and traditionally considered the first apostle to be martyred.
He was a son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother of John the Apostle. He is also
called James the Greater or James the Great to distinguish him from James, son of
Alphaeusand James the brother of Jesus (James the Just). James the son of Zebedee is
the patron saint of Spaniards, and as such is often identified as Santiago.
knowledge of witchcraft and become a disciple of James. But the proud
Hernógenes called by his spells the demons, whom he commanded them to hold
Fileto in bonds in a certain place, so that he could not move from this place, and
added: "Let us see how your James will get rid of you."

Secretly Fileto let the Apostle know that he was imprisoned by the demons,
because of the spells of Hermogenes. When he heard this, the Apostle sent him
his cloth, instructing him to take it and say the words, "The Lord loosens the bound
ones, the Lord lifts up the fallen ones" (Psalm 145: 81). As soon as Philetus spoke
these words, he was immediately freed from the invisible bonds, for the demons,
terrified by the cloth of the Apostle and by the power of the words uttered, released
Philetus from his bondage and fled from him. Then Philetus, laughing at
Hermogenes, went to St. James and, after learning from him the sacred faith, he
was baptized.

However, Hermogenes, full of great wrath and anger, evoked the demons that
served him and ordered them to bind James and Fileto tied to him. But when the
demons approached the abode where St. James and Philetus were, the angel of
the Lord immediately caught the demons by the command of God, and when he
had bound them invisibly, he began to torment them. Then the demons, tortured by
the power of God, begged for all to hear: "James, Christ's Apostle, have mercy on
us, for we came to catch you and Philetus by Hermogenes, and now we are strong
Tied and suffered cruelty.‖ The Holy One James then said to the demons, "May the
angel of God, who bound you, release you from your bonds, so that you may go
and bring me to Hermogenes, without hurting him!" The demons immediately
released themselves from their bonds, and went to Hermogenes and arrested him;
bound, they brought him before the Apostle in the twinkling of an eye and then
asked him to allow them to avenge their afflictions on the wicked. The Apostle
asked the demons why they had not bound him as Hermogenes had commanded
them. The demons replied, "We cannot even touch a fly in your house."

Then the Apostle said to Philetus, "Our Lord has commanded us to do well for evil,
so let loose Hermogenes and free him from the demons." Then the Apostle said to
Hermogenes: "Our Lord does not wish to have servants by force, but he desires to
have voluntary servants, therefore, go wherever you wish." But Hermogenes
replied: "As soon as you leave your house, the demons they will kill me because I
know how great their anger is and I also know that it will be impossible for me to
escape them if you do not defend me.‖Then the Apostle handed him the cane he
had used on his travels. , So that in the way he did not suffer any evil at the hands
of the demons.

Thus, recognizing the power of Christ and seeing the impotence of the demons,
Hermogenes gathered all his witchcraft books, took them to St. James and, falling
at his feet, implored him: "True servant of the true God, Souls of perdition, have
mercy on me and accept your enemy as a disciple.‖ After learning from James the
sacred faith, Hermogenes received baptism burned his books of witchcraft by
orders of the Apostle and became a true servant of Christ, to the point that he
came to perform miracles by the name of Jesus Christ.
The Jews, seeing what happened, became very angry and convinced King Herod
Agrippa to initiate a persecution against the Church of Christ, Then "Herod took
captive of some of the Church to mistreat them, and he slew the sword of James
the brother of John, and seeing that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest
Peter also" (Acts 12: 1-3).

Eusebius, the bishop of Caesarea of Palestine, referring to James, writes that

when he was condemned to death by Herod, a certain man named Josiah, one of
those who slandered the Apostle to Herod, seeing the courage and daring of St.
James and acknowledging his innocence And holiness, as well as the truth of the
words he spoke concerning the coming of Christ the Messiah, began to believe in
Christ and became the confessor of the Lord. But he was immediately condemned
to death, along with James. When they were on their way to the place of execution,
they found a paralytic resting on the side of the road, and the Holy Apostle healed
him. When they rested their heads under the sword, Josiah begged St. James to
forgive the sin he had committed in his unbelief when he had slandered him before
the king. The Apostle, embracing and kissing him, said: "Peace be with you." Then
both, placing their head under the sword, ended their life together. This happened
by the providence of God in AD 44.

After the beheading, the body of the Holy Apostle James was taken by his disciples
and, as God permitted, he was taken to Spain, where up to this day there are cures
and miracles in his tomb for the glory of Christ the God who, With the Father and
the Holy Spirit, is forever glorified by all creation. Amen.
Saint Simon Apostle

In the version of the early Eastern Church, Simon went to the regions of Galilee,
Judea, Asia, Egypt, Euphrates, Tigris, Libya, Samaria, Edessa and Babylon,
reaching the confines of Syria and Persia. After preaching and performing various
prodigies, one of his greatest achievements was to transform Christianity into King
Ahab of Babylon. Then his transit through Persia was the most tortuous and
difficult but he traveled all over the territory, preached rebuking all the vices and
mistakes, managing to convert more than one hundred thousand inhabitants;
Baptized and gave confirmation and made large number Christian marriages. Upon
entering the city of Sammir, they were surprised by the pagan priests of the place
and when refusing to worship their gods they were sentenced to death. San Simón
was killed with blows of mallet in the head and San Judas beheaded him with an
ax. On hearing the news, King Ahab arrived with his soldiers and invaded the
place, where he collected the bodies of the apostle and his brother, taking them to
the city of Babylon. When centuries later the Muslims invaded the city, the remains
were secretly taken out by the Christians and taken to Rome. Later Pope Leo III, in
the year 800, donated the relics of both Saints to Charlemagne for his faith and
baptism, and this led them to the Basilica of St. Saturnine in Toulouse (France),
where they are venerated today.

Simon the Zealot (Acts 1:13), Simon, who was called the Zealot (Luke 6:15), Simon
Kananaios (Matthew 10:4), or Simon Cananeus (Mark 3:18) was one of the most
obscure among the apostles of Jesus. To distinguish him from Simon Peter he is
called Kananaios, Zelotes, the"Zealot". Both titles derive from
the Hebrew word qana, meaning zealous, although Jerome and others mistook the
word to signify the apostle was from the town of Cana, in which case
his epithet would have been "Kanaios", or even from the region of Canaan. In
the Gospels, Simon the Zealot is never identified with Simon the brother of
Jesusmentioned in Mark 6:3

St. Isidore of Seville drew together the accumulated anecdotes of St. Simon in De
Vita et Morte; the fully developed legend is presented in the LegendaAure, In later
tradition, Simon is often associated with St. Jude as an evangelizing team, The
most widespread tradition is that after evangelizing in Egypt, Simon joined Jude
in Persia and Armenia or Beirut, Lebanon, where both were martyred in 65 AD.
This version is the one found in the Golden Legend. He may have suffered
crucifixion as the Bishop of Jerusalem. One tradition states that he traveled in
the Middle East and Africa. Christian Ethiopians claim that he was crucified
in Samaria, while Justus Lipsius writes that he was sawn in half at Suanir, Persia.
However, Moses of Chorene writes that he was martyred at Weriosphora
in Caucasian Iberia. Tradition also claims he died peacefully at Edessa. Another
tradition says he visited Britain— in his 2nd mission to Britain, he arrived during 1st
year of Boadicean War 60 AD. He was crucified May 10, 61AD by the Roman
CatusDecianus, at Caistor, modern-day Lincolnshire. The 2nd century Epistle of
the Apostles (EpistulaApostolorum). polemic against gnostics, lists him among the
apostles purported to be writing the letter (who include Thomas) as Judas
Zelotes and certain Old Latin translations of the Gospel of Matthew substitute
"Judas the Zealot" for Thaddeus/Lebbaeus in Matthew 10:3. To some readers, this
suggests that he may be identical with the "Judas not Iscariot" mentioned in John
14:22, "Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Our Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest
thyself unto us, and not unto the world?" As it has been suggested that Jude is
identical with the apostle Thomas (see Jude Thomas), an identification of "Simon
Zelotes" with Thomas is also possible. Barbara Thiering identified Simon Zelotes
with Simon Magus, however this view has received no serious acceptance.
The New Testament records nothing more of Simon, aside from this multitude of
possible but unlikely pseudonyms. He is buried in the same tomb as St. Jude
Thaddeus, in the left transept of the St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, under the altar of
St. Joseph. Simon, like the other Apostles, is regarded as a saint by the Roman
Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Churches, the Oriental Orthodox Churches,
the Eastern Catholic Churches, the Anglican Church and the Lutheran Church.

In the apocryphal gospel of the infancy of Thomas there is mentioned a fact related
to this apostle. A 15-year-old named Simon heard a noise in a tree and thought it
was a chick. He reached out to take it and bit a snake on his arm. His family took
him to several doctors in Jerusalem to try to cure him without success. Then, some
children of Jesus' followers told the family to go and see "their king". Jesus told the
child "you will be my disciple" and at that time he was healed. The mention ends
with the phrase "This is Simon, called the Canaanite, because of the nest where
the serpent bit him"

In the collection of apocryphal books of Pseudo-Obadiah (VI 1) it is said that he

was brother of the Canaanites James of Alphaeus and Judas Thaddeus. Johann
Albert Fabricius noted about this passage that these three brothers were the
children of a previous marriage of Joseph, husband of Mary. Eusebius of
Caesarea, in his History of Church (H.E. III, 11 and 22), mentions that a certain
Simeon or Simon was the father of one of the women named Mary who were at the
foot of the cross in the Gospel of John. In addition, other traditions take advantage
of his condition as a native of Cana to say that he was the husband of the marriage
of Cana, attended by Jesus, his mother and his disciples. In addition there are
those who thought that it could be Nathanael, who conversed with the apostle
Philip in the Gospel of John.
Saint Matthew Evangelist

St. Matthew is the seventh of the apostles chosen by Jesus. He had been
preceded by Andrew and Peter, John and James, Philip and Bartholomew, simple
fishermen. Matthew was a publican, of the heinous and despicable guild of those
who collected taxes in favor of the oppressive foreigner. According to Eusebius of
Caesarea, he preached for fifteen years in Palestine, where he wrote his gospel
about the year 80. According to Rufinus, he then left for Ethiopia. Some traditions
claim that he was martyred in Ethiopia and others, who suffered martyrdom in
Hierapolis, Parthia.

According to Epiphanius of Salamis, bishop of Cyprus, Matthew died in Hierapolis

and was Matthias, the substitute of Judas Iscariot, who suffered martyrdom in
Ethiopia. It is considered holy by all the Christian confessions that admit this
distinction. His feast is celebrated on September 21 by the Catholic Church and 16
by the Orthodox. According to tradition, his remains are preserved in Italy, Salerno.

In iconography, Matthew is often depicted in Christian art. His particular attribute is

a winged man, alluding to the tetramorphs of the prophet Ezekiel (Ez 1, 10; cf Rev
4: 7) so common in the representation of the evangelists. Of particular note are the
paintings by Caravaggio for the church of St. Louis of the French (Chapel
Contarelli) in Rome. Etymologically, the Spanish name Mateo comes from the
Greek Mathaios (Ματθαιος) and this, from Aramaic Mattai, a short form of the
Hebrew MattanYah, which means 'gift of Yahveh', that is, 'gift of God'.

Matthew also called Levi, is a learned Galilean, son of Alphaeus, of Hellenistic

formation (Mark 2:14, Lc 5, 27). In NT times, many types of taxes, both Jewish and
Roman, are collected in Palestine. Therefore, there are also different kinds of
collectors (Mt 5:46). Matthew works as a tax collector (publican) in Capernaum, on
Lake Galilee; A profession very odious to the Jews, impure before the Jewish law,
because those taxes are collected for the dominant foreign power. Publicans are
Jews who are frowned upon by the people, who consider them thieves, sinners,
and traitors to their country. They are forbidden to participate in religious activities,
as in all social and commercial events. For in addition to taxes, the people have to
pay sums many times arbitrary for the livelihood of those collectors. Thus publicans
were easily enriched. Mateo's work is particularly related to the products that come
from the Genesaret or Tiberias, and charges a toll that passengers pay when they
come by water. It is a dangerous profession, and an occasion of greed, oppression,
and extortion.

As he exercised his office in Capernaum, where Jesus spent many days and
worked wondrous miracles, surely Matthew had heard him several times and was
impressed by the way of being and speaking of this formidable Master. One day
Jesus passes by his table by the lake and makes a totally unexpected proposal:
"Come and follow me."

Matthew leaves everything and follows him, just accept the invitation of Jesus.
Renouncing his productive employment, he goes with him, not to earn money, but
brothers in the new life. No longer to get high jobs on Earth, but a first-class post in
Heaven. St. Jerome says that the call of Jesus to Matthew serves as a lesson for
all the sinners of the world to know that, whatever life we have lived so far, in any
day and at any time we can dedicate ourselves to serve Christ, and He We accept
with pleasure

Matthew plans to bid farewell to his life as a public employee giving a big lunch to
all his friends, and the guest of honor is none other than Jesus, And as the flower
of the sinners and tax collectors is gathered there, the Pharisees are terribly
scandalized, and they call upon several of the apostles to protest to them for such
a performance of their chief. "How is it that his teacher dares to eat with publicans
and sinners?" Jesus responds to these protests of the Pharisees with a news that
must fill us all with joy: "They do not need the doctor who are healthy, but the sick. I
have not come to seek saints but sinners, and to save that which was lost. "

Since then Matthew has always been with Jesus. He witnesses his miracles, hears
his wise sermons, and he collaborates by preaching and catechizing the people
and by organizing the crowds eager to hear the great prophet of Nazareth. At
Pentecost he receives the Holy Spirit with the other brothers. Later the Jewish
leaders beat him 39 times by announcing that Jesus has risen (the same thing they
do with the other apostles).

Tradition identifies him with Matthew the Evangelist, but an important group of
exegetes say today that there is not enough basis to confirm it. Between the 40s
and 50s, he wrote in Aramaic or Syriac this gospel; is thought to have probably
been written in Syria, where there were more Christianized Jews. Paphos of
Hierapolis, about 110 or 120, says that "Matthew arranged the lodges in Hebrew
dialect, and interpreted each one as he could." As we know, Matthew took from
Mark 50% of his gospel material, and the remaining portion of the Q Source as
Luke, and of the lodge and oral traditions (for the account of the infancy of Jesus
and elsewhere, Matthew An unknown source). This primitive original Semitic is lost,
although several primitive authors cite it; seemed to be based on the sayings of
Jesus Christ and was used by Matthew for his own preaching. He writes it
especially for the Jews of Palestine who convert to Christianity, and for that reason
it writes in Aramaic (It is believed that the apostle Bartholomew took a copy with
him to India, which he left there).

The Roman Catholic Church agrees with the Orthodox Catholic Church the official
canonical character of the new Greek text, apparently translated by Matthew
himself, and it is the one we keep (although as we said the current biblical science
does not allow to attribute this writing to a direct disciple of A decree of 19 June
1911 of the Pontifical Biblical Commission of the Roman Catholic Church declares
that the original Aramaic of Matthew was not a mere collection of words or
sentences of the Lord, But a true Gospel, which was not composed after the year
70, that its content is credible, and that the Greek Matthew is identical, in its
essence, with the original Aramaic. The purpose of his gospel is to prove that
Jesus Christ is the Messiah or Savior announced by the prophets and the Old
Testament.

The Christian community sees in Jesus of Nazareth the expected Messiah and,
therefore, calls it the Christ. Matthew presents Jesus as the Emmanuel or "God
with us" (Mt 1, 23). It is the Messiah who fulfills all the promises made in the OT; In
Hebrew Messiah means Anointed. The symbolism of the anointing is very rich: just
as oil fortifies, heals, waterproofs, nothing can weaken or corrupt this Anointed; His
life will be pleasing to the Lord, like the perfume of oil. It is the Master who comes
to do justice (Mt 3:15). The Gospel of Matthew has rightly been called "the Gospel
of the Church" because of the preponderant role of the life and organization of the
congregation in the name of Jesus. This community is the new People of God, the
place where the risen Lord manifests his presence and radiates it to all men. That
is why it is called to live in fraternal love and mutual service, as indispensable
conditions to make visible the true face of Jesus Christ.

When the terrible persecution against the Christians in Jerusalem explodes,

Matthew goes abroad to evangelize. It leaves for Ethiopia (Africa), where it turns to
the Christianity to the king Egipo, to the queen and to great part of the inhabitants.
Years later, Hirtaco, who snatches the throne from his brother Egipo, orders Mateo,
who defends the vow of virginity from Princess Iphigenia, daughter of Egippus, to
be killed. Instead, according to Epiphanius of Salamis, bishop of Cyprus, Matthew
dies in Hierapolis. Its remains are venerated in the cathedral of Salerno (Italy);
Pope Gregory VII, in a letter to the bishop of Salerno in 1080, testifies that they
were kept in a church that had the name of the city. Until about 1830, from the
relics of St. Matthew shed a transparent and odorless liquid that was called "manna
of St. Matthew", which was attributed miraculous properties. The authentic tomb
can be reached by an open staircase after World War II and visible from a circular
window.

The Gnostic writings, basically preserved in Egypt, show that Christianity in those
latitudes had sensible differences compared with that which became the official
orthodoxy. In the Gnostic gospel according to Thomas, the frequent allusions to
Matthew make it clear that his fame had universal profiles. The Gospel according
to Thomas, a Greek of the second century, translated into Coptic in the fourth
29
century, is the most famous of the writings of the Nag Hammadi library, which

29
Known as the Gnostic Gospels, they are a collection of texts, mostly attached to
Primitive Gnostic Christianity, are twelve papyrus codices with leather covers that were
casually discovered in 1945 in Upper Egypt, next to the ancient village of Quenoboskion,
About ten kilometers from the modern city of Nag Hammadi. They are currently preserved
in the Coptic Museum of Cairo, and are usually designated by the abbreviations NHC (Nag
Hammadi Codices). To the same collection are usually assigned three other codices known
since the eighteenth century found in London (Codex Askewianus, commonly known as
Pistis Sophia), Oxford (Codex Brucianus) and Berlin (Codex Berolinensis). These three
codices, although they are later, come from the same area. The NHC were made by the
year 330 and buried at the end of the s. IV or V. principles. These codices contain some
fifty works written in Coptic-the Egyptian language spoken by the Christians of Egypt and
written with Greek characters-which are translations of Greek, sometimes not very
reliable. Almost all the works are of heretical character and reflect different Gnostic
tendencies that were generally known because they were fought by the Fathers of the
Church, especially St. Irenaeus, St. Hippolytus of Rome and St. Epiphanius.
claims to offer "the secret words which Jesus the Living One said and which wrote
the Twelve Judas Thomas.‖ One of the sayings that compose this gospel is a
question that Jesus asks his disciples and recalls that of the Gospel of Matthew
when Jesus asked his disciples: "Who do men say that the Son of Man is?" (Mt
16:13). Jesus asks his disciples: "Compare me and tell me who I look like." Peter,
Thomas and Matthew respond. For the author of this gospel, it seems that these
three apostles exert a special protagonism. Peter is the leader of the group,
Thomas is the eponym of the work, and Matthew appears as one of the
outstanding apostles. This is Matthew's answer to Jesus' question: "You look like a
wise philosopher." It was the Greek version of the Hebrew term Rabbi.

The main contribution of these codices is that we now have direct access to the works of
the Gnostics themselves and it can be seen that indeed the Holy Fathers knew well what
they were facing. From the point of view of the contained doctrines, the codices generally
contain Christian Gnostic works; although in some, like the "Apocryphon of John" - one of
the most important since it is in four codices -, the Christian traits seem secondary with
respect to the Gnostic myth that constitutes its nucleus. In this myth the reverse is
interpreted the first chapters of Genesis presenting the creator God or Demiurge as an
inferior and perverse god who has created matter. But in the codices there are also non-
Christian Gnostic works that collect a Greco-pagan gnosis developed around the figure of
Hermes Trismegistus, considered the great revealer of knowledge.
Saint John the Evangelist the Theologian

The Holy Apostle Evangelist John the Theologian was the son of Zebedee and
Salome, the daughter of Joseph the Promised One (Joseph the Promised One had
four sons, James, Josiah, Judas and Simeon, and three daughters, Esther, Martha,
and the aforementioned Salome. Both the Lord was also uncle of John.). John also
departed from the fisherman's nets to preach the gospel when our Lord Jesus
Christ, walking on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, chose His Apostles among the
fishermen. After calling the brothers Peter and Andrew, the Lord looked at two
other brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were mending their
nets in a boat with their father, and then he also called them. They immediately left
their boat and their father and went after Jesus.

At the very moment in which he was called, the Lord gave John the name of "son
of Thunder," because his theology would be heard like thunder all over the world
and fill the whole earth. John followed the blessed Master, learning the wisdom that
came from his lips; and was dearly loved by Christ, his Lord, for his total lack of
falsehood and his immaculate purity. John was honored by the Lord as the most
righteous of the twelve Apostles and was one of the three disciples most closely
associated with Christ, who revealed to him many times his divine mysteries. Thus,
when the Lord came to raise the daughter of Jairus, he did not allow anyone to
accompany him except Peter, James and John. Neither was John absent when the
Lord prayed in the garden, because he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I go
there and pray." And taking Peter and the two sons of Zebedee "(Matthew 26: 36-
37); That is, James and John. Likewise, when he wished to show the glory of his
divinity on Mount Tabor, he also brought only Peter, James, and John.

As a beloved disciple of the Master, John never separated from Christ. The great
love of Christ is evident in the fact that John rested his head on the breast of Him.
For in the mystical supper, when the Lord said that he was going to be betrayed
and the disciples looked at one another in perplexity, wondering who he was
talking about, John laid his head on the chest of his beloved Master, as he himself
relates in his Gospel: "And one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at
the side of Jesus. And Simon Peter beckoned to him, saying, who was he of whom
he spoke?

(John 13: 23-25) The Lord so loved John that he alone could put his head without
fear in the bosom of him and John also expressed a mutual love to his beloved
Master, more intense than that of the other Apostles, because at the moment of the
voluntary suffering of Christ, everyone turned his back on him, forgetting his
Pastor. He suffered with him in his heart, weeping and weeping together with the
pure Virgin Mary; the mother of the Lord, who stood by the Son of God who
suffered for us, until he died on the cross, for this reason, The Lord gave him as a
son to the most pure Virgin Mary. "When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple
whom he loved, who was present, he said to his mother: Woman, behold, your son.
Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother. And from that hour the disciple
received her in his house. "(John 19: 26-27) and he looked at her as his own
mother and served him with much respect.
When the Apostles divided the lands to preach, John became crestfallen when he
chose the last land, that of Asia Minor, and sighed three times. With tears, he knelt
on the ground and revered all the Apostles. Then Peter took him by the hand and
lifted him up, saying, "We all have you as a father and your patient steadfastness
as our support. Why have you made us trouble with this action and confused our
hearts?" John answered, weeping and complaining bitterly, "I have sinned
brethren, for at this moment I have seen grave danger await me at the sea, just as I
touched the part of Asia." This I received with great dejection, unable to remember
our Lord When he said, 'Not a hair of your head shall be destroyed.' "Without God's
permission, not a single hair is lost." I beg you, therefore, dear brothers and sisters,
to pray for me before the Lord. Forgive this sin. ―Then all the Apostles stood facing
east and asked James, the brother of the Lord, to make a supplication. Having
done this, they all took turns, according to their precedence, to embrace one
another and went away in peace; each with its assigned portion of land and with an
Apostle of the Seventy as an assistant.

The Apostle John, however, did not immediately go to Asia Minor, but took care of
the mother of God to his revered and glorious repose. On the day when his
precious and holy body was carried by the Apostles to bury him, St. John went
before his coffin with a royal scepter that shone with light, which the Archangel
Gabriel had delivered to the most pure Virgin when he announced his translation
from earth to heaven.

On the Holy Apostle and Evangelist, the beloved John the Theologian, St.
Prochorus, one of the seven deacons, wrote the following: Departure and
shipwreck

"Following me the passion and resurrection of the Lord, John stayed in Jerusalem
beside the mother of God, where he was a support for the Christians there. Mother
of God, we set out for Joppa, where we stayed at Tabitha for three days, and there
came a ship full of cloths from Egypt, and unloaded its cargo before continuing
westward, so that we embarked at Joppa and set sail To the sea, remaining in the
ship's hold, and John began to weep, saying: "Prochorus, my son, great tribulations
and perils await us in the sea, which will afflict my soul greatly. However, whether
alive or dead by this danger, God has not revealed Himself to me. But if you
survive the sea, try to reach the city of Ephesus in Asia and wait there for three
months.

If after that time I reach that city, we will continue our mission; But if I do not, then
go back to Jerusalem, where Jacob, the brother of the Lord, and do whatever he
tells you to do. "Indeed, at the tenth hour of the day (at 4:00 p.m.) A great storm,
which continued until 3 o'clock in the morning, as a result of which the ship sank
and all its occupants were thrown into the waves of the sea, seizing these from any
remaining wreck they could. At noon) the sea sent us all, that we were forty-two
souls, on the shores of a place that remained about a mile from Seleucia.

"We all lay on the dry land, we could not speak and we were so weakened by
hunger, fear and effort that we stayed there from sixth to ninth hour (3:00 p.m.)
Little by little, we recovered our conscience and went to Seleucia.After the trauma
of the shipwreck, we searched for food by asking the locals and we ate, early our
fear dissipated, but the others who were shipwrecked with me began to attack me,
saying evil things: "That guy who was with you was A magician and cast a spell on
us to be able to seize the cargo of the ship.

Now that everything has been stolen and gone, we know what has happened. And
since you were with him, we will not let you leave this city, because you deserve
death. Tell us where the fake is! All of the ship's survived, except for that guy.
Where is he? "Then they began to incite the whole city against me, telling them
stories, and then they arrested me and put me in jail, and the next day the
governor of the city took me to a public place and began To interrogate me
severely: "Who it's you? What religion do you have? What's your job? What is your
name? Tell us all before I punish you. "I answered in my defense," I am from
Judea. I belong to the Christian faith. My name is Prochorus. I and my traveling
companions, my accusers, have been shipwrecked. "The civil magistrate inquired:"
How do you explain that all of you landed except your partner? Therefore, it must
be as the others affirm, that you planned so that only you can be found with the
sailors, so that nobody suspected, while the other could take possession of the
money and the cargo. Therefore, you are a criminal, guilty of shedding innocent
blood, and deserve death. Actually,perhaps this is why your companion has been
swallowed by the sea and Divine justice has saved you so that you could find your
end in this city. So tell us exactly where your partner is. "

"When I heard this, weeping and groaning I said to them," I am a Christian, a

disciple of an Apostle of Christ. The Lord commanded his twelve Apostles to travel
all over the world, teaching and baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son and
the Holy Spirit. After Christ ascended to the heavens, all the Apostles met and
chose the parts where each one was to preach by order of God. My teacher, John,
chose the part of Asia Minor and at that moment realized that it would be
tremendously difficult; and as he doubted, it was also revealed to him that he had
sinned by having thus reacted, and that he would be punished by the sea. This he
told me before and it happened exactly as he said it would happen. He also told
me that where I disembarked I would stay there for a few days and that if he came I
would fulfill the Master's command; But if I did not do it after a certain amount of
time, I would return to my homeland, Judea. As you can see, my master is neither
a sorcerer nor I; we are Christians. "

"And it came to pass at that time, that there came a certain officer of the city of
Antioch, a notary, and of the city of Antioch, and he heard my case, and
commanded the magistrate to release me: and they set me free, I walked for forty
days until I came to Mareotis, which is on the seashore The inn where I stayed was
near the shore and there I was full of grief and grief Then I fell asleep and fell
asleep And just when I opened My eyes, I looked at the sea and saw that a great
wave broke on the beach and threw out a man.I hurried quickly to assist him,
having still in my mind fresh the memory of my own desolate experience at sea.
When I lifted it we were both aware of each other and then we hugged each other,
weeping and thanking the God of all. Forty days and nights he had spent at sea,
being violently shaken. I, for my part, told him what he had suffered in the hands of
the other castaways.

Ephesus
"After this, we entered Mareotis for bread and water, and there we ate and drank,
and then we took the road to Ephesus and once there we stayed in a place called"
the place of Artemida. "Near it was the residence Then said to me, 'Prochorus, my
son, for now that the inhabitants of this city do not know who we are or what we do,
until God reveals Himself to us so that we may proceed openly.' A large woman
came to us, who seemed to be in charge of the baths, and because of her obesity,
she had no offspring, just like the barren mule, and because of her strength, this
woman was accustomed to mistreat her servants in the house of Baths and beat
them with their hands, so no one dared to relax in his obligations for fear of her.was
said that in the war used to throw stones without failing a single white. You might
think that by his physical appearance it should be simple; but it was just the
opposite. He changed his appearance with cosmetics and painted his eyebrows.
So exaggerated was this that for some she was nice; but to the discerning observer
one of his eyes looked disgusting, and the other seemed to incite the license. This
woman was called Romana.

"As she left the bathhouse, she observed our humble appearance and approached
us where we were sitting, thinking in the meantime: 'These outsiders need food.
Maybe they can be useful to me in the bathroom and not require a good payment,
and for fear of me they will not be neglected in their work. "First he spoke to John,
saying to him," Where are you from? "John replied," I am from a strange country.
―And he said to her, "Of Judea, she insisted, 'what is your religion?' The Apostle
replied: 'My roots are of Judaism, but I am by grace a Christian and have passed
through a shipwreck "Then Romana asked, 'Do you want to employ you to keep
the fire in the public bath?'" In return, I will give you food and something for your
body's needs. "John replied," I can do it. "The woman then addressed me,asking:
'And where are you from?' But Juan He answered for me, 'He is my brother.' Then
Romana said, 'I can use him too. I need an assistant to bring water to the bathers.
'So she gave you daily food, about two pounds of bread, and money for the rest of
our needs.

After four days of work in the house, Juan, having no experience at work, sat
quietly by the side of the oven, when Romana entered. When she saw John
standing, he struck her so hard that he fell meaningless to the ground. She
shouted to him, 'Fugitive, exiled, deceiver, useless.' If you cannot, why do you
accept the job? I will put an end to your deception. You came to work for Romana,
whose reputation is heard in Rome. You are my servant, you seek, and you cannot
leave here; because if you do, I'll find you everywhere, and when I find you, I'll kill
you. When you eat and drink you become cheerful; But when you come to work
you let yourself be overcome by laziness. Change your ways better, wicked,
because you are the servant of Romana. '

When Romana left the bathhouse and went home, I became very disconsolate and
worried after hearing everything and witnessing the blows she gave him, even
though it was not many days that we were at work. I did not reveal my thoughts to
John; But by the grace of the Holy Spirit he realized my affliction and said to me:
'Prochorus, my son, you know of the terrible shipwreck that happened to us
because I hesitated in my thoughts in Jerusalem; And not only for this, but for other
sins that I committed without knowing. Surely for this reason I spent forty days at
sea, until God pleased me to be thrown to dry land. And now you feel distressed
and lose hope for the insignificant temptation of a silly woman and her indolent
threats? Go to work on what you have committed and applied; because our Lord
and Creator Jesus Christ was beaten, slapped, scourged and crucified by those He
created. Let this be an example to us as an incentive to always have good will; For
he said to us, 'In your patience possess your soul.' When John thus spoke to me, I
went away to do the work assigned by Romans.

"The next day, very early in the morning, Romana came again and said to John, 'If
you need more food, ask for it and I will give it to you, just be careful in your work.'
And I will pay attention to my work. "Then she asked him," Why do you all accuse
you of being incompetent in your work? "John replied:" At the beginning I made
mistakes, but with the passing of only one you will see that I am good, because all
the arts are a little difficult for the apprentices. "Then she went to her house, but a
wicked demon appeared in the appearance of Romana and said to John," Another
I'll punish you, fugitive, because my work has put you in the head! I cannot take
you anymore! Fire in the oven to throw you in! I do not want to see you any more,
part and get away from here, detestable conspirator, and take Return to your home
from where they threw you for your evil deeds! "Then the devil seized one of the
furnace's irons and with him threatened John, saying, 'I will slay thee, wicked! Get
away from here! I do not want you any more at my service! By the grace of the
Holy Spirit, John knew that the words and actions were of the demon that dwelt in
that bathhouse. Therefore, he invoked the name of the Father, the Son and the
Holy Spirit and cast out the devil.

"The next day, Romana came to the bathhouse and said to John, 'They keep
complaining about you that you are not careful in your work, you do it on purpose,
because you're looking for a pretext to get you fired. It will happen, neither now nor
after, for after he punishes you, will you be useless. "To this John did not utter a
single word, she observed his patience, humility, and calm demeanor, and thought
he was a peasant without education. Put him to the test, she spoke roughly and
with threats, saying, 'Are you not my servant, malevolent?' John replied: 'Yes, we
are your servants, I, John the stoker, and Prochorus, the waterman. '

"Romana had a lawyer friend, who asked for her legal opinion and told her a lie:
'My parents, when they died, left me two slaves who, after several years, escaped
from my house. Then I destroyed the certificates of purchase from them but they
have returned to my house and acknowledge that they are my slaves. Can you get
a duplicate of these property papers? "The lawyer replied:" If they admit it to three
honorable witnesses who were once your slaves, it is possible "Through the Holy
Spirit, John learned of all this plot and said to me, 'Prochorus, my son, Romana
tries to make a confirmation that we are his slaves, so he has gone to see a lawyer
for She is looking for three witnesses who confirm that we are her slaves, but that
there is no sadness in your heart, but rather rejoicing, because through this our S
Jesus Christ will quickly reveal everything to this woman, as to who we are. '

At that moment Romana entered the house and, taking Juan by the arm, began to
give him a barrage of blows on all sides, saying: 'Perverse servant, fugitive! When
you love to enter, you should greet and bow. Maybe you are imagining that you are
a free person. So that you may know, you are a slave of Romana. "And again he
began to slap him to scare him, saying," You are not my servant, a fugitive. "And
John said to him," But you said otherwise, that we are your servants. I am John,
the stoker, and this is Prochorus, the water-keeper. "Romana asked him," Whose
servants are you, you evildoers? "John answered," Whomsoever thou wilt we may
say. "She replied, "You are mine." John then said to her, "In writing or not, we
acknowledge that we are your servants." Then she quickly said, "I want to do this in
writing before three witnesses. John said to him, 'Do not delay; Let us take care of
the matter today. "Then she took us to the temple of Artemis and, in the presence
of the three witnesses, drafted our sales papers. Then he returned to our work.

Preaching and Miracles of John in Ephesus

"When the festival of the goddess Artemis was held at Ephesus, all the people
made a great celebration and had fun, for which they had to wear white clothing."
John, for special reasons, wore clothes that had been blackened by soot when She
worked in the bathhouse, and went up to a high place, where the statue of the
goddess was placed, which greatly angered the Ephesians, who began to throw
stones at John. That nobody could touch it.

The same stones that they threw to him, arrived at the statue, damaging it
considerably by the great number of blows. Then John raised his voice to the
crowd, saying, 'Men of Ephesus, why do you get drunk with the deception of
idolatry? Why have you forsaken the Master, the God and author of creation, who
has created all of you and given you a reasoned soul, only to submit to the will of
demons who rejoice with your destruction? Awaken from your dream and come to
your senses; Leave behind the intoxicating drink of shameful thoughts; Cast out
the darkness of ignorance; Abandon your superstitions and the deceit of your
ancestral myths.

"Romana had a lawyer friend, who asked for her legal opinion and told her a lie:
'My parents, when they died, left me two slaves who, after several years, escaped
from my house.Then I destroyed the certificates of purchase from them But they
have returned to my house and acknowledge that they are my slaves.can you get a
duplicate of these property papers? "The lawyer replied:" If they admit it to three
honorable witnesses who were once your slaves, it is possible "Through the Holy
Spirit, John learned of all this plot and said to me, 'Prochorus, my son, Romana
tries to make a confirmation that we are his slaves, so he has gone to see a lawyer
for She is looking for three witnesses who confirm that we are her slaves, but that
there is no sadness in your heart, but rather rejoicing, because through this our S
Jesus Christ will quickly reveal everything to this woman, as to who we are. '

At that moment Romana entered the house and, taking Juan by the arm, began to
give him a barrage of blows on all sides, saying: 'Perverse servant, fugitive! When
you love to enter, you should greet and bow. Maybe you are imagining that you are
a free person. So that you may know, you are a slave of Romana. "And again he
began to slap him to scare him, saying," You are not my servant, a fugitive. "And
John said to him," But you said otherwise, that we are your servants. I am John,
the stoker, and this is Prochorus, the water-keeper. "Romana asked him," Whose
servants are you, you evildoers? "John answered," Whomsoever thou wilt we may
say. "She replied, "You are mine." John then said to her, "In writing or not, we
acknowledge that we are your servants." Then she quickly said, "I want to do this in
writing before three witnesses. John said to him, 'Do not delay; Let us take care of
the matter today. "Then she took us to the temple of Artemis and, in the presence
of the three witnesses, drafted our sales papers. Then he returned to our work.

Preaching and Miracles of John in Ephesus

"When the festival of the goddess Artemis was held at Ephesus, all the people
made a great celebration and had fun, for which they had to wear white clothing."
John, for special reasons, wore clothes that had been blackened by soot when she
worked in the bathhouse, and went up to a high place, where the statue of the
goddess was placed, which greatly angered the Ephesians, who began to throw
stones at John. That nobody could touch it.

The same stones that they threw to him arrived at the statue, damaging it
considerably by the great number of blows. Then John raised his voice to the
crowd, saying, 'Men of Ephesus, why do you get drunk with the deception of
idolatry? Why have you forsaken the Master, the God and author of creation, who
has created all of you and given you a reasoned soul, only to submit to the will of
demons who rejoice with your destruction? Awaken from your dream and come to
your senses; Leave behind the intoxicating drink of shameful thoughts; Cast out
the darkness of ignorance; Abandon your superstitions and the deceit of your
ancestral myths.

Come to the knowledge of the true God and you will receive the forgiveness of your
sins and eternal life. So that you may be sure that your worship is vain and without
purpose, look to your goddess Artemis, who has been destroyed by the stones that
you have thrown yourself. To prove it, restore it to its original state or pray for me to
perform a miracle or to punish me, so that I may see its power and believe. 'Seeing
the Ephesians that their goddess was torn to pieces and hearing this, they They
became even more angry with John and again began to throw stones at him.

But none of them hit him, but they turned and beat those who had thrown them. In
their anguish and frustration, they tore the garments of the apostle. Again the grace
of Christ protected John. Observing that his actions were prompted by the demons,
he spoke to them, saying: 'Be silent and remain quiet, O men of Ephesus, because
you are not behaving like persons endowed with reason. On the contrary, your
behavior is irrational and ignorant, and it is proper only of those unclean demons
who have instigated you to do these things. And when he had lifted up his hands to
heaven, he began to preach, saying, 'O Lord Jesus Christ, deal firmly with them,
but with mercy, that ye may show them To those present that You are God and that
there is no one else besides You. "As soon as he finished praying, there was a
great earthquake and on the earth came a hellish heat, falling dead as two hundred
by excess of fear. The others fell at John's feet and begged for mercy; For fear and
trembling had taken possession of them, and they said to him,

We beseech you, O man of God, raise our dead and believe in the God whom you
announce. "John looked up to heaven and begged God, sighing and weeping; And
with a voice that they could not hear, he prayed: 'O true God, who for centuries
was with the Father; O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, who appeared to save men;
Forgive the sins of those who have died; Reshend them with Your almighty hand
and open their hearts to receive the light of Your knowledge; And armed with
courage to your servant to announce your words without fear. "At the end of
praying, once again there came a tremendous heat from the earth and immediately
all the dead rose and then venerated John, begging him to grant the divine
salvation through the sacred baptism. Then John catechized them with the word of
God and then baptized them all.

The Apostle John the Evangelist in Rome

In those days, Domitian, the emperor of Rome, undertook a relentless persecution

of the Christians, as a result of which John was killed before him. The prefect of
Asia had him arrested and sent him bound to the Caesar in Rome, where John had
to endure blows for his confession of Christ; then was forced to drink a glass full of
poison. However, as the words of the Lord say, "When they drink anything
poisonous, it will not harm them" (Mark 16:18) the poison did no harm to him. Then
he was thrown into a boiling oil boiler, but he came out unscathed. Then the people
shouted, 'Great is the God of the Christians!'

Not daring to continue torturing John, Caesar considered him immortal and
sentenced him to exile on the island of Patmos, just as the Lord had told John in a
dream: 'You will suffer much and you will be exiled to an island that will greatly
benefit you . '

Exile as Punishment in Patmos

"The soldiers - as Prochorus tells us - took us both, but John was tied tightly with
chains and chains, and they said to him, 'This is the magician and he does terrible
things.' They gave me a barrage of blows for everything And they told me things to
frighten me, but they did not put me in shackles, they took us to the boat, and we
went away, every day they gave us about eight ounces of bread, a small cup of
bad wine, half-pint, and a little less Of a room of hot water, which Juan took very
little and left to me.they were not in a hurry to sail directly to Patmos, but rather
delayed a long time in one place.Finally, we were able to leave, but just when We
were leaving, the officers sat down to eat, and as there was a large amount of food
and drink, they were excited.A young officer went to the front of the ship to do
some duty, but carelessly fell head over His father was in prison. On the boat and
deeply grieved for the loss.

He would have been thrown into the water if the others had not stopped him. All
those on board were sorry for the fact. Some came to where we were and one of
them said to John, 'O man, we are all lamenting for what has happened; But how is
it that you not only do not mourn, but that you rejoice? "John asked him," What do
you want me to do? "He replied," Can you help us? "John then asked the one who
was saying, "What deity do you worship?" He answered, "Apollo, Zeus, and
Hercules." Then John asked the second, "And whom do you obey?" He answered,
"to Aesculapius, Hermes, and Hera." He continued to ask each and every one
confessed their disappointment. Then the Apostle of the Lord said to each one of
them, "How many gods you have, and yet are unable to save a drowning man!"
They answered him, "This is because we are sinners and do not serve them with
purity, therefore the gods punish us."

"Then he left them in their affliction and said to me, 'Prochorus, my son, rise up and
reach out your hand to me.' He told him this because he was bound and could not
get up alone.Then I stretched out my hand and he got up and walked to the edge
There he sighed weeping and said, 'O God of ages, you who have created
everything and with your gestures control the whole creation, O Thou art only the
Almighty and the King of all , Jesus Christ, who for our sake and according to your
forgiveness, have allowed us to walk on the waters as if on dry ground.O master, I
have been commanded to entreat you in the name of the drowned by those who
hope to receive abundantly. Even when he had finished his prayer when suddenly
a great quantity of hot water and a wave broke out from the sea, which broke
against the boat, and threw the young man alive at the feet of John. At this site
they were all absorbed and knelt John's feet, exclaiming, 'Truly your God is the
God of heaven, the earth and the sea. ―Then they began to honor John and took
off his shackles.

"Arriving at a place called Kitikión, the ship anchored there, and all of them landed,
except us and the guards." The sun was setting, when the helmsman noticed that
there was a good time to set sail, so that when the others returned, we departed.
But at five o'clock in the evening, a great storm struck the sea, threatening the ship,
and they began to shout, waiting for death, and the commander of the soldiers
approached John, saying to him: 'Man of God, In a marvelous way you brought a
dead man from the depths of the sea through your prayer, so now beg your God to
calm the tempest, because we are in danger of sinking. "John answered him," Go
in peace and But as the tempest grew more violent, John rose to pray, and the
storm immediately calmed down, and there was great calm.

"As drinking water became scarce, many were weakened by thirst and found
themselves on the verge of death." Then John asked me to fill some containers
with sea water, and then he said, 'In the name of Jesus Christ, take And when they
tasted the water, they found it sweet and drank it, refreshing themselves with it.

"Then we had to anchor in a place called Miron, because one of the officers had
dysentery, so he was near death, and we stayed there for seven days, but at the
eighth, the superior officers began to argue among themselves because of the
delay Some said that it was not right to delay the fulfillment of the imperial order,
others believed that it was not right to abandon one of his own companions, some
even wanted to take the sick with them, but this would surely die. He asked me to
go to the sick man and tell him that John, the apostle of Christ, ordered him to go
where he was, and I went to the sick man and told him this: he immediately got up
without having a trace of it. Disease and went after me to where John, who said to
him, 'Tell your companions that we must leave this place.' The newly healed, who
had not eaten for seven days and had been in grave danger He immediately
suggested with joy to the others to leave the place.

"As the whole crew watched this miracle, they fell at John's feet, saying to him,"
Hear the whole earth is at your disposal, for you have proved to be a servant of the
true God. "John replied," By no means, my children, and you must take me to
where you have been ordained, so as not to be punished by the emperor. "That
same day he baptized them all after having been catechized, and then we left for
Patmos, where on our arrival we entered a city called Flora, A city in which the
officers gave us, at the command of the emperor, at the hands of the governor, but
they did not want to leave us, but rather to stay with us. But Juan said to them: "My
children, if you are careful not to leave The grace that you have received, they will
not harm you in any place. "They stayed with us for ten days and continued to
receive instruction from John, and then he prayed and blessed them, He gave
them a wish that they should go in peace, entrusting them to the hands of God, in
whom they believed and to whom they owed glory for eternity of ages. Amen.

The Writings of the Apostle John

"Through the grace and help of our Lord Jesus Christ and through the words of
divinely inspired John and the great signs and miracles that God worked, almost all
the inhabitants of Patmos began to believe." At that time the emperor Domitian was
killed. Which had exiled us to Patmos, which was a penal colony, after which the
Roman throne was occupied by Nerva, who did not prevent the preaching of Christ
or persecuted those who believed in him. This young emperor had received a
favorable report On John and, with the annulment of the sentence of Domitian by
the senate, raised the sentence, reason why the Apostle was free to go wherever
he wanted. As John saw that almost all the natives already believed in Christ, he
decided to return To Ephesus. "When the faithful heard this, they gathered around
us to pray with tears, saying:" Father, we appeal to your goodness. Art forever with
your children! "But John comforted them, saying, 'Do not do that, my children. Your
tears really sadden my soul; but you show no concern for others. Christ, in whom
you believe, has appeared to me and has directed me to return to Ephesus, to
advise and help the brothers there. '

"Seeing that they could not persuade John with his words, they stood at his feet
and begged him, saying, 'O father and master, as you have decided to leave us
forsaken, we ask you to give us a recount on the incarnation and the So that we
may always meditate upon it and remain steadfast and immutable in the faith, in
case any brother may be deceived, by neglect, by Satan and follow him. "John
answered them," Many things, my children, you have heard of me as to the
dispensation and the signs worked by the Son of God, which I have witnessed.
Therefore, until you keep the words of the Lord that he may give you eternal life. ‗,
The brothers begged him with even greater force and tears, insisting that they
would not leave the ground until he acceded to his request. The Apostle was very
moved by their tears and then said: 'my children, id to your causes, for by the
commandment of the Lord your pious will be satisfied. "After he had blessed them,
all returned home.

Then John took me to a place outside the city, about a mile away, to a quiet place
called Katapavsis (which means "cessation"). There we went up to a high
mountain, where we stayed for three days. John spent time fasting and praying,
begging God to give the gospel to the faithful brethren. At the end of the third day
he said to me: 'Prochorus, my son, go to the city to bring paper and ink.' Then I
went there to fulfill this order and then I returned. Then he said to me, 'Leave the
paper and the ink, son, and return to the city, but come back here in two days'. I
found John standing and praying. Then he said to me, 'Take the paper and the ink,
my son, and stand to my right.' I did as he told me. Suddenly there was thunder
and lightning flashed, while the mountain shuddered. Overwhelmed with fear I fell
to the ground like a dead man. And John stretched forth his hand, and lifted me up,
saying, Sit at my right hand. Then he returned to continue praying, after which he
said: Prochorus my son, what you hear from my mouth you must write it down on
paper. Standing with his gaze directed to the sky, he opened his mouth and began
to say: 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God ....' and so it continued, he was stopped; and I, sitting down writing. We
stayed two days in that mountain where he was standing talking and I sat and
wrote. After the divine words of the Gospel, he uttered a prayer and then we both
descended from the mountain. We went to Sosipater's house, where they prepared
the table and ate and rested.

"The next day, John said to Sosipater, 'my son, make sure you find a good
parchment so that you can copy the Holy Gospel clearly.' Sosipater came to bring
parchment sheets and John said to me, 'Sit here, my son, and write the Gospel
with a good letter. "Then I sat down and with great care and attention wrote it
clearly. Meanwhile, John ordained bishops and presbyters for the churches. After I
finished transcribing the Gospel , John took him to the church, and there, following
his order, all the brothers gathered together, and then he read it, and by his grace
there was joy and happiness, and he ordered the parchment to be copied exactly,
so that they could stay with him , And he could take a copy to Ephesus (according
to Dositheus, he wrote the gospel 64 years after the Ascension of the Lord, but
others point out that it was thirty years, and then two years after he wrote the
Apocalypses. St. Peter of Alexandria also points out that the Gospel written by
John was kept in the church of Ephesus, where the faithful worshiped him. Then
we celebrate the Divine Liturgy, after which the people left. "

It is also known that St. John wrote the Apocalypse on the same island. Tradition
points out that one day John and his disciple Prochorus left the city to go to a
grotto in the desert, where they were together ten days and then he alone another
ten days. In these last ten days, he ate nothing, but only prayed to God, begging
him to reveal what he should do. From above came a voice saying to him, 'John! ..
John!' He answered, 'What do you command, Lord?' The voice from above said to
him, 'Wait ten days and you will receive a much greater revelation John stayed
there ten more days without food. Then something wonderful happened: the angels
of God descended to him and told him many ineffable things. When he returned to
Prochorus, he sent him back to bring paper and ink, and for two days he told
Prochorus the revelations which he had made, and his disciple wrote them down.

The ancient ecclesiastical writers Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Irenaeus, and

Eusebius, confirm that the Apostle John wrote Revelation. The sacred text of the
book was given to him in what is now known as the Cave of Apocalypse. This cave
is currently hidden In the interior and underneath the buildings of the monastery of
the Apocalypse. This monastery was built in the 17th century to house the Patmias,
a theological school that was established on that date. These structures have since
been altered almost nothing. Buildings are composed of cells, classrooms,
flowered courtyards, staircases and chapels dedicated to SaintNicolas, Saint
Artemio and Saint Ana. The cave itself was transformed into a small church
dedicated to Saint John the theologian. The old tradition, testifies to the presence
of San John. In a corner there is a place where he laid his head to rest, near there,
there is the Uncle, where he put his hand to rise from the stone floor in which he
slept; Not far from there is the place where he scattered the parchment; And at the
door of the cave is the triple fissure of the rock where he heard "a great voice like a
trumpet." The cave is small and dimly lit. Also mention should be made to the
Blessed Christdoulos(+1093), who founded the monastery of St. John on the day in
1088, where he wanted to establish in Patmos "a workshop of virtue." Its relics lie
buried in the monastery, where wonderful cures are performed. He is
commemorated on March 16; and the translation of his sacred relics, on October
21.

Return to Ephesus

"The next day, we said goodbye to the faithful, embracing all of them, those who
accompanied us, weeping and mourning, not wanting to turn away from this 'sun',
by whose teaching their land was enlightened. And we all set out on the voyage. At
the ship, there were many who traveled to different parts of Asia Minor.After
fourteen days; we disembarked to a distant city three miles from Ephesus. And
upon learning of this, the brothers came to meet us, which brought them an
indescribable joy, and they exclaimed, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of
the Lord!" John was received with honor in that place and we all did not sit down to
rest. After our departure, Dioscoridas had passed away, so it was his son Domno
who took us to his house, where he laid the table and we enjoyed his hospitality
and we rested. It was there where we stayed;they came to visit us to receive the
teachings of John, who guided them along the path of salvation. Juan did not stop
working, so little by little everyone came to believe in his words. "

The Young man given in Confidence to the Bishop

One cannot omit what Clement of Alexandria (+217 AD), on John, pointed out.
When he set out to preach in the cities of Asia, he met a young man who had a
spiritual inclination toward good deeds, for which St. John taught him and baptized
him. As he had to go forth to proclaim the Gospel, he first gave the young man to
the bishop of the city in confidence, so that this pastor could instruct him in all good
things. The bishop, taking charge of the young man, taught him the Scriptures, but
he did not care for him as he should; since he did not give him the kind of
education that is required for a young man, but, on the contrary, left him to his free
will. Soon the young man began to lead a different life began to get drunk with wine
and to steal. Finally, he came to share his lot with thieves, who, tempting him, took
him to the deserts and mountains and did his boss, then committing robberies on
the roads. On returning after a certain time, John went to the city, and upon
learning that the young man had been spoiled and had become a bandit, said to
the bishop, "Give me back the treasure which I have left you in custody,
Trustworthy hands! Return me to the young man who gave you confidence that you
would teach him the fear of God! "Weeping, the bishop replied:" That young man
no longer exists: his soul is dead, but his body has become a highwayman. 'John
said to the bishop,' Is this how you keep the soul of your brother? 'Give me a horse
and a guide, so that I may go in search of the one whom you have allowed to die.'

When John met the thieves, he asked them to take him to his chief, to which they
agreed. The young man, seeing John, was ashamed and began to run into the
desert. Without listening to his age, Juan followed him, shouting: 'My son, return to
your father and do not despair of having fallen in this state! Stop your sins!
'"Because the Lord has sent me to you." He paused in his flight, and he stood at
the foot of the Sanctuary, trembling and deeply ashamed, not daring. To look up at
Juan's face. But he embraced him with paternal love and kissed him, and then
carried him back to the city, feeling the joy of finding the lost sheep. Then he taught
him a great deal, instructing him in repentance, for which the boy was struggling to
please God, and so he received the forgiveness of sins and rested in peace.

The last years

The Apostle John spent the last years of his life in strict asquetism. He took only
bread and water, did not cut his hair, and wore plain linen. Because of his age, he
was not strong enough to preach the word of God even in the neighboring places
of Ephesus. At that time he taught only the bishops of the church, whom he urged
to teach incessantly the Gospel to the people and especially to keep in mind and
preach the first and principal of the Gospel: the commandment of love. When the
apostle began to weaken, as the blessed Jerome relates, his disciples used to take
him to church; but he could no longer give long sermons. He then reduced his
teaching to the incessant repetition of "Little children, love one another." One day,
when His disciples asked Him why He repeated this incessantly, John replied in the
following words: "this is the Lord's command and if you do, it will suffice.‘

Relics of Saint John

"On our visit to Ephesus, we stayed there for nine years and then spent our exile in
Patmos." After twenty-six years had passed since we returned from Patmos to
Ephesus, John left the house of Domno and gathered seven of his disciples - I And
another six - and he said to us, 'Take the swords into your hands and follow me.'
We did as he commanded us, and we followed him out of the city to a certain
place, where he commanded us to sit down. A quiet place and began to pray. It
was very early in the morning, the sun had not yet come out. After praying, he said
to us: 'Dig with your swords a cross-shaped ditch, as large as I have.' And after he
had finished his prayer, he threw himself into the ditch we had dug and then said to
me, 'Prochorus, my son, you must go to Jerusalem, where you will end your days.'
Then he gave us instructions and embraced us, saying, 'Take youand then cover
us with it. "Then we embraced him again, and, taking a little earth, covered him
only to his knees. Once more he embraced us, saying, "Take more earth and cover
me to the neck." Then we embraced him again and, taking more earth, we covered
him to the neck. Then he said to us, 'Take a thin veil and place it on my face, and
embrace me again for the last time; because you will no longer see me in this life.
"Then we embraced him full of regret. While he made us farewell in peace, we,
bitterly bewailing, embraced the whole body. Just as the sun was just coming out
he gave up his spirit.

On the other hand we want to mention here that, according to the divine Jerome,
the apostle and evangelist rested in the third year of the reign of Trajan, that is, the
year 101 AD. This is 68 years after the Passion and Resurrection of the Lord. This
is confirmed by Clement of Alexandria, Irenaeus and many other holy fathers of the
church. It is believed that he was about six to eight years younger than the Lord,
which suggests that he died at ninety-three or ninety-five years).

"Then we went back to the city, where they asked us about our teacher, and we
explained what had just happened, in a detailed way, they asked us to show them
the place, so we had to go back to the tomb together with the Brothers and sisters,
but John was no longer there, only his sandals, and it was then that we
remembered the Lord's words to St. Peter: "If I have him waiting for me, until I
come, what is that for you?" Then we all glorify God the Father, the Son and the
Holy Spirit, to whom be glory, honor, and worship, forever and ever. Amen."

Every year, on the eighth day of May, fragrant myrrh (liquid) comes out of his tomb,
and prayers to the Apostle, the sick heal through them, for the honor of God who is
glorified in the trinity for the centuries of centuries. Amen.

Thesis on the martyrdom of John the Apostle

As with other oral or written traditions related to people of ancient times, there is no
documentary or archaeological evidence that the episode of the martyrdom of John
the Apostle not followed by death has taken place in Rome or Ephesus, or The
result of a later elaboration. There is also no direct evidence to disqualify it, so it all
comes down to hypotheses and arguments for and against, according to the
authors. However, there is an underlying question to the subject of John's
martyrdom itself: it is the fulfillment of Jesus' prophetic phrase to the two sons of
Zebedee: "The cup that I am about to drink, you will drink and you will also be
baptized with the Baptism with which I am to be baptized.‖ This was investigated by
Marie-Emile Boismard, who deepened in numerous patristic and liturgical elements
of interest.

Until 1960, another feast day which appeared in the General Roman Calendar is
that of "Saint John Before the Latin Gate" on May 6, celebrating a tradition
recounted by Jerome that St John was brought to Rome during the reign of the
Emperor Domitian, and was thrown in a vat of boiling oil, from which he was
miraculously preserved unharmed. A church (San Giovanni a Porta Latina)
dedicated to him was built near the Latin gate of Rome, the traditional site of this
event The Orthodox Church and those Eastern Catholic Churches which follow
the Byzantine Rite commemorate the "Repose of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist
John the Theologian" on September 26. On May 8 they celebrate the "Feast of the
Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian", on which date Christians used
to draw forth from his grave fine ashes which were believed to be effective for
healing the sick.
St. Jude Brother of the Lord

The Holy Apostle Jude was one of the twelve Apostles of the Lord, and he came
from the tribe of Judah, from whence David and Solomon descended. St. Jude was
born in the city of Nazareth, Galilee; was the son of the righteous Joseph, to whom
the most pure Virgin Mary was betrothed. According to tradition, the mother of
Judas was Salome, daughter of Hagai, son of Barakia, brother of St. Zechariah, the
father of the Holy Prophet John the Precursor of the Lord. Judas was brother of the
Holy Apostle James the Just, the first hierarch of the Church of Jerusalem. The
Holy Apostle was better known as Judas of James, ie brother of the Apostle
James.

He preferred this nickname in accordance with his humility, because he considered

himself unworthy to be called brother of the Lord according to mankind, since he
had sinned before the Lord, first for his lack of faith and second for his lack of
brotherly love. The Holy Evangelist John the Theologian testifies to Judas' sin for
his lack of faith when he writes: "Neither did his brothers believe in him" (John 7:
5). Explaining this passage of the Gospel, the Holy Theophilactus interprets that
the brothers mentioned here are the children of Joseph. He says, "Even his
brethren, the children of Joseph (among whom was Judas) did not believe in him -
that is, in Jesus. Where does this disbelief come from Him (Jesus)? By their own
foolish will and by their envy because it is more common in people to envy their
own relatives rather than strangers. ―Thus it is clear that Judas sinned against the
Lord for his lack of faith.

Likewise, Judas also showed Christ his lack of brotherly love. When Joseph, when
he returned from Egypt, began to divide his land among his children born of his first
wife, he also wanted to give a part to the Lord Jesus, who was born supernaturally
and without blemish from the most pure Virgin Mary, He was more than a child. But
three of the sons of Joseph did not want Christ to receive a part, for he was born of
another mother; only the fourth son, St. James, accepted him as co-owner of his
own part, so that later he was called "Brother of Jesus Christ." Conscious of his
previous sins because of his lack of faith and brotherly love, Judas did not dare to
call himself brother of Christ, but only brother of James, as he himself writes in his
epistle: "Judas, servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James "(Jude 1: 1).

Apart from being called this Apostle Judas of James, Judas also had other titles.
The evangelist Matthew calls him Lebeo and Thaddeus. These names were given
to the Apostle Judas with reason, because the name Lebeo means "fervent." In the
Apostle Jude, this title would mean that, after having committed sins against Christ
God in his unbelief, he later came to believe in Jesus as the true Messiah, and
joined him with all his heart. The Apostle Judas was also called Thaddaeus,
meaning "he that giveth praise"; because he glorified and confessed Christ to God
and proclaimed the Gospel too many peoples.

Little is known about the life and activities of the Holy Apostle Jude, apart from the
fact that he married a woman named Miriam. Apart from this, all that is known is
that during the reign of Domecian (81-96 AD), two grandsons of Judas, who
worked the land with their own hands, were taken to the same emperor, for
calumnies made by heretics, because they were descendants of David and
relatives of the Lord. But when the emperor made sure that they did not pose any
political danger to him, they were released.

Like the other "brothers" of the Lord, the Apostle Judas undertook many
evangelical tasks, spreading the Gospel of Christ. Shortly after the ascension to
heaven of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Apostle Jude, as did all the other Apostles of
Christ, set out to preach the Gospel. The testimony of the ecclesiastical historian
Nicephorus points out: "The divine Judas, who had the double title of Thaddaeus
and Lebeus, son of Joseph and brother of James (who was cast from the pinnacle
of the temple in Jerusalem), preached the Gospel and First came the city of
Edessa, which belonged to King Abgar, where the Gospel had been preached to
him by another Thaddeus, one of The seventy Apostles.‖There, the Apostle Judas
undertook and concluded what had not been completed by the other Thaddeus."

There are some indications that presume that the Holy Apostle Jude also preached
Christianity in Persia, from where he wrote his universal epistle in Greek. The
occasion or reason for which he composed this epistle was the fact that these
ungodly people had been hidden among the community of believers, turning the
grace of God into an opportunity to sin evil, and under the guise of religious liberty,
were allowed To commit all kinds of abominable deeds. This brief epistle contains
many deep thoughts and much uplifting doctrine. In part it deals with dogmatic
teachings: the mystery of the Holy Trinity, the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the
difference between good and bad angels, and the terrible judgment that is about to
come; and on the other hand it deals with moral teachings: the exhortation to avoid
the impurity of sin - carnal injury, blasphemy, pride, disobedience, envy, hatred,
perfidy and wickedness. The Apostle advises all to remain faithful in their duties,
their faith, prayer and love; He advises us to concern ourselves with the correction
of the backsliders, to avoid heretics, whose spiritually harmful morals clearly
describe him, explaining that heretics will perish as the people of Sodom (Jude 1: 7
et seq.).

Likewise, in his epistle, the Holy Apostle Jude points out that for our salvation it is
not enough to convert from paganism to Christianity, but that besides faith we need
to do good works that are appropriate for Christians and worthy of salvation; Then
he cites as an example the angels and men who were punished by God. To the
angels who did not preserve their dignity, God bound them with the eternal chains,
plunging them into darkness, leaving them thus to the terrible judgment (1:16). God
also destroyed in the wilderness the people he had brought from Egypt, because
they did not believe and fell into depravity, not living according to the law of God (1:
5). Thus, in a few words, the Apostle Jude reveals great Truths in his epistle.

The Holy Apostle Jude visited many other lands, preaching the Gospel, converting
peoples to the Christian faith and guiding them on the path of salvation. By working
in this way, he came to the lands around Mount Ararat, where he converted from
idolatry a large number of people to Christianity. In doing this, the Apostle aroused
displeasure among the pagan priests against his person. They seized him and,
after subjecting him to numerous tortures, hung him on a cross and then speared
him. Thus ended the struggles and life of the Holy Apostle Jude, who departed to
Christ the God to receive from Him a crown of eternal reward in the heavens.

When the rumor of the miracles and teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ from
Galilee to Syria and the whole surrounding region spread, Luke traveled from
Antioch to Galilee, where the Lord had begun to sow the seeds of His saving
teaching. These seeds found a good soil in the heart of Luke and gave fruits a
hundred times more. Saint Luke was soon considered worthy of a place in the
group of the seventy Apostles and, after receiving the Lord's travel instructions and
power to work miracles, went before the Lord Jesus Christ, preaching the
imminence of the kingdom of God and preparing the way.

In the final days of the earthly life of the Savior, when the Shepherd was
slaughtered and the sheep of his flock spread, Saint Luke remained in Jerusalem,
mourning and weeping for his Lord, who had voluntarily accepted the suffering. In
all probability, Luke also remained "distant" from the others who knew Jesus and
looked at the crucified. But soon his grief turned to rejoicing, for the resurrected
Lord comforted Luke the very day of his resurrection, deeming him worthy to see
and converse with him, as Luke himself points out in detail and vividly in his Gospel
(Luke 24 : 13-32). Distressed by the death of his Master, and doubting that he was
30
resurrected, what Mirofora had informed him, Luke departed from Jerusalem to

30
Miróforas, as "carriers of myron, Orthodox Christian Tradition The Miróforas (Greek:
Μυροφόροι, Latin: Myrophorae; Slavonic: Жены-мѷроносицы; Enruman, mironosiţe: are
the women mentioned in the New Testament who were directly involved in the burial or
who discovered the empty tomb that followed the resurrection The term traditionally
refers to the women who carried myrrh to the tomb of Christ early in the morning and
found it empty. In Western Christianity, the terms commonly used are the two women in
the tomb, the Three Marys, and even (Matthew 27: 55-56,27: 60-61,28: 1 10, Mark 15: 40-
16: 11, Luke 23: 50-24: 10, John 20: 1-18) Sometimes also Joseph of Arimathea, John
19:38) and Nicodemus, who lowered Jesus' body from the cross, embalmed him with
myrrh and aloe, wrapped him in clean linen, and placed him in a new tomb.-Matthew 27:
57- 60, John 19: 39-42) If these people are included the term Or employee in Spanish
should be, by grammatical agreement, that of miróforos.
The traditional list of Miróforas is:
• Maria Magdalena
• Mary, the mother of James and Joseph
• Maria, the wife of Cleopas
• Martha of Bethany, sister of Lazarus
• Mary of Bethany, sister of Lazarus
• Juana, the wife of Chuza the intendant of Herodes Antipas
• Salome, the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee
• Susanna
Sometimes they are considered mirophores:
• Joseph of Arimathea
• Nicodemus
• Nicodemus (Greek: Νικόδημος) was a Pharisee and also a member of the Sanhedrin,
who is mentioned early in the Gospel of John, when he visits Jesus to hear his teachings,
Emmaus in the company of Cleopas, another disciple of the Lord. On the way to
that city, he had the honor of becoming his traveling companion, who is "the Way,
the Truth and the Life.‖The two disciples walked and talked with each other when
Jesus himself caught up with them and walked with them, the Lord appeared to
them, as the evangelist Mark relates," otherwise (Mark 16:12) And not in the
manner in which they knew him before. "Likewise, by the special providence of
God," but their eyes were bound "(Luke 24:16), so that they could not recognize
the Lord that they had been they supposed that his companion was one of the
pilgrims who had come to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover.

"What is it that they are talking together on the road and you are sad?" The Lord
asked them. "Are you a stranger in Jerusalem and do not know the things that
have happened there these days?" Cleopas asked in turn. "What things?" Jesus
asked again. "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet, with powerful
actions and words before God and all the people, and how the high priests and our
rulers condemned him to death by making him crucify, but we hope that he who
has saved Yes, and some of the women of our group made us astonish, they were
early in the tomb, and when they did not find the body of Jesus, they went out
Saying that they had seen a vision of angels, that they said that he was alive.
Some who were with us went to the tomb and found everything just as the women
had said, but they did not see Him.

Then the Lord said to them: "You fools and unbelievers of all that the prophets
have said." "Should not Christ have suffered these things and entered into glory?"
Then the Lord began to explain to them, beginning with Moses, passages of all the

but goes by night for fear John 3: 1-21). It is mentioned again when he declares the
teaching of the Law of Moses concerning the arrest of Jesus during the Feast of
Tabernacles (John 7: 45-51). He is lastly mentioned following the Crucifixion, when he and
Joseph of Arimathea prepared the body of Jesus for burial John 19: 39-42. There is an
apocryphal titled the Gospel of Nicodemus that claims to be written by him.
In the Eastern Church there is another icon different from the one of the Down to Hell to
reflect the mystery of the resurrection of Christ. It is the icon of women Miróforas, the
carriers of the ointments -myron- that are the last gesture of love to the deceased. They
have arrived at the foot of the tomb after the end of the Sabbath and are the first
witnesses of the empty tomb. Among the icons that contain the first announcements of
the resurrection to women are those that echo the apparition of the resurrected to Mary
Magdalene, the well-known icons "noli me tangere", the "do not touch me" that Christ
under Appearance of gardener says to Mary Magdalene. Women are the first recipients of
the Gospel message "Jesus Nazarene is not here. He has risen. Look at the place where his
body was. “They are, at the same time, bearers of ointments and aromas, bearers of the
good news of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This unique fact makes the dignity of
women enhanced in the Eastern Church with three beautiful names addressed to them:
mirophores, evangelists and Isapóstolas.,"Miróforas, as "carriers of myron the perfumed
ointment with which the corpses were covered in the grave; Evangelists, for their role as
bearers of the Gospel, of the good news of the risen Christ, kernel of the kerygma; And
finally, isapóstolas, that is to say, "equal to the apostles", because they were disciples of
Jesus, they followed him in life, they are sent to announce it and they can say, like Saint
Paul, that the resurrected Christ has gone out to meet him.
prophets who spoke of Him in the Scriptures. Thus, conversing with the Lord, the
disciples came to Emmaus without even realizing it; And as their conversation was
pleasant to them, and his companion supposedly went to a more distant place,
they asked him to stay with them, saying, "Stay with us, for it is getting dark and
the day is gone."

In this way the Lord entered the village and stayed with them in a house. When he
reclined with them for supper, he took a piece of bread from the table and, after
blessing it, broke it and gave it to him. As soon as the Lord did this, His disciples
recognized Him immediately. In all likelihood, the Lord had previously performed
this action in the presence of his disciples; and they could have recognized him by
the wounds of the nails which had pierced his hands. But at that moment the Lord
disappeared before their eyes, who said to each other, "Did not our heart fail within
us, while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" (Luke
24: 13-35).

With the desire to share their joy with the other disciples of the Lord, Luke and
Cleopas immediately left the food and left for Jerusalem. There they found the
Apostles and the other disciples who were gathered in a house, and naturally they
immediately announced to them that Christ had risen and that they had talked with
him. For their part, the Apostles confirmed to them that the Lord had really risen
and appeared to Simon. Then Luke and Cleopas narrated in detail everything that
happened on the road and how they had recognized Christ the Lord when he broke
the bread. Suddenly, in the midst of the conversation the same resurrected Lord
appeared before the Apostles, and granted them peace and calmed their troubled
hearts. To convince those who thought that what they were seeing was not only
the soul of their dead master, the Lord showed them the wounds that the nails had
done to his hands and feet, and then ate a little food. Then the evangelist Luke was
again honored to hear from the Lord an explanation of all that the Lord said in the
Old Testament Scriptures, receiving the gift of understanding the Scriptures (Luke
24: 18-49).

After the Ascension of the Lord, Saint Luke stayed with the other Apostles in
Jerusalem for a time; but later it went, according to the tradition, to Antioch, its
native city, where already there were many Christians. On his way to this city, he
passed through Sebaste, the main city of Samaria. There he proclaimed the good
news of the arrival of the Messiah, where he also found the intact relics of St. John
the Baptist. When it was time to leave Sebaste, Saint Luke wanted to take these
remains with him to his native land, but the Christians of the place, who earnestly
honored the Lord's Baptist, were not allowed to remove the sacred relics. Then
Luke drew only the right arm, under which Christ bowed his head when he received
the baptism of John. With his invaluable treasure, Saint Luke came to his native
land, to the great joy of the Christians of Antioch, a city that he abandoned only
after he became a traveling companion and collaborator with the Holy Apostle
Paul, who, in the words of several ancient writers, was even one of his relatives.
This happened during the second missionary journey of the Apostle Paul. At that
time, St. Luke and the Apostle Paul traveled to Greece to preach the Gospel; But
the Apostle left the holy evangelist with the Gentiles, to establish and organize the
church in the Macedonian city of Philippi; since then, Saint Luke worked for several
years spreading Christianity in all those places.
When the Apostle Paul again visited Philippi, at the end of his third missionary
journey, Luke left for Corinth, by order of the latter and at the request of all the
faithful, in order to collect alms for the poor Christians of Palestine. After
completing the task entrusted, St. Luke set out with the Apostle Paul to Palestine,
visiting in his way the churches of the islands of the Aegean archipelago, along the
coast of Asia Minor, in Phenicia and Judea. When the Apostle Paul was imprisoned
in the city of Caesarea of Palestine, St. Luke remained at his side, not even leaving
him when he was sent to Rome to be tried before Caesar. Together with the
Apostle Paul, he endured all the difficulties of his voyage by sea, almost losing life.
(Acts of the Apostles, chapters 27 and 28).

When arriving at Rome, the Saint Luke always remained next to the Apostle;
likewise, together with Mark, Aristarchus, and several other companions of the
Apostles, announced Christ in the principal city of the ancient world (this is inferred
from the information given in the Epistle of St. Paul to Philemon). In Rome, St.
Luke wrote his Gospel and the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. In this Gospel he
describes the earthly life of our Lord Jesus Christ, not only on the basis of what he
himself saw or heard, but also taking into account all that was given by "those who
from the beginning were witnesses and ministers of the Word" (Lk 1: 2). The Holy
Apostle Paul guided him in his task and subsequently approved the Gospel written
by Saint Luke. The Book of Acts of the Apostles was written in the same way,
according to the tradition of the Church, by order of the Apostle Paul.

After remaining chained for two years in the dungeons of Rome, the Apostle Paul
was released; He left Rome and went to visit the many churches he had founded
before. On this occasion Saint Luke was also his companion. However, shortly
afterwards Emperor Nero began a cruel persecution against the Christians of
Rome, whereupon Paul returned to this city, in order to be able to encourage, with
his preaching and example, the persecuted Church, to affirm it and to share with
The faithful, if this pleased God, the crown of martyrdom. Soon he was arrested by
the pagans and imprisoned again. Nor did St. Luke forget his master on this
occasion; among all the collaborators of the Apostles, he remained alone at his
side during that period of time so terrible that the Apostle was compared to a
predestined victim to be sacrificed. "Now I am ready to be offered," he wrote to his
disciple Timothy, "and it is very near the time of my departure, for Demas hath
forsaken me, loving this world, and hath gone to Thessalonica, and to Galatia,
Titus to Dalmatia. It is only with me "(2 Timothy 4: 6, 10-1).

It is quite probable that Luke also witnessed the martyrdom of the Apostle Paul in
Rome. After the rest of his teacher, Saint Luke spread the Gospel of Christ,
according to the tradition of the Church in Italy, Dalmatia, Gaul and especially in
Macedonia, where he had worked for several years. He also evangelized Achaia,
which borders Macedonia.

When he was a very advanced age, the Apostle Luke embarked on a journey to
distant Egypt, where he worked hard and went through many afflictions for the Holy
Name of Jesus. First crossing all Libya, he arrived in Egypt, where in the Tebaida
he converted many to Christ. In the city of Alexandria he ordained Abilio as the
successor of Annas, who had been ordained by the evangelist Mark and ministered
for twenty-two years. Upon returning to Greece, he established churches there
again, chiefly in Boeotia, ordained priests and deacons, and healed the sick with
body and soul. Like his friend and counselor, the Apostle Paul, St. Luke fought the
good fight, concluding his journey and maintaining the faith. At the age of eighty-
four, he died as a martyr in Achaia, crucified to an olive tree instead of a cross. His
precious body was buried in Thebes, the main city of Boeotia, where his sacred
relics, which produced numerous cures, were to be found only in the second half of
the fourth century, which were later transferred to Constantinople, capital of the
Empire of East.

The site of the relics of the Holy Apostle Luke was known in the fourth century
because of the cures that were there. Thanks to them, numerous cures were made
in which they suffered from eye diseases. The emperor Constantine, son of the
Holy Emperor Constantine the Great, of the same kind as the Apostles, on hearing
from the bishop of Achaia that the body of St. Luke lay at Thebes, sent Artemius,
then prefect of Egypt, to transfer the relics From Santo Luke to the capital, a task
that Artemio carried out with great solemnity.

During the transfer of the sacred relics of St. Luke from the coast to the church, a
miraculous event took place. One of the Imperial Chamberlains, a eunuch named
Anatolius, suffered from an incurable disease. He had spent a great deal of money
on doctors, but without achieving results; however, when he approached the
precious relics of the Apostle Luke with faith in his miraculous power, he asked the
Saint to heal him. He approached the venerated reliquary of the Saint and helped
to load it, as far as he could. Then the evil left him before taking even a few steps.
Rejoicing, he continued to carry the precious reliquary to the church of the Holy
Apostles, where the remains of St. Luke were kept under the altar, together with
the relics of the Holy Apostles Andrew and Timothy. There, his remains became a
source of miracles and were venerated with special affection by Orthodox
Christians.

The writers of the ancient Church point out that St. Luke was the first to paint the
image of the most holy Mother of God holding the pre-eternal Child, our Lord Jesus
Christ, in the pious desire of the first Christians. Then he also painted two other
icons of the most holy Mother of God, to whom he took them for approval. Upon
seeing the icons, she said: "May the grace of him, who was born of me, and my
mercy be with these icons!" Saint Luke also painted images of the pre-eminent
Holy Apostles Peter and Paul on tablets, thus being the initiator of the good work of
iconography, for the glory of God, the Depara and all Saints, for the decoration of
the holy churches and the salvation of the faithful who venerate them with
devotion. Amen.
Saint Mark the Evangelist is not counted among the first twelve apostles.

St. Mark, who was a Jew by birth, belonged to the lineage of the tribe of Levi, the
priestly caste, and lived at the beginning in Jerusalem. In Hebrew Marco was called
John (ie, Johanan); His most commonly used name, Marcos, is of Latin origin. He
added this name to his Hebrew name shortly before departing to a strange country,
when he went with the Apostle Peter to preach the Gospel in Rome at that time the
capital of the world. According to the tradition accepted by the Orthodox Church,
which is consistent with the testimony of many ancient writers (Origen, 3rd century,
Epiphanius of Cyprus, 4th century and others), he was one of the seventy disciples
of the Lord and, consequently, witnessed Of certain events in the life of the Lord
Jesus Christ.

In the same narrative about the betrayal of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Garden of
Gethsemane, the evangelist Mark mentions a certain young man who, while all the
disciples of the Lord left him, followed only the divine Master, who was wrapped
only in a linen blanket; When the soldiers tried to stop him, he escaped naked,
leaving the sheet in their hands (Mark 14: 51-52). The young man's dress reveals
that he had suddenly emerged in the middle of the night, listening to the crowd,
undoubtedly of a house belonging to the owner of the garden. Even in antiquity
there was the tradition that pointed out that this young man was none other than
Mark himself and that the garden of Gethsemane was his family. The Book of Acts
of the Holy Apostles testifies that the mother of the evangelist Mark, Mary, had a
house in Jerusalem where the Apostle Peter found refuge after his miraculous
deliverance from the prison by the angel (Acts 12: 1- 12). After the Lord ascended
to heaven, during the persecution of the Christians, this house served as a place
where many of the converts to Christianity could worship, and where several of the
Apostles found refuge. Thus, in his mother's house, St. Mark could enter into
permanent contact to converse with Christians, participating in his prayer meetings;
And related to the Apostles themselves. He formed a particularly close relationship
with the Apostle Peter, who showed him a love and a disposition that were truly
fatherly. This is apparent from St. Peter's own words; For in his epistle Mark calls
his son, saying, "The church which is in Babylon, chosen together with you, salute
you, and Mark my son" (1 Peter 5:13).

St. Mark was the nephew of the Holy Apostle Barnabas, who was of Levitical
descent, though born on the island of Cyprus. Through him, St. Mark was
introduced to the pre-eminent Apostle Paul, who, after his wonderful conversion to
the Christian faith, came first to Jerusalem. In establishing a close relationship with
these two pre-eminent Apostles, Peter and Paul, St. Mark became his closest
collaborator and kept his orders.

In the year 44 or 45 AD, over the Christians of Jerusalem fell a heavy affliction.
Due to the growth of the Christian community in the holy city, the malice of the
Jews, the enemies of the Christian faith, increased tremendously. Inflamed by
hatred of the Christians, the Jews broke into their houses and plundered their
belongings mercilessly to such an extent that the faithful had to starve by force. On
hearing of the deplorable situation of the Christians of Saint-Simon, the .The loyals
of Antioch immediately came to his aid; made a collection among them and handed
over the funds gathered in the hands of Paul and Barnabas, who at that time were
in Antioch. They entrusted the Apostles with distributing the money to the
Christians of Jerusalem. When they arrived there, Barnabas and Paul fulfilled the
task entrusted to them by the Christians of Antioch; but when they returned to this
city, they took Mark with him. Since then, Mark became the collaborator of Paul
and Barnabas, undertaking the great apostolic struggle to spread the good news of
the faith of Christ to the Jews and Gentiles alike.

St. Mark participated in the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas as his
closest assistant in the preaching of the Gospel. As they left Antioch, they sailed to
the sea city of Seleucia, and sailed from Cyprus to Cyprus, from Salamia to
Paphos. In this last city, the proconsul Sergio sent to call to Barnabas and Paul,
with the intention to hear from his lips the word of God. A Jewish sorcerer named
Elimas, whose nickname was Barjesus, tried to dissuade the governor from
believing in the Lord. Mark saw with his own eyes how, with only his word, the holy
Apostle miraculously turned blind to the sorcerer. Later Mark separated from the
Apostles Paul and Barnabas in the city of Perga and returned to Jerusalem, to his
mother's house.

Upon his arrival in Jerusalem, Mark joined the Apostle Peter and soon went with
him on an apostolic journey to preach the Gospel in Rome. By that time in the
imperial capital already there were Christian believers. The Book of the Acts of the
Apostles testifies that among those who witnessed with their own eyes the
extraordinary change that took place in the Apostles after the descent of the Holy
Spirit upon them and who heard the first sermon of the Apostle Peter on Christ the
Savior, There were Jews and proselytes (Gentiles converted to Judaism) who
came from Rome (Acts 2: 10-41). Upon arrival in Rome, no doubt these people
brought their faith in Christ and transmitted it to others. Certainly, many of the Jews
who lived in the populous Jewish community of Rome went every year on the
solemn holy days to Jerusalem, filled with the teachings of the Gospel, and there
heard preaching about Christ; Then returned to Rome as Christians. Finally,
Christians from all over the world traveled to Rome on matters of government and
other motives, since it was the capital of the Empire, and favored the increase of
those who believed in Christ there. Through his preaching and his miracles, the
Apostle Peter, with the help of St. Mark, extended and affirmed as far as possible
the Church of Christ in Rome, turning to Christendom a large number of people,
both Jews and Gentiles.

By listening to the holy words of the preaching of the Gospel from the lips of the
Apostles and being inflamed with faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Christians of
Rome were not satisfied with the Apostles' oral preaching about the Redeemer,
Writing the teachings they had heard. Then they approached the companion of the
Apostle Peter, St. Mark, and asked him earnestly to write down all the sacred
words that he and Peter had spoken about Christ the Lord and to leave them this
Holy Scripture as a memento. Mark committed himself to fulfill the good desire of
the Roman Christians and wrote his Gospel, in which, narrating the facts of the life
of the Savior during his stay on earth, he wrote down exactly what he remembered
what the Lord had taught and Done, taking great care not to omit anything he had
heard or to change anything. He then showed the Apostle Peter what he had done
for him to review, which confirmed that the Gospel written by Mark was the true
one, approving it later to be read in the churches. Since then, the Gospel of Mark
was accepted unopposed by all the Churches as a scripture of apostolic and divine
inspiration.

After working in Rome, St. Mark, by order of the Apostle Peter, went to preach the
Gospel in the city of Aquileia, which is at the northern end of the Adriatic Sea. In
this rich city, which was called the second Rome, Mark established the Church; He
also visited other places along the Adriatic Sea to preach the good news of the
Word of God, founding churches everywhere. Then, again at the request of the
Apostle Peter, St. Mark traveled to Egypt to spread the Gospel. This happened in
the ninth year of the reign of Emperor Claudius (about 49 AD).

In Egypt, a pagan land adjacent to Palestine lived a large Jewish colony, whose
origins date back to the time of Alexander the Great and (Ptolemy). There they
copied their villages, their synagogues, their Sanhedrin, and even their temple to
that of Jerusalem, filled with priests and Levites according to the Mosaic law. In
Egypt, by order of King Ptolemy Philadelphus, a translation was made of the books
of the Old Testament Scriptures from Hebrew to Greek, through which the pagans
had access to the divine revelation of the salvation of the human race. There, too,
the remarkable fall of the idols of one of the temples of Egypt, which according to
the fathers of the Church, accompanied the arrival of the most pure Mother of God,
Saint Joseph the Bridegroom and his son, Saint James, with the Divine Infant
Jesus, who fled from the hands of the cruel Herod, was still fresh in the memory of
the people. Finally, even on this earth there may be witnesses to the miraculous
descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, who carried the seeds of Christian
teaching. All this prepared the ground firmly for the inhabitants of Egypt to accept
the teaching of Christendom, and give hope of great success to the work of St.
Mark. In fact, when Mark, the first of the Apostles to reach Egypt, began to preach
the Gospel, announcing to the people that they were free from the devil, a great
many men and women embraced faith in Christ from the very beginning of his
work.

The Holy Evangelist first stayed in the Cyrenian city of Pentapolis, where he
worked by announcing the teachings of Christ and establishing the Christian
Church. There he received an order from the Holy Spirit to go and preach the
Gospel in Alexandria. Obedient to the orders of the Holy Spirit, with all
determination Marcos left quickly to the new arena of his struggles. He told the
brothers about the Lord's command and, after a farewell banquet with the
Christians, he sailed from Cyrenia to Alexandria with their blessing.

Alexandria arrived on the second day of his journey and after landing he departed
to a certain place called Medion. As he approached the gates of the city, his sandal
split in two, which he took as a favorable omen. After looking in the vicinity of a
shoemaker to repair used shoes, he gave her sandal to fix it. The cobbler, while
working with the sandal, accidentally introduced the spike in his hand; shouting in
pain, invoked the name of God. Hearing this exclamation, the Apostle rejoiced in
spirit, seeing there a sign that the Lord was giving him a good way.
 The wound from the shoemaker's hand was very painful and blood flowed
copiously. St. Mark spat on the earth and with it made clay, which he anointed on
the hand of the shoemaker, saying: "In the name of Jesus Christ, who lives forever,
be healed!" Immediately the cobbler's wound closed and his hand healed.
Realizing the power of the man in front of him, the effect of his words, and the
purity and holiness of his life, the shoemaker made a supplication to him, saying:
"Man of God, I beg you to come To my house and stay with me, your servant, even
for a day, so that you may share my food, because you have shown me mercy.‖

The Apostle joyfully accepted his invitation and said, "Heaven give you the bread of
life, the bread of heaven." Thus, the artisan, taking him by the hand, took him to his
house with great happiness. As he entered the house, St. Mark said, "May the
blessing of the Lord come to this place, O brothers, let us pray to God!" All together
they prayed to God, after which, when they were seated at the table, the cobbler,
lovingly beginning the conversation, asked: "Father, who are you, and where does
the power that is in your words come from?" St. Mark replied, "I am the servant of
the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God." The man said to him, "I would like to see
this Son of God." St. Mark replied, "I will show you!" Then he began to speak to
him about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to explain to him about the prophets
what they had predicted about our Lord. When he heard his words, the man said, "I
have never heard of the scripture you tell me. I have only heard of the Iliad, the
Odyssey, and what they teach the young Egyptians." Continuing with his preaching
of Christ, St. Mark showed him with certainty that the wisdom of this world is
"foolish" in the sight of God (1 Cor 1:18:22). The cobbler believed everything that
the San Marcos told him, and after seeing the miracles that this one realized, it
accepted the baptism. Together with him he baptized his whole family, as well as a
large number of people from that place. The man's name was Ananias. Day by day
the number of loyals grew.

The rulers of the city of Medion, upon hearing that a foreigner had come,
blaspheming their gods and preventing them from making the sacrifices that were
usually offered to them, tried to kill San Marcos, for which they gathered to plan
how to arrest him. Upon learning of his decision, St. Mark hastened to order
Ananias as bishop for the faithful, three priests - Maco, Sabino and Cedrono -
seven deacons and eleven minor clerics for the ministry of the Church; and then
fled the city, returning to Pentapolis. There he spent two years affirming the faith of
the brethren there and ordaining bishops, priests and clergymen to the surrounding
regions and cities before returning to Alexandria. In this place he found that the
brethren had grown in number and were distinguished by their grace and faith in
the Lord. By that time there was in Alexandria a Christian church that was built
near the sea in a place called Búculo. Upon seeing the church, St. Mark rejoiced,
and after kneeling, he glorified God. The evangelist remained in Alexandria for a
long time. The Christians of that church grew in number to form a large group and,
as their faith grew, openly criticized the Greeks for their idolatry. When he learned
of St. Mark's stay in the city and learned that he was performing miracles - healing
the sick, returning the deaf to the deaf, and seeing the blind - the heathen
authorities of the city raged with hatred and wickedness and they began to look for
him. Their efforts were in vain; at meetings in pagan temples, gnashed their teeth
and exclaimed with anger: "So many problems that this sorcerer and sorcerer is
provoking us!"

St. Mark founded the church in Alexandria, the main city of Egypt, where he was
the first bishop. There he worked hard to illuminate both the Jews and the Gentiles
with the light of Christ, who had hitherto lived in the darkness of idolatry. After
leaving the church of Alexandria in great order, consecrating to this and other
surrounding cities bishops and other clerics, St. Mark departed from the land of
Egypt. It is not known where he went from there or whether he was present in
Jerusalem for the Council of the Apostles (50 or 51 AD). But when the Apostle Paul
was with Barnabas at Antioch, before he set out on his second missionary journey,
St. Mark met with them, as the Book of Acts of the Apostles attests, and he and his
uncle set out for the land of this Last, the island of Cyprus (Acts 15: 36-40). After
working with Barnabas for a time to spread the good news of Christ, Mark departed
again to Egypt; but after spending some time there, he returned once more to the
Apostle Peter. Together they set out again to various parts of Egypt, where they
established churches. The Apostles also had the opportunity to find a church in the
city of Babylon (Numerous sources assume that Babylon (1 Peter 5:13) refers to
one of these three places: the ancient city on the Euphrates, a nearby Egyptian
village From Alexandria or, figuratively, to Rome.), From which Peter wrote his first
general epistle to the Christians of Asia Minor (1 Peter 5:13). San Marcos remained
in Egypt until the eighth year of the reign of Emperor Nero (about 62 AD).

Subsequently, St. Mark met again with the Apostle Paul, becoming one of his
collaborators. While the Apostle Paul languished chained in Rome (from the years
61 to 63 AD), St. Mark and several others divided the evangelical work of the
Apostle. In his epistle to the Colossians, written at that time in Rome. The Apostle
Paul refers to Mark as one of his few associates for the kingdom of God who was a
comfort to him at that time (Col 4: 10-11; Phil 5.23). According to this epistle to the
Colossians, at the instruction of the Apostle Paul, Mark left Rome for Asia Minor,
going to the Phrygian city of Colossians (Col. 4:10), to counteract the false
teachers they were carrying The evil way for Colossian Christians (Col. 18-18).

It is not known where Saint Mark spent the following years. However, not long
before St. Paul's martyrdom (about AD 67), St. Mark was in Asia Minor, specifically
in the city of Ephesus, the homeland of St. Timothy, bishop of the church of
Ephesus. At that time, the Apostle Paul, who was again in prison, wrote an epistle
to Timothy in which he sent for Rome to help him and also charged him with
"bringing Marcus with him, because it is helpful to him Ministry "(II Tim. 4:11).

In Rome, St. Mark witnessed the martyred end of both masters, the great and pre-
eminent Apostles of Christ, Peter and Paul, who suffered for their Master at the
same time in the imperial city; Paul, who enjoyed the privileges of Roman
citizenship, was beheaded with a sword, while Peter was crucified.

After the martyrdom of his great masters, the holy evangelist Mark traveled again
to Egypt to put in good order the church founded by him. He worked hard
preaching the Christian faith in Alexandria, which, as the capital of Egypt, was the
first source of Hellenic knowledge. In this city there was a famous library where
pagan science flourished; and as people came from all corners of the world, the
city was full of scholars, philosophers, orators and poets. Even the Jews, who lived
in Alexandria in great numbers, were attracted by pagan erudition. In order to affirm
the faith of Christ and to counteract the influence of the enlightened pagans and
Jews, St. Mark founded a school of Christian catechism in Alexandria. Later, this
school would become a source of Christian enlightenment and would gain renown
because of the many great teachers of the Church, such as Panteno and Clement,
and several Church fathers, such as Dionysius of Alexandria, Gregory the
Thaumaturge and others who would leave her. Taking care to establish an order
for the divine services of the Church, St. Mark codified the ritual of the liturgy and
gave it to the Christians of the Church of Alexandria. This Eucharistic rite is
preserved in that church until today.

After leaving the Church of Alexandria in order, the holy evangelist Mark, in his
concern to disseminate the teachings of Christ, did not fail to turn his attention to
the inhabitants of other cities and regions of Egypt, but as a strong and courageous
athlete, Led by the Spirit of God, with all diligence and concern traveled
everywhere to proclaim the doctrine of Christianity. He visited many lands in the
interior of Africa, and was also in Libya, Cyrenaica and Pentapolis, all of which
were submerged in the darkness of pagan idolatry. In cities, towns, and even
uninhabited parts pagan temples were built, in which idols were erected and magic
rites, cartomancy and witchcraft were practiced.

Passing through these cities and towns preaching the Gospel, St. Mark illuminated
the hearts of the people, who were plunged into the darkness of idolatry, with the
light of divine teaching, performing at the same time numerous miracles among
them. Only by his gracious word did he heal the sick, purify the lepers, and cast out
impure and evil spirits; while his preaching, accompanied by these great and
wonderful miracles, was a great success.

The pagan temples were destroyed, the idols collapsed and were shattered, and
the people cleansed and purified, being baptized in the name of the Father, the
Son and the Holy Spirit. In all places where the evangelist Mark was, churches of
God were built, and the Church of Christ flourished in Egypt. As a result of the holy
words of St. Mark's preaching and under the influence of the exalted purity and
sanctity of his own virtuous life, the Christians of Egypt, through the action of divine
grace, attained such a degree of purity and perfection exalted in His own struggle
for salvation, that his life, brimming with sanctity of Christian virtue, became an
object of great astonishment and praise even to pagans and Jews of believers.
Eusebius, bishop of Caesarea, Palestine and NicephorusXantapulus, who were
ecclesiastical historians, preserved in their writings the testimony of a certain Philo,
a Jewish philosopher contemporary with the Holy Apostles, who, praising the
virtuous life of Egyptian Christians, states: They (That is, Christians) have
abandoned all interest in transient wealth and do not even care about their
possessions, considering nothing earthly as their own or appreciable for them.

Some, abandoned all interest in the things of this life, leave the cities and go to live
in lonely places and oases, avoiding the company of people who do not share their
conception about life, so that they do not make them hesitate In its virtue. They
maintain that abstinence and the mortification of the flesh are the only basis upon
which a good life can be founded. No one eats or drinks before the early hours of
the night, and some eat only every four days. Others, scholars in the interpretation
and understanding of the Divine Scriptures, thirsting for knowledge and nourishing
themselves with the spiritual food of the knowledge of God, spend their time
studying the Scriptures and often stop eating until the sixth day. None of them
usually drink wine and all avoid eating meat, adding only salt and hyssop (a bitter
herb) to their diet of bread and water.

With them live women who have prepared themselves in the life of virtue and have
become so accustomed to this that they remain virgins until an advanced age. And
they keep their virginity not because they are compelled to do so, but of their own
free will, inspired by devotion and love of wisdom, which leads them to repudiate
carnal pleasures and to strive to obtain not mortal but immortal descendants, such
as Soul that loves and longs for God and is the only one capable of engendering.
They explain the Holy Scriptures in allegorical form, delving into their deepest and
most hidden sense and mysteries; because the Scriptures, in his opinion, are like a
living entity, the expression of his words constitutes his visible body, and the
meaning and mysteries that underlie this expression form his invisible soul...

They rise early to glorify and praise God, to sing and hear the word of God, men
separate from women. Some do not leave the fast for seven days. On the seventh
day they are kept with great veneration. When they prepare for it and their other
holidays, they lie down to rest on the bare ground. Divine services are performed
by priests and deacons, who are controlled by a bishop. "

This fragrant garden of Christ was planted and cultivated by the holy evangelist
Mark in the land of Egypt with his hard work. There, in Alexandria, he suffered and
died, as the first martyr of the Church in that city and province.

The sufferings and martyrdom of St. Mark are narrated by the blessed Simeon
Metafrastes, an ecclesiastical writer of the ninth century. He points out that when
the most splendid feast of the Hebrew Passover was on the 24th of April, also the
feast of the radiant Resurrection of Christ, which coincided with the feast of the
false god Serapis, the pagans were finally able to arrest St. Mark. On that day, the
holy evangelist was celebrating the Divine Liturgy, an occasion which the pagan
wicked found as an excellent opportunity; so, after meeting in a great crowd for
their own festival, they suddenly attacked the church. They seized San Marcos,
bound him with straps and dragged him through the streets and passages of the
city, exclaiming: "Let us take this ox to the trough!" However, St. Mark, enduring
these torments, thanked the Lord by saying: "I thank You, O Lord Jesus Christ, that
you have honored me with bearing these sufferings in your name."

Then they dragged San Marco on the floor covered with sharp stones, so that his
body would be torn by them; and he was filled with wounds, and the blood, which
flowed copiously, stained the path. Thus lacerated, afterwards the pagans took the
Saint to the prison where they threw him, whereas in the first hours of the night
they met to decide the kind of death that would apply to him. At midnight the angel
of the Lord appeared to the martyred Apostle, in order to strengthen him to fight
against martyrdom in the hope of having an imminent blessing in heaven; then the
Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him, consoling him with his presence. The next
morning, the wild mob of pagans took the Apostle out of the dungeon and led him
through the streets of the city. The Holy One could no longer bear the wounds, so
he soon rested, thanking God, praying, "In Thy hands, O Lord, I give my spirit."

The death of the Apostle did not satisfy the insatiable evil of the pagans, so they
decided to burn his body. The flame was scarcely lit when the darkness suddenly
came, a terrible thunder broke out, the earth began to tremble and began to rain
and hail, frightening the multitude and extinguishing the fire. The pious Christians
collected the body of the saint with reverence and buried it in a stone tomb in the
place where they performed their services of prayer.

In 310 a church was built on the tomb of St. Mark, and its relics remained in
Alexandria until the ninth century. In AD 828, when Muslim domination and
Monophysite heresy had greatly weakened orthodoxy in Egypt, the relics of the
Holy Evangelist were moved to Venice, near where he had once preached the
Gospel (in Aquileia). There they rest until today, in the splendid church dedicated to
him.

Also preserved there an ancient manuscript of the Gospel according to Mark,

engraved in a thin Egyptian papyrus, which, according to the tradition, was written
by the same evangelist. In year 828, relics believed to be the body of Saint Mark
were stolen from Alexandria (at the time controlled by the Abbasid Caliphate) by
two Venetian merchants with the help of two Greek monks and taken
to Venice. A mosaic in St Mark's Basilica depicts sailors covering the relics with a
layer of pork and cabbage leaves. Since Muslims are not permitted to touch pork,
this was done to prevent the guards from inspecting the ship's cargo too closely.
Donald Nicol explained this act as "motivated as much by politics as by piety", and
"a calculated stab at the pretensions of the Patriarchate of Aquileia." Instead of
being used to adorn the church of Grado, which claimed to possess the throne of
Saint Mark, it was kept secretly by Doge GiustinianoParticipazio in his modest
palace. Possession of Saint Mark's remains was, in Nicol's words, "the symbol not
of the Patriarchate of Grado, nor of the bishopric of Olivolo, but of the city of
Venice." In his will, Doge Giustiniano asked his widow to build a basilica dedicated
to Saint Mark, which was erected between the palace and the chapel of
Saint Theodore Stratelates, who until then had been patron saint of Venice.

In 1063, during the construction of a new basilica in Venice, Saint Mark's

relicscould not be found. However, according to tradition, in 1094, the saint himself
revealed the location of his remains by extending an arm from a pillar. The
newfound remains were placed in a sarcophagus in the basilica.
Copts believe that the head of Saint Mark remains in a church named after him in
Alexandria, and parts of his relics are in Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral,
Cairo. The rest of his relics are in Venice. Every year, on the 30th day of the month
of Paopi, the Coptic Orthodox Church celebrates the commemoration of the
consecration of the church of Saint Mark, and the appearance of the head of the
saint in the city of Alexandria. This takes place inside St Mark's Coptic Orthodox
Cathedral in Alexandria.
In June 1968, Pope Cyril VI of Alexandria sent an official delegation to Rome to
receive a relic of Saint Mark from Pope Paul VI. The delegation consisted of
ten metropolitans and bishops, seven of whom were Coptic and three Ethiopian,
and three prominent Coptic lay leaders.
The relic was said to be a small piece of bone that had been given to the Roman
pope by Giovanni Cardinal Urbani, Patriarch of Venice. Pope Paul, in an address to
the delegation, said that the rest of the relics of the saint remained in Venice.
The delegation received the relic on June 22, 1968. The next day, the delegation
celebrated a pontifical liturgy in the Church of Saint Athanasius the Apostolic in
Rome. The metropolitans, bishops, and priests of the delegation all served in the
liturgy.

Mark the Evangelist is represented by writing or sustaining his gospel. In tradition it

is symbolized by a lion - a figure of valor and monarchy. Some Christian legends
refer to St. Mark as "St. Mark the Lion's Heart." These legends say he was thrown
to the Lions and the animals refused to attack or eat him. Instead, the lions slept at
his feet as he caressed them. When the Romans saw this, they released him,
impressed by this vision, as the Lion in the desert; He may be represented as a
bishop on a throne decorated with lions; As a man helping Venetian sailors, he is
often depicted holding a book with "paxtibiMarce" written on it or holding a palm
and a book. Other representations of Mark show him as a man with a book or A
parchment, accompanied by a winged lion. The lion could also be associated with
the Resurrection of Jesus because the lions believed that they slept with open
eyes, therefore a comparison with Christ in his tomb, and Christ as king, another
representation is rescuing Christian slaves of Saracens.
Saint Matthias Apostle, selected instead of Judas Iscariot Traitor

The holy Apostle Matthias, a descendant of the tribe of Judah, was born in
Bethlehem. From his early childhood he began to study the sacred books and the
law of God in Jerusalem. Under the guidance of Saint Simeon the Receiver of God,
Matthias was instructed by him in the life of virtue. He lived a life that pleased God,
strictly following the path indicated in the commandments of God. The time came
when the Lord, having spent thirty years from the day of His nativity of the most
pure Virgin Mary, revealed Himself to the world after His Baptism by John. After
gathering disciples, he preached the coming of the kingdom of God, performing at
the same time countless miracles and signs. Matthias, hearing the teachings of
Christ and witnessing his miraculous work, was filled with love for him; And after
abandoning the worries of this world, he followed the Lord with the other disciples
and the people, rejoicing at the sight of the countenance of the incarnate God and
in the ineffable joy of his teaching. The Lord, to whom the most hidden movements
of the human heart appear, seeing the fervor and purity of soul of Saint Matthias,
chose not only as a disciple but also for the apostolic ministry.

At the beginning, St. Matthias belonged to the seventy Apostles, spoken of in the
Gospel. "The Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two in their faces"
(Luke 10: 1); However, after the voluntary passion, resurrection, and ascension into
heaven of our Lord Jesus Christ, St. Matthias was admitted into the company of the
twelve Apostles. After the fall of Judas from the choir of the twelve Apostles, as no
one had been chosen to take the place of this one, that group lost its fullness and
with it the right to be called of the twelve, therefore, Saint Peter, the preeminent Of
the Apostles, standing in the midst of the group of early Christians, addressed the
faithful to how it was necessary for them to choose someone to take the place of
Judas, who had separated and died: one who had been With the Apostles all the
time that the Lord Jesus had been with them; The company of the twelve closest
Apostles, who had been chosen by him, could be whole and unchanged. "And they
appointed two, Joseph, called Barsabas ... and Matthias. They prayed and said,
'Lord, you know what is in the hearts of all men, point to whom of the two you have
chosen, Of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas fell for transgression, to
go to his place. "And they cast lots, and the lot fell on Matthias, and was numbered
with the eleven Apostles" (Acts 1: 23-26) . This election was soon confirmed by the
Lord in sending the Holy Spirit in the form of tongues of fire, for he rested on St.
Matthias as well as on the other Holy Apostles, imparting grace to him in the same
medium as the rest of the disciples of the Lord.

According to some information, St. Matthias preached the Gospel in Macedonia,

where the Greek wicked, desiring to prove the power of the teaching proclaimed by
the Holy Apostle, arrested him and forced to drink the venom that deprives man of
the vision. However, St. Matthias, after choking the venom in the name of Christ,
suffered no harm and even healed more than two hundred and fifty people who
had been blinded by this poison, placing their hands on them and invoking the
name of Christ. The demon, unable to bear such reproach, presented himself to
the pagans in the form of a young man and urged them to kill Matthias, because he
wanted to abolish the worship of their gods. When they went to seize the Holy
Apostle, they sought him unsuccessfully for three days; But the Holy Matthias,
though he walked among them, became invisible to them. Afterwards, the Holy
Apostle presented himself to the pagans who sought him and voluntarily
surrendered to his hands; They tied him up, locked him in a dungeon where
demons appeared that made his teeth grind with rage. But the next night the Lord
appeared to him in a bright light, who, after encouraging St. Matthias and releasing
him from his bonds, opened the prison doors and released him. At dawn, the
Apostle stood in the midst of the people, preaching the name of Christ with even
greater courage. When several people, who were hard of heart and refused to
believe his preaching were enraged and wanted to hit him with their hands,
suddenly the earth shook and swallowed. Overwhelmed with horror, those who
were saved accepted Christ and were baptized.

Then the Apostle of Christ returned to his part, Judea, where he converted many of
the children of Israel to the Lord Jesus Christ, proclaiming to them the Word of God
and confirming this with signs and miracles. By the name of Christ St. Matthias
returned the vision to the blind, hearing the deaf, life to the dead. He set the
cripples standing, purified the lepers, and cast out devils. Calling holy to Moses and
exhorting all to keep the law given to him by God on the tablets of stone, Saint
Matthias at the same time taught them to believe in Christ, who had been
prophesied by Moses himself in signs and prefiguration, announced By the
prophets, sent by God the Father to save the world and incarnated of the most
pure and immaculate Virgin. Likewise, Saint Matthias interpreted by pointing out
that all the prophecies related to Christ were fulfilled in the Messiah that had
arrived.

At that time the high priest of the Jews was Ananias, who hated Christ and
blasphemed his name; was a persecutor of the Christians, who ordered to throw
the Holy Apostle James, brother of God, from the pinnacle of the temple killing him
in this way. When St. Matthias, who was going through Galilee, preached Christ
the Son of God in the synagogues of those places, the Jews, blinded by unbelief
and wickedness, were enraged; They seized the Holy Apostle and brought him to
Jerusalem, where the aforementioned Ananias, the High Priest, after summoning
the Sanhedrin and calling the Holy Apostle to trial, addressed the unconscious
assembly, saying: "All the world, And this assembly, knows the dishonor which our
people have inflicted on themselves, and not by our own will, but by the corruption
of a few who have turned away from us and by the insatiable self-interest, or rather
the tyranny of the Roman prefects ... We will not deprive you of the time to reflect,
because we do not want its destruction, but its correction. Let us choose one of two
alternatives: or to follow the law given by God through Moses and thus preserve his
life, or that is called Christian and dies. "

In answering this, the Holy Matthias, raising his hands, said: "Men and brethren, I
do not wish to say much about the accusation they make against me. For me to
call myself Christian is not a crime, but glory. Said through the prophet (Isaiah) that
in the last days his 'servants shall be called with a new man' (Isaiah 65:15). ―The
high priest Ananias exclaimed: "Is it not a crime to consider the sacred law as
nothing, not to honor God and to listen to empty stories of witchcraft?" "If you would
listen to me," replied St. Matthias, "I would explain to you that the teaching
proclaimed by us is not full of myths and witchcraft, but that the very truth testified
to the law long ago."

After the descent of the Holy Spirit, the Apostles were drawn to see which of them
would go to what country to preach the Gospel. Saint Matthias touched the lot of
Judea, where he worked through cities and towns, proclaiming the good news of
the appearance of the Savior of the world in the person of Jesus Christ.
Subsequently, he preached the name of Jesus not only among the Jews, but also
among the Gentiles. Tradition says that St. Matthias went to spread the good news
of Christ to the inhabitants of Ethiopia, where he endured numerous and diverse
afflictions. The pagans dragged him on the ground, bound him to strike him,
hanging him from a pillar, lacerating him with a sheet of iron and burning it with fire;
but strengthened by Christ; St. Matthias endured these torments with joy and
courage.

According to some reports, Saint Matthias preached the Gospel in Macedonia,

where the Greek wicked, desiring to prove the power of the teaching proclaimed by
the Holy Apostle, arrested him and forced him to drink the venom that deprives
man of the vision. However, St. Matthias, after choking the venom in the name of
Christ, suffered no harm and even healed more than two hundred and fifty people
who had been blinded by this poison, placing their hands on them and invoking the
name of Christ. The demon, unable to bear such reproach, presented himself to
the pagans in the form of a young man and urged them to kill Matthias, because he
wanted to abolish the worship of their gods. When they went to seize the Holy
Apostle, they sought him unsuccessfully for three days; But the Holy Matthias,
though he walked among them, became invisible to them. Afterwards, the Holy
Apostle presented himself to the pagans who sought him and voluntarily
surrendered to his hands; they tied him up, locked him in a dungeon where
demons appeared that made his teeth grind with rage. But on the following night,
the Lord appeared to him in a brilliant light, who, after encouraging St. Matthias
and releasing him from his bonds, opened the prison doors and released him. At
dawn, the Apostle stood in the midst of the people, preaching the name of Christ
with even greater courage. When several people, who were hard of heart and
refused to believe his preaching, were enraged and wanted to hit him with their
hands, suddenly the earth shook and swallowed. Overwhelmed with horror, those
who were saved accepted Christ and were baptized.

Then the Apostle of Christ returned to his part, Judea, where he converted many of
the children of Israel to the Lord Jesus Christ, proclaiming to them the Word of God
and confirming this with signs and miracles. By the name of Christ St. Matthias
returned the vision to the blind, hearing the deaf, life to the dead. He set the
cripples standing, purified the lepers, and cast out devils. Calling holy to Moses and
exhorting everyone to keep the law given to him by God on the tablets of stone,
Saint Matthias at the same time taught them to believe in Christ, who had been
prophesied by Moses himself in signs and prefiguration, announced By the
prophets, sent by God the Father to save the world and incarnated of the most
pure and immaculate Virgin. Likewise, Saint Matthias interpreted by pointing out
that all the prophecies related to Christ were fulfilled in the Messiah that had
arrived.
At that time the high priest of the Jews was Ananias, who hated Christ and
blasphemed his name; was a persecutor of the Christians, who ordered to throw
the Holy Apostle James, brother of God, from the pinnacle of the temple killing him
in this way. When St. Matthias, who was going through Galilee, preached Christ
the Son of God in the synagogues of those places, the Jews, blinded by unbelief
and wickedness, were enraged; They seized the Holy Apostle and brought him to
Jerusalem, where the aforementioned Ananias, the High Priest, after summoning
the Sanhedrin and calling the Holy Apostle to trial, addressed the unconscious
assembly, saying: "All the world, And this assembly, knows the dishonor which our
people have inflicted on themselves, and not by our own will, but by the corruption
of a few who have turned away from us and by the insatiable self-interest, or rather
the tyranny of the Roman prefects ... We will not deprive you of the time to reflect,
because we do not want its destruction, but its correction. Let us choose one of two
alternatives: or to follow the law given by God through Moses and thus preserve his
life or that is called Christian and dies. "

In answering this, the Holy Matthias, raising his hands, said: "Men and brethren, I
do not wish to say much about the accusation they make against me. For me to
call myself Christian is not a crime, but glory. Said through the prophet (Isaiah) that
in the last days his 'servants shall be called with a new man' (Isaiah 65:15). ―The
high priest Ananias exclaimed: "Is it not a crime to consider the sacred law as
nothing, not to honor God and to listen to empty stories of witchcraft?" "If you would
listen to me," replied St. Matthias, "I would explain to you that the teaching
proclaimed by us is not full of myths and witchcraft, but that the very truth testified
to the law long ago."

When the high priest gave his permission, Saint Matthias opened his mouth and
began to interpret the symbols and prophecies of the Old Testament in relation to
Jesus Christ; As God promised to the ancestors, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to
bring forth a man from his seed, through whom all the tribes of the earth would be
blessed, about which David also speaks in the words of his psalm: In him shall all
the tribes of the earth be blessed; all the nations shall call him blessed "(Ps 71:17);
How the unburned bush announced the incarnation of Christ of the most pure
Virgin, whom Isaiah foretold, saying, "Behold, the Virgin shall conceive, and bear
child, and call her name Emmanuel" (Isaiah 7:14); That is, "God with us." Moses
also clearly proclaimed Christ, saying, "The Lord your God will raise you up as a
prophet of your brethren, as I am: whom ye shall hear" (Deuteronomy 18:15). He
also predicted the sufferings of the Savior, when he lifted the serpent with the staff,
Isaiah pointed out, "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter" (Isaiah 53: 7); and
"was counted with the wicked" (53:12). The prophet Jonah, who came out
unscathed from the belly of the whale, was an announcement of the resurrection of
the Lord on the third day.

These broad explanations of the Old Testament books that speak of Christ Jesus
infuriated Ananias so much that they speak of Christ Jesus, who could not control
himself, saying: "How dare you break the law? Do you not know the well-known
words "When there shall arise a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, in the midst of
thee, and shall give thee a sign or a wonder, and a sign or a wonder come to him,
saying, 'Let us go after the gods of others; You did not know, and let us serve him
... that prophet or dreamer of dreams, is to be dead ... '"(Deut 13: 1-5)?
Saint Matthias answered: "The one I speak of is not only a prophet, but the Lord of
the prophets, he is God, the Son of God, whose miracles testify. That is why I
believe in him and hope not to change my Confession of his Most Holy Name. ――If
you give yourself a moment to reflect, would you regret it?" Asked the high priest. "I
hope with all my heart and openly confess that Jesus of Nazareth, whom you
rejected and delivered to death, is the Son of God, the Son of God, Which is of an
essence and equally eternal with the Father, and I am His servant.

Then the high priest stopped listening and gritted his teeth, saying, "The
blasphemer, the blasphemer, let him hear the law!" Immediately they opened the
book of the law and read the passage where it says: "Whoever that cursing God
must bear his sin. He who names the Lord must be stoned to death by all the
congregation of Israel. "(Lev 24: 15-16) after reading this passage, the high priest
said to the Apostle of Christ:" Your words testify against you; May your blood fall on
your own head. "

Then the high priest condemned the Matthias to the death by stoning; and led the
Apostle to execute him. When they came to the place called Betlaskila, that is, the
house of those condemned to stoning, St. Matthias said to the Jews who had
brought him there, "Hypocrites!" The prophet David rightly said of such as
yourselves: 'They will hunt the soul (Psalm 93:21) The same was said by the
prophet Ezekiel of this kind of men, who "announcing death to him who must live
and life to him who must die" (Ezekiel 13:19). ). After saying these words the
Apostle of Christ, two witnesses, as required by law, placed their hands on his
head and testified that he had blasphemed God, the law and Moses; and these
were the first to throw stones at Saint Matthias. The latter asked that the first two
stones be buried next to him, as witnesses of his sufferings for Christ.
Subsequently, others also began throwing stones at him, striking the Holy Apostle;
He lifted up his hands and gave up his spirit into the hands of his Lord. Then the
wicked Jews added another insult to their torment; after the martyr's death, to
please the Romans, they beheaded him with a sword, as if the Apostle of Christ
had been an opponent of Caesar. Thus, having fought in the good fight, the Holy
Apostle Matthias ended his march. The faithful people, after gathering the body of
the Apostle, caused him to be buried, sending glory to our Lord Jesus Christ, to
whom, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and forever,
forever and ever. . Amen.
St. Paul is not counted among the twelve apostles.

The Holy Apostle Paul, who before his apostleship was Saul, was a Jew by birth,
from the tribe of Benjamin. He was born in Tarsus of Cilicia to where his parents,
who belonged to prominent families, had moved after living in Rome; they had the
coveted rank of Roman citizens, which is why Paul was also a Roman citizen.
Apparently, the first holy martyr Stephen was related to him, with whom his parents
were probably sent to Jerusalem to study the Law of Moses, where he was a
disciple of the famous Rabbi Gamaliel. His friend and study partner was Barnabas,
who later became an Apostle of Christ. When that friend converted to Christianity,
he implored God incessantly to enlighten Saul's understanding and change his
heart. While Saul primarily studied the law of his parents, he became an advocate
of it and joined the party of the Pharisees (strict zealots of their heritage who
boasted of their piety).

At that time, in Jerusalem and in the cities and lands of the region, the Holy
Apostles were striving to spread the good news of Christ; But because of this they
often had to enter into long discussions with the Pharisees and Sadducees, the
latter of whom rejected tradition and did not believe in the immortality of the soul;
And also with all the scribes and legal experts of the Jews, who hated and
persecuted those who preached Christ. Saul also detested the Holy Apostles and
did not even want to listen to anyone who spoke about Christ; He also mocked
Barnabas, who had become an Apostle of Christ, and blasphemed the Master.
When the first holy martyr Stephen was stoned by the Jews, Saul not only showed
no pity for one of his own blood, who was condemned in spite of his innocence, but
approved his death and set guard over the garments of the Jews who They threw
stones at Stephen. Subsequently, after soliciting permission from the chief priests
and elders of the Jews, he attacked the Church (the community of believers) in
even greater anger, entering private homes and arresting men and women whom
he sent to prison.

Unsatisfied with persecuting the faithful in Jerusalem and perpetually threatening

and intimidating the disciples of Christ to death, he moved to Damascus with letters
from high priests to the synagogues, so that there he could even search for all
those who Believe in Christ, men and women, and then arrest them, take them
back to Jerusalem. This happened during the reign of Emperor Tiberius.

But when Saul was approaching Damascus, a bright and blinding light appeared
suddenly from heaven, which made him fall to the ground, and a voice was heard
saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" Full of astonishment, Said
to him, "Who are you Lord?" The Lord answered him, "I am Jesus whom you
persecute: it is hard for you to kick against the sting." Trembling and fearful, he
said, "Lord, what you want me to do it? ―And the Lord says to him," Get up and
enter the city and you will be told what to do. "(Acts 9: 4-6) the soldiers who went
with Saul also stood in astonishment, by the wonderful light, they heard the voice
that spoke to Saul, but they could not see anyone.
Obeying the Lord, Saul rose to his feet, but he could see nothing, though his eyes
were open; His eyes were blinded, but he began to see with the eyes of the soul.
Saul's companions and assistants led him by the hand and carried him to
Damascus, where he remained for three days, unable to see anything. In his
repentance he ate nothing, but rather devoted himself to praying without ceasing
for the Lord to reveal his will.

In Damascus there lived the disciple named Ananias. The Lord appeared to him in
a vision, ordering him to look for Saul, who was in the house of a certain man
named Judas, and to give him back the vision by touching his bodily eyes and also
those of the soul through sacred baptism. Ananias answered him, Lord, I know that
many speak of all the evil that this man has done to your Saints in Jerusalem; And
here he has the permission of the chief priests to arrest anyone who calls on Your
Name. "And the Lord said to him," Go, for this is my chosen instrument, that I may
bear my name in the presence of the Gentiles; Kings, and the children of Israel. For
I will show him how much it is necessary for me to suffer for my name "(Acts 9: 13-
16).

Then Ananias, as the Lord commanded him, went and found Saul, and putting his
hands on him, he immediately recovered his sight; when he rose, received the
Baptism which filled him with the Holy Spirit, and was consecrated for the Apostolic
ministry. Saul began to preach immediately in the synagogues to the Lord Jesus
Christ, saying that he was the Son of God. All who heard him were surprised by the
change of attitude of the ancient persecutor of the Church of Christ, and they said
to him: "Is not this the one who ravaged Jerusalem in those who invoked this
Name, and that came here, to take them prisoners To the princes of the priests? "
(Acts 9:21)

However, Saul, full of Holy Fervor, had an ever stronger faith and brought
confusion to the Jews living in Damascus by proving to them that Jesus was the
promised Messiah. Then the Jews broke out in anger against him and plotted to kill
him. For this they put watch on the gates of the city day and night so that he did not
escape. But the Disciples of Christ who were in Damascus with Ananias, knowing
about the Jews' intentions, took Saul to a house that was built on the very wall of
the city and made him go down in a basket through a window. When he left
Damascus, he did not go immediately to Jerusalem, but moved to Arabia, as he
writes in his Epistle to the Galatians: "I conferred not with flesh and blood: neither
did I go unto Jerusalem unto them that were Apostles before me; That I went to
Arabia, and returned to Damascus, and after three years I went to Jerusalem to
see Peter "(Galatians 1: 16-18).

When he arrived in Jerusalem, Saul tried to join the Disciples of Christ, but they
were fearful, not believing that he had become a disciple of the Lord. The one who
believed in him was the Apostle Barnabas, whose fervent plea had not left the
merciful Master unanswered. The newly converted Saul fell at the feet of his friend
and implored: "O Barnabas, master of the truth, I am now convinced of the truth of
which you spoke to me about Christ." Barnabas wept for joy and embraced his
friend and, taking him by the hand, took him to the Apostles. Then Saul told them
how he had seen the Lord on the road to Damascus and how he had preached in
the name of Jesus in that city. The Holy Apostles were filled with joy and glorified
Christ the Lord. Saul began to argue even in Jerusalem with the Jews and
Hellenes in the name of the Lord Jesus and showed them that this was the
Messiah that the prophets foretold.

One day, as he was praying in the temple, Saul was ecstatic and saw the Lord,
who said to him, "Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for you will not receive
your testimony from me." Then Saul said to him, "Lord, they know that I imprisoned
all the believers in the synagogues, and when the blood of your martyr, Stephen,
was shed, I was also present and I consented to his death and I kept the clothes of
those who slew him.‖ But the Lord said to him, "Go, for I will send you away to the
Gentiles" (Acts 22: 18-21).

Despite this vision, Saul wanted to stay in Jerusalem for a few days, because he
had received the consolation of the conversation with the Apostles, but he could
not do so. The Jews, with whom he had had discussions about Christ, were very
angry and wanted to eliminate him. Knowing this, the Christians of Jerusalem
accompanied him to Caesarea, where he sailed to Tarsus, his native land; there he
stayed for some time preaching to his countrymen the word of God.

By inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Barnabas came there and took Saul to Antioch of
Syria, knowing that he was appointed Apostle to the Gentiles. Preaching there in
the synagogue for a whole year, both converted many to Christ, who began to call
themselves Christians. At the end of the year, Barnabas and Saul returned to
Jerusalem and told the Apostles about what the Grace of God had done at Antioch,
which produced great rejoicing in the Church of Christ in Jerusalem. Moreover,
they brought with them generous alms from Christian donors from Antioch to help
the poor and needy brothers who lived in Judea; because at that time, during the
reign of Emperor Claudius, there was a great famine, which had been predicted by
St. Agabus, one of the seventy Apostles, through a special revelation of the Holy
Spirit.

After Jerusalem, Barnabas and Saul returned to Antioch. When they had stayed
there for some time, fasting and praying, in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy and
preaching the word of God, the Holy Spirit sent them to preach to the pagans. He
said to the elders of the church of Antioch: "Separate Barnabas and Saul for the
work to which I have called them" (Acts 13: 2). Then the elders of the community,
having fasted and prayed, laid their hands on them, and sent them away.

Under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Saul moved to Seleucia, where
they embarked to the island of Cyprus (native land of the Apostle Barnabas).
There, in the city of Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of
the Jews and then traveled all over the island, even by Paphos. In the latter place,
they found a certain Elimas, a Jew whose nickname was Barjesus, who was a
sorcerer and a false prophet. This was related to the governor of that region,
named Sergio Pablo, who was an intelligent person and was apparently influenced
by that one. The governor sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear
the word of God and hear his preaching. But Elymas opposed them, trying to keep
the governor away from the faith.
Then Saul, who is also Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his eyes on him, said:
"O, full of all deceit and all wickedness, son of the devil, enemy of all
righteousness, will you not cease to upset the ways Now therefore, behold, the
hand of the Lord that go against thee, and thou shall be made blind: and thou shall
not see the sun for a season "(Acts 13: 10-11). Immediately the darkness and
darkness fell on the sorcerer, who went from one side to another, looked for
someone to take him by the hand. Seeing what had happened, the governor began
to believe completely; marveling at the Lord's teaching; with him many of his
people also began to believe and, therefore, the number of faithful grew.

Leaving Paphos by boat, Paul and his companions arrived at Perga, which is in
Parnfilia, whence he departed to Antioch of Pisidia. There he preached about
Christ; but after he had converted many to the faith, the malicious Jews incited the
principal people of the city, who were idolaters, to cast the Apostles of the people
and their surroundings with their help.

Shaking the dust off their sandals, the Apostles went to Iconium, where they stayed
for some time and preached valiantly. Thanks to this, a great multitude of Jews and
pagans were converted to the faith, not only for their preaching, but for the signs
and miracles that they performed with their hands, it was there that they turned the
holy virgin Tecla (who is commemorated September 24) and promised it to Christ.
However, unbelieving Jews agitated the pagans and their leaders to confront the
Apostles and attack them with stones. Upon learning of this, the Apostles went
away to Lycaonia, to the cities of Lystra and Derba and its environs.

When they preached the gospel at Lystra, they healed a lame man of birth who
had never walked; In the name of Christ they set him standing, who stood
immediately and began to walk. Seeing this miracle, people raised their voices,
saying in the Lycanonic dialect: "Gods like men have come down to us" (Acts
14:11). Then they called Barnabas Zeus, and Paul - Hermes. Then they brought
oxen and garlands to them and prepared to offer sacrifices to the Apostles. But
when they heard this, they tore their clothes, and they entered into the crowd and
shouted, "Men, why do you do this? We are also men like you, who tell you that
from these vanities you should turn to the living God who made The heavens, the
earth, and the sea, and all that is in them "(Acts 14:15). Then they explained to the
people the word of the one God, after which they managed to convince her not to
offer them sacrifices.

During their stay in Lystra, where they preached, Jews from Antioch and Iconium
arrived, who persuaded the people to leave the Apostles, shamelessly holding that
they said falsehoods, lying. They incited those who did not have a solid faith, who
stoned the Saint Paul, because he was the chief preacher, and took him out of the
city, in the assumption that he was dead. However, the Saint recovered when his
disciples surrounded him and returned to the city, but the next day he left for Derba
with Barnabas. After preaching the Gospel in that city and winning many converts,
they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, to assert the soul of their disciples
and exhort them to remain faithful. They ordained priests in every church, prayed
and fasted, and committed the Lord to believers.
Later, passing through Pisidia they arrived at Pamfilia; And after preaching the
word of the Lord in Perga, they moved to Athaliah, where they embarked for
Antioch of Syria, where they were originally sent by the Holy Spirit to preach the
word of the Lord to the heathen. Once in this last city, they gathered the faithful
and told them about what God had done through them and the number of pagans
who had converted Christ.

After a while, a discussion about circumcision arose between the Jews and the
Hellenes; some claimed that it was impossible to save without it, while others felt
that it was not necessary. That is why the Apostles had to go to Jerusalem to ask
the Apostles and the Elderly Elders what their opinion was on this matter and also
to inform them that God had opened the door of faith to the pagans. Upon learning
of this fact, the brethren of Jerusalem rejoiced greatly.

When the Holy Apostles and priests met, they totally rejected the circumcision,
indicating that it was unnecessary under Divine Grace. They ordered Christians not
to be tempted by things sacrificed to idols, by blood, by drowning, and by
fornication; so as not to offend his neighbor. With this decision, the apostles and
the elders, together with the church, were happy to send Judas and Silas, chosen
from among their company, to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15: 20-22).

When they arrived at Antioch, the Apostles waited a long time before returning to
the Gentiles. Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return and visit our brethren in all the
cities where we proclaim the word of the Lord and see how they are." But
Barnabas wanted to be accompanied by his nephew John, who was surnamed
Mark. However, Paul did not think it was good to take him because he had
abandoned them in Pamphylia and had not helped them in their task. Then there
was a disagreement, so they separated. Barnabas took Mark, sailed to Cyprus;
While Paul chose Silas, departed entrusted by the brothers to the grace of God to
Syria and Cilicia, where he confirmed the churches (Acts 15: 36-41).

Then he moved to Derba and Lystra; in the latter city circumcised his disciple
Timothy to quell the murmurings of the Jewish Christians, and took him with him.
Then he went to Phrygia and to Galatia, from where he went to Mysia to try to go to
Bithynia, but the Holy Spirit did not leave them. When Paul and his companions
met in Troas, in a dream he saw a man who appeared to be from Macedonia, who
stood before him and begged him, saying, "Come to Macedonia to help us!" (Acts
16:9) Paul interpreted this vision as the Lord was calling him to preach in
Macedonia. First he sailed to Troas, but the boat on which he sailed brought him
first to the island of Samothrace; and on the morrow he came to Neapolis, whence
he proceeded to Philippi, a city which was a Roman colony, and which was nearest
to Macedonia. At Philippi, he first taught and baptized a woman named Lydia, who
sold purple cloths, who asked him and his disciples to remain at home.

One day, when Paul and his disciples went to prayer, they encountered a Roman
slave girl possessed by a demonic spirit of divination, which reported considerable
profits to its masters because it predicted the future and found lost objects, which
the devil saw where they were. Following Paul and his companions, she said
aloud: "These men are servants of God the Most High, who proclaim to you the
way of salvation" (Acts 16:17). So he continued to say for many days, which
displeased Paul, who, turning to her, said to the spirit, "I command you in the name
of Jesus Christ to come out of it." When they saw that their masters had ruined the
source of their income, they seized Paul and Silas, and brought them before the
magistrates of the city, saying, "These men, being Jews, make much more of our
city, and teach customs that are not ours. Lawful to receive or observe as Romans
"(Acts 16: 20-21). The magistrates had the apostles beaten with rods, after they
had torn their garments, and after they had been beaten, they were thrown into
prison. But at midnight, when they both prayed, there was an earthquake, and all
the doors opened, and the bonds of the prisoners were also released. The jailer,
seeing this, began to believe in Christ and took them to his house, where he
washed his wounds.

He and all the members of his family were baptized immediately and prepared a
feast for the Saints, who then returned to prison. The next day, the city authorities,
realizing that they had cruelly punished innocents, sent the bailiffs to the prison
with orders to release the Apostles so that they could go wherever they wanted.
But Paul told them, "We were publicly beaten without being condemned, being
Roman citizens, and they threw us into prison, and now they are casting us away
covertly? (Acts 16:37) When the magistrates learned of what Paul said, they were
afraid that the prisoners they had beaten were, in effect, Roman citizens.

They hurried to them and begged them to leave the prison and leave the city. Then
they left the place and went first to Lydia's house, where they had been before,
which pleased the faithful who gathered there. Finally, they took leave of them and
they left to Arnfipolis and to Apolonia, from where they moved to Thessalonica.

In the latter place, when they had won many thanks to their evangelism, the evil
Jews, after gathering several ruined people, attacked the house of Jason where
the Apostles were staying. But as they did not find them there, they took Jason and
several other brothers and took them to the authorities of the city, accusing them of
being against Caesar and of recognizing another emperor named Jesus. However,
Jason barely managed to escape this danger.

However, the Apostles managed to hide from these infamous men and left
Thessalonica at night for Berea. Even there, the perversity of the Jews did not
allow Paul to be quiet. When the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of
God was being preached by Paul at Berea, they went there to stir up and instigate
the people against Paul. For this reason, the Holy Apostle was compelled to leave,
not for fear of dying, but at the insistence of the brotherhood, which asked him to
preserve his life for the sake of the salvation of many and accompanied him to the
shore of the sea. The Apostle left his traveling companions, Silas and Timothy at
Berea, to confirm the newly converted to the faith, since he knew that the Jews
sought only his head. Then he sailed for Athens.

In this city, Paul was dismayed when he saw the large number of idols that filled
the city and was grieved by the condemnation of so many souls. He began to
quarrel with the Jews in the synagogues and daily debated in the public squares
with the Hellenes and their philosophers. Those who listened to him took him to the
Areopagus (place where the superior court met to deliberate).
But the Saint Paul, having seen in the city an altar where he read the inscription:
"To the God not known," began his announcement by reference to this and
preached to them about the true God, formerly unknown to them, saying:
Therefore, that ye honor without knowing it, this I declare unto you "(Acts 17:23).
And he spoke to them of God, the Creator of the whole world, of repentance, of
judgment, and of the resurrection of the dead. Some laughed when he spoke of the
resurrection, but others wanted to know more. However, Paul turned away from
them, though not without bringing good to some souls; as several began to believe
in Christ, among whom was Dionysius the Areopagite and a certain important
woman named Damaris, as well as many others, who were baptized.

From Athens, Paul moved to Corinth, where he stayed with a certain Jew named
Aquila; there also came Silas and Timothy from Macedonia, and they all
proclaimed Christ. Aquila and his wife Priscilla dedicated themselves to making
tents, an office that Paul also knew well, so that he worked with them, thus gaining
his livelihood and that of his companions, as he himself points out in his epistle to
the Thessalonians: "Neither did we eat the bread of any one for nothing, but we
labored and labored day and night, so as not to burden any of you" (2
Thessalonians 3: 8). Elsewhere he also points out: You yourselves know that these
hands have given me my needs and those who are with me "(Acts 20:34).

Every Saturday he exhorted the Jews in the synagogues, proving that Jesus was
the Messiah. But as they obstinately resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his
garments and said to them, "Let your blood be upon your head: I will cleanse
myself from henceforth to the Gentiles" (Acts 18: 6). But when he was about to
leave Corinth, the Lord appeared to him at night in a vision and said to him, "Do not
be afraid, but speak and do not remain silent, for I am with you, and no one will
harm you, because I I have many people in this city "(Acts 18: 1-10).

St. Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, proclaiming the word of God to the
Jews and the Hellenes; many believed and were baptized, including Crispus, chief
of the synagogue, who began to believe in the Lord and was baptized with his
whole family. However, a group of unbelieving Jews attacked Paul and brought him
before the court of Gallio, who was proconsul of Achaia and brother of the
philosopher Seneca; But he refused to condemn the Apostle, saying, "If he had
committed any crime, or if he were involved in some evil act, I would have reason
to hear and condemn him, but I have no desire to act as a judge of any dispute
over your doctrines and laws.‖ And then he threw them out of court. But after a few
days, the Holy Paul took leave of his brothers and sailed to Syria with his
companions. Aquila and Priscilla followed, and all stayed in Ephesus.

Here, preaching the word of the Lord, the Holy Apostle worked numerous miracles;
But not only did his hands perform miracles, healing all illnesses only with his
touch, but even his handkerchiefs and garments that had absorbed the sweat of
his body, acquired this same miraculous power; For when these were placed upon
the mourners, they immediately healed them and expelled the unclean spirits of the
people. Seeing this, several itinerant Jewish exorcists began to invoke the name of
the Lord Jesus over those who were possessed by evil spirits, saying, "I adjure you
by Jesus, whom Paul preaches."
But the evil spirit answered them, saying, "I know Jesus, and I know who Paul is,
but who are you?" Then the man who was possessed threw himself upon the
exorcists and, after mastering them, acquired such power over them that he struck
them and wounded them until they barely managed to escape naked from the
hands of the possessed. When the Jews and the Greeks of Ephesus learned of
this, fear seized them and glorified the name of the Lord Jesus, and many began to
believe in Him. Even many sorcerers, after accepting the faith, cast their books of
fire into the fire. Spells; and when the price of them was calculated, they found that
they were worth fifty thousand drachmas. Thus the word of God grew mightily and
spread.

Then Paul prepared to go to Jerusalem, and said, "After I had been there, I will
also have to go to Rome" (Acts 19:21). But in that there was a small revolt in
Ephesus on the part of the goldsmiths of silver, who made little temples of this
metal for the goddess Artemis. Once the revolt was over, St. Paul, who had stayed
at Ephesus three days, departed for Macedonia, whence he went to Troas, where
he remained seven days.

On the first day of the week, when the faithful gathered to break the bread, Paul
gave them a long speech, because he planned to leave them the next day, and
continued until midnight; the meeting was held in an upper room, which was lit with
many lamps. Among those listening to him was a certain young man named
Eutychius, who was sitting at the window; But he fell asleep and fell out from the
third floor. When he was lifted he was already dead; But St. Paul came down and
embraced him, saying to him, "Do not worry, for his life is in him" (Acts 20:10).
Then Paul went back upstairs, and the rest went up to the living servant, and they
were comforted not a few. After long talk until dawn, the Apostle said goodbye to
the faithful people and departed.

Arriving at Miletus, Paul wrote to Ephesus after gathering the elders of the church,
because he did not want to go there personally, unless he was delayed; because it
urged him to be in Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost. When the elders were
present, the Apostle gave them an instructive address, saying, among other things:
"Look, therefore, for yourselves, and for all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has
made you bishops, to feed the Church of the Lord , Which he gained by his blood
"(Acts 20:28). He then predicted that after their departure they would be attacked
by ferocious wolves who would raze the flock; And he also spoke of his own
coming day: "And now, behold, I am bound in spirit, I go to Jerusalem without
knowing what shall befall me there: but the Holy Ghost in all cities testifies to me,
saying that prisons And tribulations await me.

I regard no more than anything, nor do I esteem my precious life for myself; only to
finish my career with joy and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to
bear witness to the gospel of the Grace of God. And now, behold, I know that none
of you all, by whom I have preached the kingdom of God, shall see my face more.
"(Acts 20: 22-25) There was a great cry of all, and lying about the neck Of Pablo,
they kissed him, very painfully by the words that he said that they would never see
his face again, they accompanied him to the ship, and he gave them a last kiss and
began his journey.
He passed through many cities and lands, both from the coast and from several
islands, visiting and encouraging the faithful, until arriving at Tolorneo, from where
he left for Caesarea Maritima, where he stayed in the house of the Apostle Philip,
one of the seven deacons. There one day the prophet Agabus came from Judea
looking for Paul; And when he found him, he took his belt and bound his hands and
feet, saying, "This is what the Holy Spirit says: 'Thus shall the Jews in Jerusalem
bind the man of whom this girdle is, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles
"(Acts 21:11). In spite of this, the Holy Apostle Paul went to Jerusalem together
with his disciples (among whom was Trophimus, an Ephesus who had converted to
Christianity from paganism), and there he was received cheerfully by the Holy
Apostle James, the brother of the Lord, And for the whole congregation of the
faithful people.

In those days, Jews came, who were implacable enemies of Paul and had always
tried to provoke disorders against him from Asia Minor to celebrate the feast of
Pentecost in Jerusalem. When they saw Paul in this city, along with Trophimus of
Ephesus, they complained against the Apostle to the chief priests of the Jews, as
well as to the scribes and the elders, accusing him of violating the Law of Moses by
not ordering his Followers were circumcised and preached everywhere Jesus
crucified. The authorities were so upset that they decided to arrest him. During the
feast, when they saw some Jews from Asia to Paul in the temple of Solomon, they
insulted him and shook the people, and they rushed upon him, shouting, "Men of
Israel help! Parts teach all against the people, against the law and against this
place, and have also brought Gentiles into the temple and have contaminated this
holy place. ―For before they had seen him accompanied by Trophimus, the
Ephesus, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple (Acts 21: 28-
30).

At the sound of the shouting, the whole city stirred and crowded. The crowd
grabbed Paul and threw him out of the temple, closing the doors immediately. They
wanted to kill him, but not in the temple, so as not to tarnish the sacred place.
However, at that moment, the news had arrived where the military commander of
the city, which quickly gathered his soldiers and centurions and left for the temple
without delay. When the people saw the commander and his warriors, they stopped
beating Pablo. Then the tribune took him and bound him with two chains of iron;
only then did he ask who he was and what he had done. The crowd shouted at the
commander to have him killed; but because of the commotion of the crowd, he
failed to grasp what had been the crime of Paul, so he had him taken to the fort.
Numerous people followed the commander and his soldiers, crying out for the
death of the Apostle. When Paul came up the steps of the fortress, he asked the
commander for permission to address a few words to the crowd, to which the latter
nodded.

The Apostle stood on the steps and addressed the Hebrew people, saying to him
in a loud voice: "Men, brothers and fathers, listen to my reason that I now give
you!" (Acts 21:1). Then he began to tell them of his former zeal by the Law of
Moses and how he had been blinded by a heavenly light on his way to Damascus,
and how he had seen the Lord, who had sent him to the Gentiles. But the mob, not
wanting to hear more, began to shout to the commander: "Take a man like that
from the ground, for he should not live!" And when they had uttered their voices
and cast their garments, and cast dust into the air, the captain commanded to take
him to the fortress, to examine him with scourges, in order to know why they cried
out against him. But when they strapped him up, Paul told the centurion that he
was present: "Is it lawful for you to whip a Roman without being condemned?"
Then the centurion went to tell the commander, "Be careful of what you do, for this
man is a Roman." And he came and said to him, "Tell me, are you a Roman?" He
replied, "Yes, I am." The chief said to him, "I obtained this citizenship with a great
sum." (Acts 22: 22-28), Then he immediately released him from his bonds.

The next day the commander ordered the chief priests and the Sanhedrin to come
to put Saint Paul before them. He, addressing the Sanhedrin, said: "Men and
brethren, to this day have I lived with all good conscience before God." The prince
of the priests, Ananias, commanded those who were before him to beat him in the
mouth. Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, wall in bank, and are you
seated to judge me according to the law, and command me to be smitten against
the law?" (Acts 21: 1-3). Knowing that the council was composed of Sadducees
and Pharisees, Paul cried out, "Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a
Pharisee: I am judged of the hope and resurrection of the dead." When he said
this, there was a discussion between the Pharisees and Sadducees, while the
crowd was divided. The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, no angels, no
spirits; but the Pharisees confess both. There was a bustling scream. The scribes,
who were on the side of the Pharisees, argued bitterly, saying, "We find nothing
wrong with this man" (Acts 21: 6-9). But the Sadducees held the opposite, and the
discussion continued. Fearing that the council will tear Paul apart, the chief captain
ordered his soldiers to get him out of there and take him back to the fort. The
following night, the Lord appeared to the Holy One and said to him, "Trust, Paul,
since you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome"
(Acts 23: 1).

When the day came, some Jews came together and swore they would not eat or
drink until they saw Paul dead. There were more than forty who had made this
conspiracy (Acts 23: 12-13). Seeing this, the commander sent Paul under a severe
custody where the procurator Felix, in Caesarea. The chief priests, Ananias, and
the elderly members of the Sanhedrin also moved to Caesarea to slander Paul
before the procurator and ask for his death; but they were not successful, because
no fault was found to merit the death penalty. The procurator, however, wishing to
gain the sympathy of the Jews, had the Apostle chained.

After two years, Félix was replaced like procurator by PorcioFesto. Then the prince
of the priests asked him with malicious intent to send Paul to Jerusalem, because
he hoped to murder the Apostle of Christ on the way. Festus, desiring to win over
the favor of the Jews, asked Paul, "Do you want to go to Jerusalem to be tried
there before me?" Paul replied, "I am before the judgment seat of Caesar where I
am to be judged, I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you well know, and if I
had wronged or committed something worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. There
is nothing that they accuse me, no one can take me to them. I appeal to Caesar!
―(Acts 25:9-11). Festus, after conversing with his counselors, answered Paul, "If
Caesar appeals to Caesar, you will go" (Acts 25:12).
Some days later King Agrippa arrived in Caesarea to greet Festus; and when he
heard of Paul, he wanted to see him. When he stood before the king and the
procurator, he spoke to them in detail about the Lord Christ and how he came to
believe in him; then the king said to him, "You almost convince me to be a
Christian." Then Paul said to him, "May God please you, that by little or by much,
not only you, but also all who hear me today, you were made as I am, except these
bonds!" (Acts 26: 28-29). After these words, the king, the procurator and those who
accompanied them, retired to a corner to deliberate, deciding later: "This man has
not done anything worthy of death or imprisonment." Then Agrippa said to Festus,
"This man could be released if he had not appealed to Caesar" (Acts 26: 31-32).

So they decided to send Paul to Caesar in Rome, for which he was entrusted,
along with several other prisoners, to the centurion of an imperial regiment of July,
who embarked them and departed with them. The trip was full of dangers due to
the contrary winds; and when they docked on the island of Crete, in the port known
as Good Harbors, the Saint predicted the future, recommending the keepers to
stay in port until the winter was over. But the centurion believed more in the pilot
and in the owner of the ship than in the words of Paul. While on the high seas,
there was a stormy wind that raised great waves and there was so much fog that
for fourteen days they could not see the sun by day or the stars at night; They did
not even know where they were, because the wave had dragged them; And in their
desperation they did not eat all those days and waited for death at any moment.

On board the ship were two hundred and seventy-six people. Paul said to them,
"Men, if you had listened to me and not set sail from Crete, you would have
avoided all this suffering and loss. But now I exhort you to be of good cheer, for no
life will be lost, but only the Last night an angel of God appeared to me, whom I
belong to and serve, saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul: you must be brought before
Caesar, and behold, God has given you all who sail with you.' Therefore, men, be
of good courage, for in God I believe that it shall come to pass as he told me "(Acts
27: 21-25). Then Paul persuaded them all to taste food, saying, "This is for your
health, for not a hair shall fall from the head of any of you" (Acts 27:34). Then he
took a piece of bread and, giving thanks to God, broke it and began to eat it. Then
they all had a better mood, they ate too.

At dawn the day they saw land, but they did not recognize the place. They tried to
guide the ship to the shore, but they hardly moved it, it began to sink; its bow
remained immobilized and its stern broke with the blow of the waves. The soldiers,
then, decided to kill all the prisoners, throwing them to the sea, so that no one
escaped; but the centurion, desiring to save Paul, prevented them from doing so,
and ordered those who knew how to swim to the water, to approach the shore. The
rest managed as best they could; some on planks, others on wreckage; But all
came safely and were brought out of the sea. They then discovered that the island
was called Melita (the present island of Malta). Its inhabitants, who were
barbarians, showed them not a small humanity, because, as it was raining and
cold, they lit a fire to warm those who had been wet in the sea. Meanwhile, Paul
gathered a large amount of wood, which he cast into the fire; in that, a serpent,
which was moving away from the heat, jumped on his hand. When the people saw
the viper hanging from his hand, they said among themselves, "Surely this man is
a murderer, who escaped from the sea, justice does not let him live" (Acts 28: 4).
But Paul, shaking the viper in the fire, suffered no harm. They waited when they
had to swell or fall dead, but having waited long and seeing that nothing happened
to him, they changed their opinion and began to say that it was a god.

The governor of that island, whose name was Publius, led the shipwrecked to his
house, where they stayed for three days. In those days, his father was ill with a
fever and suffered from dysentery. Then Paul healed him after praying to the Lord
and laying his hands on the sick. After this, all the sick of the island went to the
Holy Apostle to be healed.

Three months later, all the shipwrecked ones, including the Apostle, left in another
ship towards Rome, passing first by Syracuse and Puteoli. When the brothers who
lived in Rome heard of the arrival of Paul, they went to meet him, even reaching
the place of Appius and the Three Taverns. Seeing them, Paul felt comforted in
spirit and thanked God.

In Rome, the centurion gave the prisoners of Jerusalem to the captain of the guard,
but Paul was allowed to be alone, with a guard to guard him. Thus did the Apostle
live for two whole years, receiving all who came to him, preaching fearlessly and
openly the kingdom of God and proclaiming our Lord Jesus Christ?

The book of the Acts of the Apostles, written by St. Luke, relates up to here the life
and work of Paul. His later labors and sufferings are counted by him in his second
Epistle to the Corinthians as follows: "(Compared with others, I was) in the most
generous labors, in lashes unspeakably suffered, in the most frequent prisons, in I
was struck three times with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was
shipwrecked, one night and one day I was in the deep sea. Dangers in the
wilderness, dangers in the sea, dangers of false brethren, in labor and fatigue, in
many vigils, in hunger and thirst, in many fasts, in cold and in nakedness "(2
Corinthians 11: 23-27).

After crossing the length and breadth of the earth, on foot and by boat, the Apostle
Paul also came to know the heights of heaven, when he ascended into the third
heaven; Because the Lord, consoling his Apostle at the time of his most difficult
labors, which were made for his Holy Name, was astounded by the glory of
heaven, which no eye has seen, hearing secret words which man cannot say.

The way the Holy Apostle made the remaining struggles of his life and activities,
recounts the ecclesiastical historian Eusebio Pánfilo, in his second book
"Ecclesiastical History." He points out that after two years of imprisonment in
Rome, St. Paul was released for his innocence, and preached the word of God in
that city and in other lands of the West.

St. Simeon Metafrastes writes that after his seclusion in Rome, the Apostle
devoted himself to spreading the good news of Christ. From Rome he went to visit
Spain, Gaul and all Italy, illuminating the pagans with the light of faith and
converting them from idolatry to Christianity. When she was in Spain, a certain
noble and rich woman named Xantipa, when she heard the Apostle preaching
about Christ, wanted to see Paul in person and convinced her husband, Probo, to
invite him to their house to show him Your hospitality. When the Apostle entered
their house, in the face of the Saint he saw on his eyebrows written in golden
letters the words: Paul the preacher of Christ. "When reading this, although no one
else could see it, she prostrated herself Before the Apostle with joy and fear,
confessing Christ as the true God and praying to be baptized, Xantípa was the first
to receive this sacrament, and was followed by her husband, Probo, and all the
members of his family, as well as by Filoteo, The magistrate of the city, and many
others.

After visiting all these lands of the West and illuminating them with the light of holy
faith, Saint Paul realized that his own martyrdom was approaching. Back in Rome,
he wrote to his disciple Timothy, saying: "Now I am ready to be offered, and the
moment of my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have gone my way,
I have kept the faith, The crown of righteousness is kept to me, which the Lord, the
righteous judge, will give me in that day "(2 Timothy 4: 6-8).

The stage of Paul's sufferings is variously quoted by ecclesiastical historians.

Gayo, ecclesiastical chronicler; Seferino, bishop of Rome, and Dionysius, Bishop of
Corinth, claim that the Apostles Peter and Paul were executed together on 29 June
67 AD in the thirteenth year of Nero's reign. They were held in the Mamertino
prison in Rome, from where they were taken out to be executed at the same time.
At the entrance of the Doors of the city, the guides of the Apostles said goodbye to
these. Nícéforo Calisto (+1350) - also writes that Saint Paul suffered next to Saint
Peter the same day. St. Sofronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem, and the chroniclers
Justin and Irenaeus point out that Paul was martyred one year after Peter, but on
the same date, on June 29.

They claim that the reason for their death sentence was because, when he
announced Christ, he exhorted the maids and the women to embrace the life of
chastity. However, there is no great discrepancy; Because in the life of St. Peter
(according to Simeon Metafrastes), it is stated that St. Peter did not suffer
immediately (after the death of Simon Magus), but several years later; Because
Nero's twelve favorite concubines converted to Christianity and chose to live in
chastity thanks to the Apostle Peter. As Paul also lived in Rome and in the nearby
lands at the same time as Peter, it is likely that he would help him in his fight
against Simon Magus during Paul's first stay in Rome; And when he came to Rome
a second time, he and Saint Peter helped the salvation of men, teaching men and
women alike to live a pure life of chastity. Thus the Apostles awakened the wrath of
the unbelieving emperor Nero, who led a depraved life and condemned them to
death, causing Peter to be executed as a non-citizen by crucifixion on Janiculum
Hill and Paul as a Roman citizen (Since it was forbidden to execute citizens in a
dishonorable way) by decapitation; If not in the same year, at least on the same
date. When the honorable head of St. Paul was cut off from the wound, milk flowed
with the blood. The execution was carried out a short distance from the city, on the
road to Ostia. His precious relics were buried by the faithful in the place where he
ratified his testimony with martyrdom.

When the Apostle was led by the soldiers for his beheading, a miracle took place
outside the city. He met a woman, named Perpetua, who was blind in the right eye.
The Apostle said, "Woman, give me your handkerchief, I will give it back to you
when I return." The soldiers jokingly asserted: "O woman, you will receive it
quickly." When they arrived at the place of execution, they covered the eyes of the
Apostle with this same handkerchief. What did God do to glorify His servant Paul?
Invisibly, the bloodstained handkerchief appeared in Perpetua's hands. She rubbed
her eyes with him and was healed. When the soldiers came back and saw her
healed, they also began to believe in Christ and exclaimed, "Great is the God
whom Paul preaches." When Nero learned of what had happened, he became
terribly furious and commanded the soldiers of one Perpetua was also
apprehended, a heavy burden was tied around her neck, and thrown into the Tiber
River of Rome, by means of decapitation, immolation, stoning, dismemberment,
hanging, drowning, and skinning.

Thus was the chosen vessel of Christ, the teacher of all nations, the universal
preacher, the witness of the heights of heaven and of the beauties of paradise, the
object of rapture of angels and men, the great fighter and athlete, who Endured in
his own flesh the wounds of his Lord, the pre-eminent Holy Apostle Paul. For the
second time, without his body, he was raised to the third heaven, where he took his
place in the light of the Trinity, with his friend and collaborator, the Holy and
Predominant Apostle Peter, being transported from the militant church to the
triumphant church , In the midst of joyous thanksgiving, raising the voices and joy
of those who rejoiced; And now, they glorify the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
the Triune God, whom all honor, glorify, worship and thank, now and forever,
forever and ever. Amen
Saint Luke Evangelist

Luke the Evangelist (Greek: Λοσκάς, Loukás) is considered by the Christian

tradition as the author of the Gospel according to Luke and of the Acts of the
Apostles. He was a disciple of Paul of Tarsus. The Holy EvangelistLuke is not
counted among the first twelve apostles; Luke was born in the Syrian city of
Antioch. His parents were not members of the Hebrew race, at the same time the
name "Luke" reveals in part that it is an abbreviated form of the Latin name
"Lucanus." Likewise, in a passage from his Epistle to the Colossians, the Holy
Apostle Paul makes a clear distinction between Luke and "those who are of the
circumcision," that is, the Jews (Col. 4: 10-15). In his own writings, however, Luke
demonstrates a profound knowledge of the Law of Moses and of the customs of
the Jewish people. From this we can conclude that Luke had already adopted the
Jewish religion before becoming Christ. In addition, in his native country, which
was known for his flourishing activity in the arts and sciences, Luke had developed
his intellect with numerous scholarly studies. From the Epistle to the Colossians of
St. Paul, we deduce that Luke studied medicine (Col. 4:14). Tradition also points
out that he was a painter. He undoubtedly received an excellent education in
general, because of the quality of the Greek used in his writings, which is much
purer and more correct than that of the other writers of the New Testament.

Is believed that Luke was a physician who was born in the ancient city of Antioch in
Turkey, although some experts and theologians think that Luke was a Jew of the
Diaspora. Luke is mentioned in the epistles of Paul, besides being a man of good
Greek education and of medical profession. Probably related to the deacon
Nicholas (a proselyte of Antioch). According to tradition, he was a member of the
seventy-two first apostles sent by Christ. In the writing of his Gospel Luke, he did
an intense investigation interviewing people, including the Apostles, and surely
Mary, the mother of Jesus, who witnessed these events, listed in the prologue of
his Gospel, and that the Acts of the Apostles is a continuation of it. His gospel is
the longest and lucidly written with the purified and balanced use of the Greek, only
of a learned and learned person could expect exact dates. Lucanus (Luke) became
a Christian much later and according to tradition he met Mary, the mother of Jesus,
during a visit he made with Paul.

Luke, revealing to us the intimate secrets of the Annunciation, the Visitation, and
Christmas, Luke makes us understand that he personally knew Mary, the mother of
Jesus that is why Luke cites the events of Jesus' childhood, and Luke Feelings of
Mary. "Mary, for her part, carefully kept all these things, meditating them in her
heart," says Luke when the shepherds come to the manger to worship the newborn
Jesus. No doubt the exegetes agree on the hypothesis that it was the Virgin Mary
herself who transcribed the hymn of the "Magnificat", which she raised to God in a
moment of mystical exultation and wisdom infused by the Holy Spirit in the
encounter with his cousin Isabel. Even a very old painting of Mary in the catacombs
of Priscilla in Rome is attributed according to tradition, to the apostle. Luke was a
follower of Paul, "the beloved physician." Luke made many trips together with Saul
of Tarsus on his way to evangelization, so Paul was not a healthy man and
perhaps he needed Luke's help for his travels.

Luke is a physician and a disciple of Paul. Perhaps he converted to the Christian

faith when Christians persecuted from Jerusalem and Caesarea sought refuge
outside Palestine, carrying the message. From the year 50 he accompanied Paul in
his missions. Perhaps it was in Greece that he wrote his gospel and the book of
Acts. For him they were the two halves of the same work, and in all likelihood both
were completed before the year 64 or 65. By that time Luke was in Rome where he
had arrived two years before accompanying Paul missionary. Luke points out that
he went to investigate the testimony of the first servants of the Word, that is, of the
apostles. More than once he went with Paul to Jerusalem and to Caesarea, where
the first communities kept the documents on which the first three Gospels were
inspired. Luke preserved, like Mark, the two great blocks on which this primitive
catechesis was based: Jesus' activity in Galilee and his last days in Jerusalem, but
he inserted among them the content of another document containing many words
of Jesus.

Other documents of the first communities of Palestine provided the content of his
first two chapters devoted to the childhood of Jesus. Here is the testimony of the
primitive community of which Mary was part. These chapters give Luke's gospel its
own character its starting point; if it were to be characterized by a word, it would
have to be said that it is the most human of the four Gospels. That profoundly
human meaning of Luke, we see for example in the care that he put to remember
the attitude of Jesus with regard to women. But then, since Luke had left his family
to follow Paul missionary, living in insecurity, he emphasized more than others the
incompatibility between the Gospel and possessions. Luke, a disciple of Paul,
emphasized the words of Jesus that remember that salvation is first of all, not the
reward for our merits, but a gift of God. That is why he wanted to save the parables
that illustrate the very amazing mercy of God.
31
Luke died at age 84 in Boeotia, according to a "fairly early and widespread
tradition". According to Nikephoros Kallistos Xanthopoulos (Ecclesiastical History
14th century AD., Migne P.G. 145, 876) and others, Luke's tomb was located
in Thebes, whence his relics were transferred to Constantinople in the year 357

St. Irenaeus confirms the authorship of the Gospel of Luke, "Matthew published his
own Gospel among the Hebrews in his own language, when Peter and Paul were
preaching the gospel in Rome and founding the church there. After his departure,
Mark, the disciple and interpreter of Peter, himself left us in writing the essence of
Peter's preaching. Luke, follower of Paul, set in a book the gospel preached by his
teacher. Then John, the disciple of the Lord, who also lay on his breast, produced
his Gospel while living in Ephesus in Asia. (Irenaeus, AdversusHaereses 3, 3, 4)

31
Michael Walsh, ed. "Butler's Lives of the Saints." (HarperCollins Publishers: New York,
1991), pp. 342.
San Irenaeus

(He was born in Smyrna, Anatolia (present-day Turkey), Irenaeus was one of the
disciples of the bishop of Smyrna, Polycarp, disciple of the Apostle John.)
Confirms the authorship of the Gospel of Luke, "Matthew published his own Gospel
among The Hebrews in their own language, when Peter and Paul were preaching
the gospel in Rome and founding the church there. After his departure, Mark, the
disciple and interpreter of Peter, himself left us in writing the essence of Peter's
preaching. Luke, follower of Paul, set in a book the gospel preached by his
teacher. Then John, the disciple of the Lord, who also lay on his breast, produced
his Gospel while living in Ephesus in Asia. (Irenaeus, Adversus Haereses 3, 3, 4)
Saint Peter

Saint Peter (Syriac/Aramaic: ‫ܐܦܐ‬ ݂ܵ ‫ܡܥܘ ܹ݁ܢܟ‬

ܿ ‫ܫ‬, ShemayonKeppa, Hebrew: ‫שמעון בר‬
ܸ
‫ יונה‬Shim'on bar Yona, Greek: Πέτρος Petros, Latin: Petrus; r. AD 30, between AD
64 and 68, also known as Simon Peter, Simeon, or Simōn pronunciation,
according to the New Testament, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ,
leaders of the early Christian Great Church. Hippolytus of Rome, a 3rd-
century theologian, gave him the title of "Apostle of the Apostles".
According to Catholic teaching. The Syriac or Aramaic word for "rock" is kepa,
which in Greek became Πέτρος, also meaning "rock" He is also known as Simon
Peter, Cephas (Greek: Κηφᾶς).and Kepha (Hebrew: ‫)כיפא‬.Both Cephas and Kepha
also mean rock. Catholic theologian Rudolf Pesch argues that the
Aramaic cepha means "stone, ball, clump, and clew" and that "rock" is only a
connotation; that in the Attic Greek petra denotes "grown rock, rocky range, cliff,
grotto"; and that petros means "small stone, firestone, sling stone, moving boulder"

Peter was ordained by Jesus in the "Rock of My Church" dialogue in

Matthew 16:18. He is traditionally counted as the first Bishop of Rome—or pope—
and also by Eastern Christian tradition as the first Patriarch of Antioch. The ancient
Christian churches all venerate Peter as a major saint and as the founder of
the Church of Antioch and the Roman Church, but differ in their attitudes regarding
the authority of his present-day successors. The Orthodox Church of Antioch
considers it the first of its bishops in the apostolic succession. He played a
leadership role and was with Jesus during events witnessed by only a few
apostles, such as the Transfiguration. According to the gospels, Peter confessed
Jesus as the Messiah, was part of Jesus's inner circle, thrice denied Jesus and
wept bitterly once he realized his deed, and preached on the day of Pentecost. His
remains are said to be those contained in the underground Confessio of St. Peter's
Basilica, where Pope Paul VI announced in 1968 the excavated discovery of a first-
century Roman cemetery. Every 29 June since 1736, a statue of Saint Peter in St.
Peter's Basilica is adorned with papal tiara, ring of the fisherman, and papal
vestments, as part of the celebration of the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul.
According to Catholic doctrine, the direct papal successor to Saint Peter is the
incumbent pope, currently Pope Francis.

Peter is Brother of Andrew, the first Apostle called by Jesus, the holy Apostle
Peter, whom the Lord first named as Simon, was the son of Jonah, a Jew of the
tribe of Simeon, and was born in Bethsaida, a small, little-known town of Galilee In
Palestine. He took the daughter of Aristobulus, who was the brother of the holy
Apostle Barnabas, with whom he had a son and a daughter. Simon was simple and
uneducated; but impregnated with the fear of God; he observed all his
commandments, acting before him blamelessly in all his works. Simon was a
fisherman by trade; And as a poor man, he supported his family with his manual
labor, feeding his wife, his children, his mother-in-law and his old father Jonah.
Simon's brother, Andrew, scorning the vanity of this tumultuous world, chose to
remain single; He went to St. John the Baptist in the Jordan, who preached
repentance (Matthew 3) and became his disciple. When he heard the testimony of
his teacher concerning Christ the Messiah and especially the words he uttered
when he said to the Lord, "Behold the Lamb of God," Andrew left John, and with
another of the disciples of the Lord Baptist, followed the Lord by asking him,
"Rabbi, where do you live?" The Lord answered them, "Come and see," and they
went and saw where he dwelt and stayed with him that day (John 1: 38-39).

The next morning, Andrew went to his brother Peter and said, "We have found the
Messiah, the Christ"; And brought him to him. When Jesus looked at him, he said
to him, "You are Simon the son of Jonah; you shall be called Cephas, which means
a stone" (John 1: 41-42). Immediately, Peter was filled with love for the Lord,
considering him to be the true Christ sent by God for the salvation of the world. In
spite of this, Simon did not leave his home, he did not forget his occupations, but
he kept his family giving him everything necessary for his sustenance; His brother
Andres also helped him sometimes because of his old father. Thus they lived until
the Lord called them to the apostolic ministry.

One day, after the imprisonment of John the Baptist in Herod's dungeon, the Lord
walked on the Sea of Galilee (also known as the Sea of Tiberias or Lake
Gennesaret) and watching Peter and Andrew throw their nets into the water. Said:
"Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men!" I teach the kind of fishermen I
wanted to make them through a miraculous representation of fish. When he
stepped on Simon's boat, Christ commanded him to cast his nets, but Peter
replied, "Master, having worked all night, we have taken nothing, but at your word I
will cast the net." And having done so, they enclosed a great multitude of fish, so
much that the net began to break, which was an omen of the spiritual condition of
the Apostles; Because they would bring salvation to many nations with the web of
the Word of God. Seeing this miracle, Simon Peter fell on his knees before Jesus,
saying, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinner!" Fear seized him and all those
who were at his side, because of the fishing they had obtained. In answer to Peter
who had asked him to go away, the Savior, on the contrary, asked him to follow
him, saying, "Come into me, and I will make you fishers of men." From that day, the
Holy Apostle Peter followed Christ, as did his brother Andrew and the other
disciples who were called.

The Lord loved Peter because of his simplicity of heart. Once he went to his
humble house where his mother-in-law was prostrate with fever and whom he
healed by touching her. In the morning, when the Lord rose and went away to a
solitary place to pray, Peter and those who accompanied him, unable to separate
themselves from the Lord even for an hour, went after Him, searching anxiously for
his beloved Master and finding him , They said to him, "All seek you" (Mark 1: 30-
37). The Holy Apostle Peter did not turn away from the Lord, but remained at his
side, delighting in the contemplation of his face and his words, which were sweeter
than honey. He witnessed the many and great miracles of the Lord, which clearly
showed that Christ was the Son of God, in whom he believed without a doubt. And
just as he believed in the truth with his heart, he also confessed salvation with his
lips.
When the Lord went to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples,
"Who do men say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say that you are
John the Baptist, some Elijah, and some Jeremiah, or some of the prophets." And
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" And answering Simon Peter,
said: "Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God." Considering that this true
confession deserved a blessing and a promise, the Lord said to Peter: "Blessed
are you, Simon son of Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed it to you, but my
father who is in heaven. I say unto thee, that thou art Peter: and upon this rock I
will build my church: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it: and I will give
thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou bindest on earth
shall be bound in The heavens, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in
heaven "(Matthew 16: 13-19).

Inflamed with an ardent love for the Lord, the holy Apostle did not want any harm to
happen to him; Therefore, when the Lord prophesied his own passion, he
contradicted him, saying in his ignorance, "Lord, have pity on you: in no way can
this befall you." Although the words of the Apostle did not please Jesus, who had
come to earth to redeem the human race through His own suffering, they were
nevertheless inspired by an ardent love for the Lord. In them one realizes one of
the innocence of the Apostle. Hearing the reproach of the Lord: "Get thee behind
me, Satan, thou art a stumbling block," his disciple was not angry or irritated; Nor
did he forsake Christ the Savior, but accepting repulsion with love, followed the
Lord with even greater dedication (verses 20-23).

One day many of the disciples, unable to grasp the meaning of the words of their
Master, said, "This is a hard word: who can hear it?" And then they forsook Him
and did not walk again with Him. Then the Lord Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you
want to go also?" And Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the word of eternal life, and we believe and are sure that you are the
Christ, the Son of the living God" (John 6: 53-69).

Possessed by so much faith and ardor for the Lord, the Holy Apostle Peter dared to
ask him to let him come with him over the water. The Lord did not forbid it. Then
out of the boat, the Apostle Peter began to walk in the water, going to Jesus. But
as he had not yet received the Holy Spirit, he lacked a firm faith, and he was afraid
to see the wind agitated, and when he began to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me."
Jesus immediately stretched out his hand and took it, saying, "Man of little faith,
why did you doubt?" (Matthew 14: 22-33). The Lord, who, in addition to saving him
from drowning, saved him from his lack of faith when he said: "But I have prayed
for you, that your faith may not fail" (Luke 22:32).

Together with two other Apostles, James and John, the Apostle Peter had the
honor of being chosen to witness the glory of the transfiguration on Mount Tabor,
which was revealed to them; and there they heard with their own ears the voice of
God the Father who descended upon the Lord Jesus from on high. The Holy
Apostle mentions this in his epistle: "For we have not made known unto you the
power and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, following fables by composite art:
but as having seen with his own eyes his majesty: for he had received of God the
Father Honor and glory, when such a voice came to Him sent from the glorious
glory: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. ―And we heard this voice
sent from heaven, when we were with Him on the Holy Mount" (II Peter 1: 16-18).

When the Lord approached his voluntary passion and his death on the cross, the
Apostle Peter demonstrated his zeal not only in words, when he said: "Lord, I am
willing to go with you to prison and to death" (Luke 22:33); But also with deeds,
when he drew his sword and cut off the ear of Malch, the high priest's servant
(John 18:10). Although God, in His providence, let Peter fall into sin three times,
when he denied knowing our Lord the Savior, He raised him up and set him on the
right path of repentance, united with a bitter lamentation (Matthew 26 : 69-75). St.
Peter was the first of the disciples who had the honor of witnessing the resurrection
of the Lord Jesus Christ, according to the Holy Evangelist Luke: "The Lord has truly
risen and appeared to Simon" (Luke 24:34); While the Apostle Paul writes the
same: "He rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures, and appeared
to Cephas, and then to the twelve" (1 Corinthians 15: 4-5). Seeing the Lord, St.
Peter was filled with indescribable joy and received from him the merciful pardon of
his sin. The three times he denied the Lord were completely erased by the three
confessions of love that he made to the Savior, when he answered his three
questions: "Son of Jonah, do you love me?" With the answer: "Lord, You know all
things, you know that I love you" (John 21: 15-17). Then Christ elevated Peter to
apostolic dignity, making him a shepherd of reasoned flocks and symbolically
entrusting the keys of the kingdom of heaven.

After the ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, Peter, as pre-eminent among the
Apostles, was the teacher and preacher of the word of God, gaining for the Church
in one hour more than three thousand souls (Acts 2: 14-41) Manifesting even the
great power to perform miracles. When he went to the temple to pray,
accompanied by St. John, Peter saw a man who was a cripple by birth who was
sitting at the entrance to the temple, known as the Beautiful Gate; and when he
saw them he asked for alms. But both of them stared at him, saying, "Look at us."
He looked directly at them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter
said to him, "I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have I give you: in the name
of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, arise and walk." He took his right hand and raised it;
Immediately his feet and ankles gained strength and leapt, he stood and walked,
and entered with them into the temple, walking and leaping, and praising God (Acts
3: 1-8). Thanks to this miracle and to the preaching of the Apostle, about five
thousand people began to believe in Christ (Acts 4: 4).

Ananias and Sapphira his wife, who lived in Jerusalem, fell dead at the very word
of Peter, because they had lied to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5: 1-10). In Lidda, a
paralytic named Aeneas, who had been lying in his bed for eight years, was healed
by Peter, saying to him: "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you" (Acts 9: 32-34). In
Joppa, he raised a maiden named Tabitha (Acts 9: 36-42). And not only did his
hands and words work miracles, but also his own shadow: "so much that the sick
were cast into the streets and put them in beds and beds, so that Peter, at least his
shadow touched some of them "(Acts 5:15).

After witnessing a vision of a canvas descending from the sky, full of quadrupeds
and reptiles, a voice commanded Peter to kill and eat them and not to consider as
unclean what God had purified. This vision was a sign of the conversion of the
Gentiles to Christ (Acts 10). The pre-eminent Apostle Peter was thus the first to
open the door of faith to the Gentiles, baptizing Cornelius, the Roman centurion at
Caesarea.

The Holy Apostle once rejected a Samaritan sorcerer named Simon, who had
hypocritically received baptism and wanted to buy with money the gift of the Holy
Spirit. "Your money perishes with you," he told the sorcerer, "that you think that the
gift of God will be won for money." You have neither part nor lot in this business,
for your heart is not right before God. And pray to God, if perhaps the thought of
your heart will be forgiven you, for in the gall of bitterness and in the imprisonment
of wickedness I see that you are "(Acts 8: 20-23).

And at that same time King Herod's hand was to mistreat some of the Church, and
he killed with the sword James, John's brother. And when he saw that he had
pleased the Jews, he went forth to arrest Peter also. And the days of the
unleavened bread were, and he was taken prisoner; Handing over four quaternion
soldiers to guard him; Wanting to get the people out after Easter. So, Peter was
kept in jail; and the Church prayed to God without ceasing for him. But in the night,
the angel of the Lord freed him from his chains and brought him out of prison (Acts
12: 1-10).

The facts of the holy Apostle Peter which are mentioned here appear in detail in
the Holy Gospel and the Book of Acts of the Holy Apostles, which are read in the
churches for the faithful to hear. In view of the lack of space, it is not necessary to
take from the books of the Holy Scriptures all that has been written about the Holy
Apostle; Every Orthodox Christian must know these books well. Concerning the
evangelical work and the struggles of the Apostle, which are generally not well
known, St. SymeonMetafrastes reads as follows:

From Jerusalem, St. Peter traveled to Caesarea of Palestine, where he

consecrated a bishop among the priests who followed him. After healing many in
Sidon and consecrating a bishop there, he went to Beirut where he also
consecrated another bishop. He then went to Byblos and from there to Tripoli from
Phenicia, where he passed by a certain scholar named Marcón, whom he also
consecrated as a bishop for the faithful of that city. From Tripoli he went to Ortosia,
then to Antrada and to the island of Aratos; and then to Balanea, Paltos, Gavalla
and Laodicea. In this last place he healed many sick people, expelled demons from
the possessed and gathered the faithful people in a church, where he consecrated
a bishop for them. From Laodicea, St. Peter went to Antioch, the most important
city in Syria, where the three-time accursed Samaritan sorcerer Simon Magus was
hiding from the soldiers that Emperor Claudius had sent to arrest him. Upon
learning of the arrival of the Apostle, Simon Magus retired to the region of Judea.

In Antioch, the Apostle healed many sick and, after preaching on the Triune God,
consecrated several bishops; among them, Marciano to Siracusa, in Sicily, and to
Pancracio to Taormina. The Holy One then left Antioch and went to Tiana of
Cappadocia, from where he departed to Galatian's Ancira, where he raised a man
and built a church, after having catechized and baptized many, and appointed a
bishop. After Ancira, he left for Sinope de Pontus. It was here that his brother, the
Apostle Andrew, met him; and together they taught the people. Then Peter visited
Amastris, in the middle of the province of Pontus. After remaining in Gangra of
Paflagonia, Claudiopolis of Ponto and Bitinia, and Nicomedia, the holy Apostle
rested for a time in Nicaea. In order to return to Jerusalem for the Passover feast,
he returned through Pesach, Cappadocia, and Syria. After having visited Antioch
again, he finally arrived in Jerusalem. During his stay in that city, the Holy Apostle
Paul went to see Peter, whom he had not seen for three years since his conversion
to Christ, as he mentions in his epistle to the Galatians: "Then after three years , I
went to Jerusalem to see Peter and there I stayed with him for a fortnight
"(Galatians 1:18).

On that occasion, both Apostles also met with the other Saints and renowned
Apostles; and together they wrote the 85 canons of the ecclesiastical rules. After
this, St. Paul dedicated himself to the task for which he had been called and St.
Peter again visited Antioch, where he consecrated as a bishop Evodius, one of the
seventy. He then moved to the Phrygian town of Sinada and from there, again to
Nicomedia, where he consecrated as a bishop to Procoro, who, after receiving the
episcopal rank, followed St. John the Theologian. Being in llio, city that is near to
Hellelesponto, after arriving from Nicomedia, the Holy Apostle consecrated as
bishop for that place to Cornelio the Centurión, before returning to Jerusalem.
There the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him in a vision, saying, "Arise, Peter, and
go to the west: the time has come for this to be illuminated by your preaching: I will
always be by your side."

Meanwhile, Simon Magus had been arrested by the soldiers who were sent to take
him, and took him to Rome to be punished for his actions. However, he deceived
them by confusing many with his magical art; and not only could he avoid
punishment, but he even began to be venerated by many who took him as deity.
This precursor of the antichrist so impressed with his witchcraft that even the
Emperor Claudius himself ordered the founding of a statue of the magician, which
read the inscription "To Simon the Holy God," a work that was placed between the
two bridges of the Tiber. Justin the Philosopher and Irenaeus of Lyons write in
detail about this. But let us return to our history.

After telling the brothers about the vision he had had and visiting the church he had
established, the great Apostle said goodbye to them and returned to Antioch,
where he met with the Apostle Paul. There he consecrated the bishops Urbano to
Tarsus; Epaphrodite for Laucas: on the Adriatic; Apollo, Brother of Polycarp, to
Smyrna; And Figelo for Ephesus (of the latter is said to have entered into
communion with Simon Magus, after having deviated from the right way). From
Antioch, St. Peter moved to Macedonia, where he also consecrated as bishops to
Olympus to Philip; Jason for Thessalonica; And to Silas for Corinth, the last of
whom he met with the Apostle Paul. After consecrating Herodius, as bishop of
Patras, he sailed for Sicily; and in Taormina, spent a brief time with Pancracio, who
was a very eloquent person. There, after catechizing and baptizing a certain
Maximus and consecrating him as bishop, he left for Rome.

Once there, the holy Apostle preached in the squares and homes to God, the
Father Almighty, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the true God of the true
God, and the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Creator of Life. Many converted to the
Christian faith, getting rid of the deception of idolatry thanks to sacred baptism.
Seeing this, Simon Magus could not remain calm or conceal his malice towards the
Apostle; and began to think how to humiliate the preaching of the Apostle by which
the glory of the sorcerer was reduced to nothing. He began by openly impeding the
true teaching of the Apostle with his false words and deeds. Shamelessly, he
declared his opposition to San Pedro in the middle of the city.

He deceived the people, inducing in them strange fantasies; Evoked apparitions

that seemed to precede and follow him, believing people to be dealing with the
souls of the dead; In the same way, he showed people who had risen, those who
worshiped him as god; Healed the lame, giving them back the ability to walk and
jump. But none of this was real, but rather an illusion, like the mythical Proteus,
who was said to be capable of taking various forms: sometimes he appeared with
two faces, then he became a goat, a snake, a bird , Or turned into fire; In a word,
took any form to deceive the credulous. However, the great Apostle of the Lord
was forced to witness the events of Simon, but his illusions vanished immediately.

When St. Peter learned that Simon called himself the Christ and performed great
miracles in the presence of the people, full of zeal for the true God, he went to the
sorcerer's house; there he found at the entrance a large crowd that prevented the
Apostle from entering. Then Peter said, "Why do you keep me from entering the
sorcerer?" "He is no sorcerer," some answered him, "but a mighty god, and he has
at his entrance his own guard who knows the thoughts of others." Then they
pointed the Apostle to a black dog who was thrown to the door and said to him,
"This dog kills all those who think evil of Simon." "I say what is true of him," replied
Peter, "Simon is on the side of the devil." And approaching the dog, the Apostle
said: "Go and tell Simon that Peter, the Apostle of Christ, wants to come and see
him." The dog entered and, using human language, transmitted to Simon what the
Apostle had commanded him to say. All who heard the dog speak were amazed;
But Simon, for his part, sent with the dog the message indicating that Pedro had
passed. As soon as the Holy Apostle had entered the house, Simon tried to use his
witchcraft before the eyes of Peter and before the people. But the Holy Apostle,
with the help of the power of Christ, performed even greater miracles. Of the many
miracles he did, the ancient ecclesiastical historian Hegésippus, who lived not long
after the apostolic age, mentions one in particular. There was in Rome a noble lady
of the imperial dynasty, whose young son had died. The mother lamented and
cried inconsolably at her death; In that, those who comforted her remembered the
men who had appeared in those days in Rome - Peter and Simon Magus - and
how they were able to resurrect the dead. So they sent for Peter from the house of
Simon and Simon.

The boy's funeral was attended by many important people and also a large crowd
of people from the village. Then the Holy Apostle took the opportunity to tell Simon
Magus, who was venerated by the people by his powers, that any of them that
raised the young, the doctrine of each would be recognized as the true. The people
approved the proposal of the Apostle. Trusting in his magical art, Simon addressed
the crowd, saying, "If I raise the boy, will Peter be put to death?" We will burn him
alive before your very eyes, "the people shouted, and then, approaching the coffin,
the sorcerer began with his Magic and, with the aid of the demons, made him
appear as if the young man was shaking his head. ―Immediately the people started
shouting that the young man had risen and that he was alive and they went to the
holy Apostle to burn him alive. He said, "If the young man is really alive, stop, talk
and walk until there is no doubt that Simon is deceiving them with his witchcraft."
The magician stood for a long time at the side of the coffin invoking the power of
the demons, but without success, then he tried to flee from embarrassment, but the
multitude prevented him from doing so. He began to pray, saying: "O Lord Jesus
Christ, who commanded us to raise the dead in your name, I beseech you to return
the life To this boy, so that all here present know that you are the true God and that
apart from you there is no one else, you who live and reign eternally with the
Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen. "Then he called the young man, saying," Get up,
boy! My Lord Jesus Christ has healed you and brought you out of the dead. "The
young man opened his eyes, came out of the coffin and began to walk and talk.

This story of Hegésippus is enlarged by Marcellus the Roman, who at the

beginning was a disciple of Simon Magus, but later was illuminated by the Apostle
Peter with the sacred faith and the Holy Baptism. In his epistle to the martyrs Nero
and Arquilius, Marcelo refers to the young man who raised the Holy Apostle: "The
young man, falling at the feet of St. Peter, exclaimed:" I consider the Lord Jesus
Christ, who sent his angels to return me to the Life, thanks to your supplication, for
my widowed mother. "Then the whole crowd began to shout," There is only one
God and there is none other than the one revealed by Peter. "Seeing this, Simon
Magus tried to flee, His head on that of a dog by the power of the demons, yet the
people apprehended him, some wanted to kill him by stoning him, while others
thought to burn him alive. But the Holy Apostle objected to this, saying: "Our Lord
and Master Commands us not to pay evil with evil; Let him go wherever he wants.
The impotence of his sorcery is already enough shame, offense and punishment
for him. "Once free, - as Marcelo relates, - Simon Magus came to me, assuming I
knew nothing of the miraculous event. To a huge dog and said to me: Watch if
Pedro comes to you, as is his custom. An hour later, the holy Apostle arrived at the
house and released the dog, saying: "Go and tell Simon Magus to stop fooling with
His demonic power to the people for whom Christ shed his blood. ―The dog went
and, as if it were a person, transmitted to him the words of the Apostle." When I
heard this, "Marcelo points out," I hastened to meet the saint Peter and with honor I
received him in my house, but I threw Simon and the animal in. The dog, without
damaging anyone else, threw it out and, picking it up with his teeth, rolled it in the
dirt. Window, St. Peter prevented the dog, in the name of Christ, Touching the
magician's body, but the dog, although it did not touch the magician's body, tore all
his clothes, leaving him completely naked. When the people saw him, he began to
shout at him, making fun of him and beating him, after which he was expelled from
the city with his dog. Of shame and humiliation, Simon disappeared in Rome for a
whole year, until Nero, who succeeded Claudius and was an atheist ruler, heard
some evil people worship the wicked sorcerer. Then Nero sent for him, with whom
his affection grew, and they became great friends.

It is said that Simon once commanded himself to be beheaded, with the promise
that on the third day he would rise from the dead; but instead of putting his head on
the scaffold, he put the one of a sheep, which had turned into human form; so the
lamb was beheaded instead of the sorcerer. But San Pedro was responsible for
dissipating this demonic illusion and exposing the deception of Simon; so all saw
that it was not the head of the sorcerer, but that of a sheep that had been cut. All
the ancient writings speak of Peter's last victory over the sorcerer, in whom he
died. Unable to defeat the Apostle by any means and unable to endure any more
shame and humiliation, the sorcerer announced that he would ascend to heaven.
To do this, he gathered all the demons who served him, and putting on a laurel
wreath on his head, went to the center of the city of Rome, to a high building. When
he was angry, he addressed the crowd from above, saying: "Romans, since you
have remained in your ignorance until now and have abandoned me to follow
Peter, I will leave you, I will no longer protect this city; I will command my angels to
lift me up into their arms, as you will see, and I will send upon you terrible
punishments for not hearing my words, and not having believed in my works.‖

After saying this, he closed his hands and threw himself into the air; as it was held
by the demons, at first it was able to fly back through the air. The people, who were
totally amazed, said: "Flying with your own body in the air is something divine." But
the Apostle began to pray to God in a loud voice, so that all would hear him: "O
Lord Jesus Christ, my God, reduces to nothing the deceit of this sorcerer, that
those who believe in you may not fall into temptation.‖ And then he exclaimed, "In
the name of my God, O demons, I command you not to hold it any longer, but to
leave it where it is now, in the midst of the air." The demons immediately obeyed
the Apostle's command and released Simon into the air. The miserable sorcerer
fell heavily to the ground, as did the demon when he was expelled once from the
heights of heaven, and his bones were shattered. The people who witnessed this
then exclaimed: "Great is the God preached by Peter! Actually, there is no god but
Him!" Despite his body being destroyed, the sorcerer, according to divine
providence, remained alive long enough to realize the impotence of the unhappy
demons and their own lack of power, as well as to fill themselves with shame and
understand the supremacy of Almighty God. Simon lay on the ground with his
broken limbs, enduring a permanent suffering, but the next morning, he vomited his
impure soul with pain and gave himself to the hands of demons to drag him to
where his father, Satan, in hades. After this event, the Apostle went up to an
elevated part and, after asking for silence, began to teach the people so that it
recognized the true God; Thanks to his extensive preaching, turned many to the
Christian faith.

Upon learning of the humiliating end of his friend, Emperor Nero became very
angry with the Holy Apostle and wanted to have him killed. However, as Simeon
Metafrastes relates, the choleric emperor did not immediately perform his vile
intentions towards the saint, but waited several years. After the death of Simon
Magus, St. Peter did not stay for long in Rome. In this city, he converted and
baptized many, established the Church on a firm foundation and consecrated Lino
as bishop, after which he left for Tarraco in Spain, where he consecrated as bishop
to Epaphrodites (not mentioned above). Within Spain, he traveled to Sermio, where
he consecrated as bishop for that city to Epeneto, after which he moved to
Cártago, in Africa, where he ordained Crescensio as bishop. In Egypt, he also
consecrated Rufus to Thebes. After witnessing the revelation, she went to
Jerusalem to be present in the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God Mary, a
fact that occurred eleven years after the Ascension of the Lord. After returning to
Egypt and traveling through Africa, he moved to Rome and Milan, and finally to
Fotia, where he ordained priests and bishops. When he traveled to Brittany, where
he remained for some time, he led many to the Christian faith. There, the Apostle
had a vision of an angel, who said to him, "O Peter, Apostle of Christ, the time has
come for you to depart from this life: you must go to Rome where you will receive
the grace of Christ the Lord after Your crucifixion.‖ Giving thanks to God, St. Peter
remained in Britain a few more days after this revelation; and there he
strengthened the faith of the churches and ordained bishops, priests, and deacons.

He also came to Rome for the third time, in the twelfth year of Nero's reign. There
he consecrated Clement as bishop (whose memory is remembered on November
24). This was Roman by birth and had royal blood. In his youth, his mother and two
brothers were caught in a storm at sea and lost their course. His father went on his
quest, but he also disappeared. Then Clement, who was twenty-four years old,
departed to seek his family. When he arrived in Alexandria, he met the Apostle
Barnabas and became a friend of the apostle Peter. This fact led him to discover
his two lost brothers, Faustino and Faustiniano, who were followers of Peter.
Thanks to divine providence, the Apostle managed to find both the father and the
old mother of Clement, who lived as a beggar. After reuniting, the family returned to
Rome. As we pointed out, Clement was consecrated as a bishop to assist in the
administration, although he could have refused, not wanting to carry that burden
upon himself. However, when he heard the admonitions of the holy Apostle, as an
obedient son, he bowed his head to receive the yoke of Christ, and with his teacher
and other saints he threw the chariot of the word of God. Many nobles and
important people of Rome were also enlightened with faith and sacred baptism.

In the house of Nero were two women who stood out for their beauty and whom he
loved more than all his other concubines. But they accepted the holy faith and
resolved to lead a chaste life, so that they no longer wanted to submit to the lustful
desires of the emperor. However, this shameless and insatiable fornicator was
infuriated against the Church by this, and especially with the Apostle Peter, who
was responsible for the conversion to women's Christianity. Also recalling the
emperor the death of his dear friend Simon Magus, he began a persecution after
St. Peter, trying to kill him. The mentioned ecclesiastical historian Hegésipo
indicates that when they looked for Peter to execute it, the faithful prayed to this
one, by reason of their common good, so that it was hidden and left of Rome. The
Apostle did not consent in any way to this, wishing rather to suffer and die for
Christ; But the faithful, with tears in their eyes, begged for him to save his life,
which was so necessary to the holy Church, being overwhelmed by the waves of
the tempest of tribulations caused by the unbelievers. Seeing the imploring plea of
his rightful herd, St. Peter promised to hide outside the city. On the following
night, after praying with his spiritual sons, the Apostle, said goodbye and left
alone. But when he had crossed the gates of the city, he saw the Lord Jesus
Christ coming toward him. Kneeling before the Lord, Peter said to him,
"Where are you going, Lord?" "I go to Rome to be crucified again," answered
the Lord and then disappeared. (Quo Vadis Domine)

Amazed, the Apostle understood that Christ, who suffers in his servants as in his
own members, also wanted to suffer in his body. El Salvador prophesied of the
crucifixion that would happen to Peter, when he said to him, "When you were
younger, you clothed and went wherever you wanted, but when you were old, you
would stretch out your hands, and another will cling to you and take you where you
do not want to.‖ He said this by saying what death he was to glorify God (John 21:
18-19). He says in his second epistle to all Christians: "For it is my righteousness,
while I am in this tabernacle, to urge you with admonition: knowing that I briefly
have to leave my tabernacle, as our Lord Jesus Christ hath declared me" (II Peter
1: 13-14). Therefore, he returned to the faithful and was arrested by the soldiers
and then was killed. St. Simeon Metaphastes says that St. Peter was not taken
alone, but with a large number of faithful, among whom were Clement, Herodion
and Olympus. The tyrant condemned them to beheading, but he ordered the
crucifixion of St. Peter. Taking care of the condemned, the soldiers took them to
the place of execution. As Clement was a relative of the emperor, they took pity on
him and set him free; But Herodion and Olympus, who had come to Rome together
with the Apostle Peter, were beheaded, along with the multitude of the faithful. The
Apostle asked that he be crucified with his head down, saying: "I do not deserve to
be crucified as my Christ did above, so was crucified to see the earth, where I
would descend to hades to save the souls there. Head down to see the sky, where
I will go. " This was how the great saint of the Lord, the Apostle Peter, rested,
glorifying God with his death on the cross; Enduring the terrible torment of nails in
his hands and feet, delivered his immaculate soul into the hands of God, June 29,
67 AD.

His disciple, the Apostle Clement, after requesting the body of St. Peter, took him
down from the cross, washed him, and after calling the remaining faithful and
clergymen, buried him with honor; Likewise, they also gave a decent burial to the
bodies of Herodion, Olympus and the others who suffered with him by glorifying
Christ the God who is forever glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Road to Rome: Antioch and Corinth

According to the epistle to the Galatians 2:11, Peter went to Antioch where Paul
rebuked him for treating Gentile converts as inferior to Jewish Christians (see
the Incident at Antioch). Galatians is accepted as authentic by almost all scholars.
These may be the earliest mentions of Peter to be written. Later accounts expand
on the brief biblical mention of his visit to Antioch. The Liber Pontificalis (9th
century) mentions Peter as having served as bishop of Antioch for seven years and
32
having potentially left his family in the Greek city before his journey to Rome .
Claims of direct blood lineage from Simon Peter among the old population of
Antioch existed in the 1st century and continue to exist today, notably by
certain Semaan families of modern-day Syria and Lebanon. Historians have
furnished other evidence of Peter's sojourn in Antioch. Subsequent tradition held
that Peter had been the first Patriarch of Antioch. According to the writings of
Origenand Eusebius in his Church History (III, 36) Peter would have been the
.
founder of the Church of Antioch And "after having first founded the church at
Antioch, went away to Rome preaching the Gospel, and he also, after [presiding
over] the church in Antioch, presided over that of Rome until his death"
After presiding over the church in Antioch by a while, Peter would have been
succeeded by Evodius, and after by Ignatius, who was a student of John the

32
Louise Ropes Loomis, the Book of Popes (Liber Pontificalis). Merchantville, NJ: Evolution
Publishing. ISBN 1-889758-86-8 (Reprint of the 1916 edition).
Apostle Eusebius of Caesarea, in his "HistoriaEcclesiastica (I,12:2)" while naming
some of the Seventy Disciples of Jesus, says: This is the account of Clement, in
the fifth book of Hypotyposes (A.D. 190); in which he also says that Cephas was
one of the seventy disciples, a man who bore the same name as the apostle Peter,
and the one concerning whom Paul says, [When Cephas came to Antioch I
withstood him to his face.]— Galatians 2:11
The Clementine literature, a group of related works written in the fourth century but
believed to contain materials from earlier centuries; relate information about Peter
that may come from earlier traditions. One is that Peter had a group of 12 to 16
33
followers, whom the Clementine writings name Another is that it provides an
itinerary of Peter's route from Caesarea Maritima to Antioch, where he debated his
adversary Simon Magus; during this journey he ordained Zacchaeus as the first
bishop of Caesarea and Maro as the first bishop of Tripolis. Fred Lapham suggests
the route recorded in the Clementine writings may have been taken from an earlier
document mentioned by Epiphanius of Salamis in his Panarion called "The
34
Itinerary of Peter" Eusebius of Caesarea relates that when Peter confronts Simon
Magus at Judea (mentioned in Acts 8), Simon flees to Rome where the Romans
got to regard him as a god. According to Eusebius, his luck did not last long since
35
God sent Peter to Rome and Simon was quenched and immediately destroyed
An apocryphal work, the ActusVercellenses (7th century), a Latin text preserved in
only one manuscript copy published widely in translation under the title Acts of
36
Peter, sets Peter's confrontation with Simon Magus in Rome Peter might have
visited Corinth and maybe would have existed a party of "Cephas".First
Corinthians suggests that perhaps Peter visited the city of Corinth, located at
[1Cor. 1:12]
Greece, during their missions. Dionysius, bishop of Corinth, in his Epistle to
the Roman Church under Pope Soter (A.D. 165–174) declares that Peter and Paul
founded the Church of Rome and the Church of Corinth, and they have lived in
Corinth for some time and finally in Italy where they found death: You have thus by
such an admonition bound together the planting of Peter and of Paul at Rome and
Corinth. For both of them planted and likewise taught us in our Corinth. And they
37
taught together in like manner in Italy, and suffered martyrdom at the same time .

33
Homilies, 2.1; Recognitions, 2.1
34
Lapham, An Introduction to the New Testament Apocrypha (London: T&T Clark
International, 2003), p. 76
35
Eusebius. "Church History Book II, Chapter 14–15". Retrieved 1 June 2015.
36
Lapham, Introduction, p. 72
37
Of Corinth, Dionysius. "Fragments from a Letter to the Roman Church Chapter III".
www.earlychristianwritings.com
Death of Saint Peter
According to Christian tradition, Peter was crucified in Rome under Emperor Nero
Augustus Caesar. It is traditionally held that he was crucified upside down at his
own request, since he saw himself unworthy to be crucified in the same way as
38
Jesus. Tradition holds that he was crucified at the site of the Clementine Chapel .
His remains are said to be those contained in the underground Confessio of St.
Peter's Basilica, where Pope Paul VI announced in 1968 the excavated discovery
of a first-century Roman cemetery. Every 29 June since 1736, a statue of Saint
Peter in St. Peter's Basilica is adorned with papal tiara, ring of the fisherman,
and papal vestments, as part of the celebration of the Feast of Saints Peter and
Paul, According to Catholic doctrine.
In the epilogue of the Gospel of John, Jesus hints at the death by which Peter
[Jn. 21:18–19]
would glorify God, saying "when you are old you will stretch out your
hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go."
This is interpreted by some as a reference to Peter's crucifixion. Theologians

38
The Clementine Chapel, also known as La Clementina, is a particular Roman
Catholic chapel located within the underground necropolitan grottoes of Saint Peter's
Basilica in Vatican City. It is the area where the relics of St. Peter were venerated in early
medieval times, before his skull was removed to be housed at the Archbasilica of St. John
Lateran. Open today for pilgrims, the site venerates the original pavonazzo
marble monument placed there by Emperor Constantine, and was used in early medieval
times to house the skull of St. Peter. Before the Clementine chapel was constructed, the
skull of St. Peter was housed in its original resting place in the graffiti wall below the large
tomb-like structure commissioned by Emperor Constantine. The structure is visible behind
the altar of the chapel. The Clementine chapel was constructed by the order of Pope
Gregory, due to the original Constantinian monument not having a high altar, thus a new
structure was constructed around the Constantinian monument, and a more traditional
high altar was constructed above it in order to celebrate Divine Liturgy, and the
Clementine chapel was constructed at the back to be used as a place for the veneration of
the skull of St. Peter. The chapel is named in honor of Pope Clement VIII, who used the
chapel as his burial place and donated funds to install various religious mosaics that have
been preserved to this day. It is one of the two main untouched areas of Old St. Peter's
Basilica, along with the chapel of the Niche of the Pallia. A notable feature of the chapel
are the ornate bronze sculptures located in the chapel commemorating certain biblical
scenes, along with its gilded cage in the central altar. According to a direct tour and
interview granted to History Channel by the Archpriest of the Basilica, Cardinal Angelo
Comastri, the chapel is the holiest site in the archaeological basilica. The chapel itself is
directly behind the present niche which is above the relics of St. Peter, thereby the site
correlates to the present high altar of Basilica today. The place where the recently
discovered Bones of St. Peter are presently housed is not in the niche of the pallia, nor the
Clementine chapel but in their original resting place in the graffiti wall.The skull of St.
Peter which was first venerated in the Clementine chapel. (After being moved there by
Pope Gregory during its construction). Is now housed in the golden reliquary above the
high altar of the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, after being moved there in late medieval
times.
Donald Fay Robinson and Warren M. Smaltz have suggested that the incident
in Acts 12:1–17, where Peter is "released by an angel" and goes to "another
place", really represents an idealized account of his death, which may have
occurred in a Jerusalem prison in as early as 44 AD.
39
The Muratorian fragment , dated to the second century A.D., notes that the
primary eyewitness to Acts, Luke, was not present at Peter's death. However, early
Church Tradition says that Peter probably died by crucifixion (with arms
outstretched) at the time of the Great Fire of Rome in the year 64. The writings of
the 1st century Church Father Ignatius of Antioch refer to Peter and Paul giving
admonitions to the Romans, indicating Peter's presence in
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Rome.MargheritaGuarducci , who led the research leading to the rediscovery of
Peter's reputed tomb in its last stages (1963–1968), concludes Peter died on 13
October AD 64 during the festivities on the occasion of the "dies imperii" of
Emperor Nero.This took place three months after the disastrous fire that destroyed
Rome for which the emperor (Nero) wished to blame the Christians. This "dies
imperii" (regnal day anniversary) was an important one, exactly ten years after
Nero ascended to the throne, and it was 'as usual' accompanied by much
bloodshed. Traditionally, Roman authorities sentenced him to death by crucifixion.
According to the apocryphal Acts of Peter, he was crucified head down. Tradition
also locates his burial place where the Basilica of Saint Peterwaslater built, directly
beneath the Basilica's high altar.

Clement of Rome, in his Letter to the Corinthians (Chapter 5), written c. 80–98,
speaks of Peter's martyrdom in the following terms: "Let us take the noble

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The Muratorian fragment is a copy of perhaps the oldest known list of most of the books
of the New Testament. The fragment, consisting of 85 lines, is a 7th-
century Latin manuscript bound in a 7th or 8th century codex from the library
of Columban's monastery at Bobbio; it contains features suggesting it is a translation from
a Greek original written about 170 or as late as the 4th century. Both the degraded
condition of the manuscript and the poor Latin in which it was written have made it
difficult to translate. The beginning of the fragment is missing, and it ends abruptly. The
fragment consists of all that remains of a section of a list of all the works that were
accepted as canonical by the churches known to its original compiler. It was discovered in
the Ambrosian Library in Milan by Father Ludovico Antonio Muratori (1672–1750), the
most famous Italian historian of his generation, and published in 1740.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muratorian_fragment

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MargheritaGuarducci (20 December 1902, in Florence – 2 September 1999, in Rome)
was an Italian archaeologist, classical scholar and epigrapher. She was a major figure in
several crucial moments of the 20th century academic community. A student of Federico
Halbherr, she edited his works after his death. She was the first woman to
lead archaeological excavations at the Vatican, succeeding Ludwig Kaas, and completed
the excavations on Saint Peter's tomb, discovering relics she asserted were those of Saint
Peter. She has asserted that the inscription on the Praeneste fibula is a forgery.
examples of our own generation. Through jealousy and envy the greatest and most
just pillars of the Church were persecuted, and came even unto death. … Peter,
through unjust envy, endured not one or two but many labours, and at last, having
delivered his testimony, departed unto the place of glory due to him.
The death of Peter is attested to by Tertullian at the end of the 2nd century, in
his Prescription Against Heretics, noting that Peter endured a passion like his
Lord's: In his work Scorpiace 15, he also speaks of Peter's crucifixion: "The
budding faith Nero first made bloody in Rome. There Peter was girded by another,
since he was bound to the cross"Origen in his Commentary on the Book of
Genesis III, quoted by Eusebius of Caesaria in his Ecclesiastical History (III, 1),
said: "Peter was crucified at Rome with his head downwards, as he himself had
desired to suffer." The Cross of St. Peter inverts the Latin crossbased on this
refusal, and his claim of being unworthy to die the same way as his Saviour. Peter
of Alexandria, who was bishop of Alexandria and died around A.D. 311, wrote an
epistle on Penance, in which he says: "Peter, the first of the apostles, having been
often apprehended, and thrown into prison, and treated with ignominy, was last of
all crucified at Rome".
The apocryphal Acts of Peter is also thought to be the source for the tradition about
the famous phrase "Quo vadis, Domine?" (In Greek: Κύριε, ποῦὑπάγεις "Kyrie,
pouhypageis?"), which means "Where are you going, Lord?‖ According to the
story, Peter, fleeing Rome to avoid execution, asked the question of a vision of
Jesus, to which Jesus allegedly responded that he was "going to Rome to be
crucified again." On hearing this, Peter decided to return to the city to accept
martyrdom. This story is commemorated in an Annibale Carracci painting.
The Church of Quo Vadis, near the Catacombs of Saint Callistus, contains a stone
in which Jesus' footprints from this event are supposedly preserved, though this
was apparently an ex-voto from a pilgrim, and indeed a copy of the original, housed
in the Basilica of St Sebastian.
The ancient historian Josephus describes how Roman soldiers would amuse
themselves by crucifying criminals in different positions, and it is likely that this
would have been known to the author of the Acts of Peter. The position attributed
to Peter's crucifixion is thus plausible, either as having happened historically or as
being an invention by the author of the Acts of Peter. Death, after crucifixion head
down, is unlikely to be caused by suffocation, the usual "cause of death in ordinary
crucifixion".
The Eastern Orthodox Church regards Apostle Peter, together with Apostle Paul,
as "Preeminent Apostles". Another title used for Peter is Coryphaeus, which could
be translated as "Choir-director", or lead singer. The church recognizes Apostle
Peter's leadership role in the early church, especially in the very early days at
Jerusalem, but does not consider him to have had any "princely" role over his
fellow Apostles. The New Testament is not seen by the Orthodox as supporting
any extraordinary authority for Peter with regard to faith or morals. The Orthodox
also holds that Peter did not act as leader at the Council of Jerusalem, but as
merely one of a number who spoke. The final decision regarding the non-necessity
of circumcision (and certain prohibitions) was spelled out by James, the Brother of
the Lord (though Catholics hold James merely reiterated and fleshed out what
Peter had said, regarding the latter's earlier divine revelation regarding the
inclusion of Gentiles).Eastern and Oriental Orthodox do not recognize the Bishop
of Rome as the successor of St. Peter but the Ecumenical Patriarch of
Constantinople sends a delegation each year to Rome to participate in the
celebration of the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul. In the Ravenna Document of 13
October 2007, the representatives of the Eastern Orthodox Church agreed that
"Rome, as the Church that 'presides in love' according to the phrase of St. Ignatius
of Antioch (To the Romans, Prologue), occupied the first place in the taxis, and that
the bishop of Rome was therefore the protos among the patriarchs, if the Papacy
unites with the Orthodox Church. They disagree, however, on the interpretation of
the historical evidence from this era regarding the prerogatives of the bishop of
Rome as protos, a matter that was already understood in different ways in the first
millennium."With regard to Jesus' words to Peter, "Thou art Peter and upon this
rock I will build my church", the Orthodox hold Christ is referring to the confession
of faith, not the person of Peter as that upon which he will build the church. This is
allegedly shown by the fact that the original Greek uses the feminine demonstrative
pronoun when he says "upon this rock" (ταύτῃτῇπέτρᾳ); whereas, grammatically, if
he had been referring to Peter, he would allegedly have used the masculine. This
"gender distinction" argument is also held by some Protestants.