The Holy Apostles Silas and Silvanus and Their Companions.
All were numbered among the Seventy
Apostles. St. Silas was sent from Jerusalem to Antioch with Paul and
Barnabas to settle the dispute between the faithful there regarding
circumcision: namely, that it was not necessary to circumcise pagans
when they convert to Christianity. "Then pleased it the apostles
and elders, with the whole Church, to send chosen men of their own
company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed
Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren" (Acts of theApostles 15:22). After that, Silas traveled with Paul throughout Asia
and Macedonia and was appointed as the bishop in Corinth, where he
peacefully died.
St. Silvanus assisted both of the Chief
Apostles. "By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I
suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this
is the true grace of God wherein ye stand" (1 Peter 5:12).
"For the Son of God, Jesus Christ,
Who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and
Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea" (2Corinthians 1:19). As the bishop of Thessalonica, Silvanus labored
much and suffered much until he finally exchanged this earthly life
for the heavenly life.
St. Crescens was a companion of the
Apostle Paul and after that the bishop in Galatia and a missionary in
Gaul, where he died as a martyr for Christ during the reign of
Trajan. "For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present
world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus
unto Dalmatia" (
2 Timothy 4:10 ).
St. Epaenetus is mentioned by the
Apostle Paul. He was the bishop in Carthage. "Salute my well
beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ"
(Romans 16:5).
St. Andronicus, the bishop of Pannonia,
is commemorated separately on May 17. "Salute Andronicus and
Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the
apostles, who also were in Christ before me" (Romans 16:7).
Respectably Taken From the:
"The Prologue of Ohrid"
by St. Nikolai of Zica, Serbia(Velimirovic)
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