Saint Apostle Archippus
of the Seventy.
Also known as Archippos, Archippus of Colossae, Archippus the Apostle, Archippus, Fellow-Soldier of Paul, Archippus the Seventy Apostle
Apostle Archippus is numbered among the Seventy Apostles and is named by St. Paul in the letters to Colossae and Philemon. Tradition holds that he served as bishop of Colossae and died a martyr under Nero.
- Fell asleep
- 1st century (under Nero, c. 54-68)
- Feast day
- November 22 (New) · December 5 (Old)
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Troparion of St. Apostle Archippus of the Seventy
The Orthodox Church sings a shared troparion for the Apostles Philemon, Archippus, Apphia, and Onesimus on November 22, in Tone 3. The English text is published by the Orthodox Church in America at its troparia page for that feast, and it is not reproduced here.
The life of St. Apostle Archippus of the Seventy A Fellow-Soldier
of the Apostle Paul
Archippus appears in the New Testament as a companion of Saint Paul, addressed in the letter to Philemon and in the Epistle to the Colossians. Tradition remembers him as a bishop of Colossae who shared in the martyrdom of the household of Philemon under Nero.
Early years
No reliable source consulted records the family, birthplace, or upbringing of Archippus. The New Testament mentions him in connection with the household of Philemon at Colossae, and the Church treats him as a member of that Christian circle; beyond this, the early life is not documented in the sources reviewed.
In the Church
Saint Paul calls Archippus his fellow soldier and, in the Epistle to the Colossians, urges the church to charge him with completing the ministry he received in the Lord. Orthodox tradition holds that he was the bishop of Colossae in Phrygia, and that after the departure of Saint Epaphras he continued the care of that flock.
The Apostolic Constitutions, a fourth-century church order, name Archippus as the first bishop of Laodicea, so the traditions about his see vary between Colossae and Laodicea.
Later years
According to the Church's accounts of the Nero persecution, a crowd attacked the gathering held in Philemon's house during a pagan festival. Archippus, Philemon, and Apphia were arrested and brought before the governor. Archippus was beaten and stabbed, and he died either on the way to court or after being stoned, depending on the account consulted. Philemon and Apphia were buried to the waist and stoned to death.
Legacy and veneration
Archippus is commemorated on November 22 together with Philemon, Apphia, and Onesimus, and on February 19 with Philemon and Apphia. He is included in the Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles. The Church's hymnography for the November feast praises the apostles as lights illumining the ends of the earth.
In Greek tradition he is venerated as a patron of the imprisoned. No specific churches dedicated to him were identified in the sources reviewed.
Veneration of St. Apostle Archippus of the Seventy How the saint's
memory is kept.
- Patronage
- Patron of Prisoners, Imprisoned persons (Greek tradition).
- Iconography
- The sources consulted did not provide a detailed description of how Saint Archippus is depicted in Orthodox iconography, so no vestments, attributes, or posture are described here.
Frequently asked Questions about
St. Apostle Archippus of the Seventy.
- When is the feast day of Apostle Archippus of the Seventy?
- His principal feast is November 22, when the Church commemorates the Apostles Philemon, Archippus, Apphia, and Onesimus. He is also commemorated on February 19 with Philemon and Apphia.
- Who was Archippus in the New Testament?
- Saint Paul names Archippus as a fellow soldier in the letter to Philemon and addresses him in the Epistle to the Colossians, urging him to complete the ministry he received in the Lord.
- Was Archippus a bishop?
- Orthodox tradition describes him as bishop of Colossae in Phrygia, though the Apostolic Constitutions name him as the first bishop of Laodicea, so the accounts of his see vary.
- How did Archippus die?
- He was martyred during the persecution under Nero. A crowd attacked a gathering in Philemon's house, and he was beaten and stabbed, dying either on the way to court or after being stoned, depending on the account.
- Is Archippus one of the Seventy Apostles?
- Yes. He is numbered among the Seventy Apostles in Orthodox tradition, and the Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles includes him.
- What is Archippus the patron saint of?
- In Greek tradition he is venerated as a patron of prisoners.
Kontakion of St. Apostle Archippus of the Seventy
A shared kontakion for the same four saints appears in Tone 2 on the November 22 feast. The English text is published by the Orthodox Church in America and is not reproduced here.
Prayer to St. Apostle Archippus of the Seventy
No prayer specific to Saint Archippus was identified in the standard Orthodox prayer books consulted. The faithful typically invoke him within the shared hymnography of the Seventy Apostles and of the Apostles Philemon and Apphia.
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References and further reading
- orthodoxwiki.orghttps://www.orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Archippus
- oca.orghttps://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2016/02/19/100557-apostles-of-the-seventy-archippus-and-philemon-and-martyr-apphia
- oca.orghttps://www.oca.org/saints/troparia/2022/11/22/103359-apostles-of-the-seventy-philemon-and-archippus-martyr-apphia-wif
- oca.orghttps://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2026/01/04/100017-synaxis-of-the-seventy-apostles
- johnsanidopoulos.comhttps://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2018/02/holy-apostle-archippus-of-seventy.html
- orthochristian.comhttps://orthochristian.com/89702.html
- akroasis.orghttps://akroasis.org/2018/11/22/science-of-the-saints-22-november/
- ancientfaith.comhttps://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/saintoftheday/holy_apostle_philemon_and_sts_apphia_archippus_and_onesimus1/
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archippus
- en.orthodoxwiki.orghttps://en.orthodoxwiki.org/November_22
- byzantinela.comhttps://byzantinela.com/nov-22-2022/
- sermonindex.nethttps://www.sermonindex.net/encyclopedia/a/archippus/
- newadvent.orghttps://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04131a.htm
- orthochristian.comhttps://orthochristian.com/176110.html
- orthochristian.comhttps://orthochristian.com/calendar/20221122.html
- orthochristian.comhttps://orthochristian.com/101260.html
- johnsanidopoulos.comhttps://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2017/11/saints-and-feasts-of-november-22.html
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tertius_of_Iconium
- oca.orghttps://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2014/02/19/100557-apostles-of-the-seventy-archippus-and-philemon-and-martyr-apphia
- orthodoxwiki.orghttps://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Philemon
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