Saint Apostle Gaius
of the Seventy.
Also known as Gaius of Ephesus, Gaios, Caius, Gaius, Bishop of Ephesus, Apostle Gaius of the Seventy
Apostle Gaius, numbered among the Seventy Apostles, is greeted in Romans 16:23 and is venerated as the Bishop of Ephesus after Timothy. The Church commemorates him on November 5.
- Feast day
- November 5 (New) · November 18 (Old)
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Troparion of St. Apostle Gaius of the Seventy
Tone 3 (common troparion for the Apostles Patrobas, Hermes, Linus, Gaius, and Philologos, November 5)
Holy Apostles Patrobus, Hermes, Linus, Gaius, and Philologus,
entreat the merciful God,
to grant our souls forgiveness of transgressions.
No troparion specific to Gaius alone was found in the sources consulted; the group troparion above names him among the five apostles commemorated on November 5.
The life of St. Apostle Gaius of the Seventy A Host
of Saint Paul and Bishop of Ephesus
Apostle Gaius is remembered in the Orthodox Church as one of the Seventy and as the host greeted by Saint Paul in Romans 16:23. Tradition holds that he later served as Bishop of Ephesus after Saint Timothy. He is commemorated on November 5 and, within the Synaxis of the Seventy, on January 4.
Early years
The sources available for this page do not record details of Gaius's family, birthplace, or upbringing. The New Testament mentions him only briefly, and the Orthodox synaxarion entries focus on his later apostolic service rather than his early life.
In the Church
Gaius is numbered among the Seventy Apostles, the disciples whom Christ sent out two by two into the cities He intended to visit. According to the Orthodox Church in America's synaxarion, he became Bishop of Ephesus after Saint Timothy. OrthodoxWiki and the OCA both identify him with the Romans 16:23 greeting, in which Paul names him as his host and the host of the whole church.
Later years
The sources consulted do not preserve a detailed account of Gaius's miracles, sufferings, or death. Orthodox synaxaria describe the Seventy in general as bearing many hardships in their service as bishops, and the Church has traditionally recorded that many of them received the crown of martyrdom, but specific events are not attributed to Gaius in these sources.
Legacy and veneration
Gaius is honored in the Orthodox Church on November 5 with Patrobas, Hermas, Linus, and Philologos, and on January 4 within the Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles. The Church sings a common troparion to these apostles on November 5 asking them to intercede before the merciful God for the forgiveness of sins. Some scholars have proposed that the Gaius of Third John is the same man, but the Church does not make this identification a matter of doctrine.
Veneration of St. Apostle Gaius of the Seventy How the saint's
memory is kept.
- Iconography
- The sources consulted do not describe a standard iconographic type for Apostle Gaius, such as specific vestments, objects, or posture. He is commonly depicted among the Seventy in group images, but no distinguishing attribute could be confirmed from the available sources.
Frequently asked Questions about
St. Apostle Gaius of the Seventy.
- When is the feast day of Apostle Gaius of the Seventy?
- The Orthodox Church commemorates Apostle Gaius on November 5 together with Patrobas, Hermas, Linus, and Philologos. He is also commemorated on January 4 within the Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles.
- Who was Apostle Gaius in the New Testament?
- Gaius is named in Romans 16:23, where Saint Paul greets him as his host and the host of the whole church. Orthodox tradition identifies him as one of the Seventy Apostles.
- Was Apostle Gaius a bishop?
- The Orthodox Church in America's synaxarion states that Gaius was Bishop of Ephesus after Saint Timothy. Orthodox sources do not record further details of his episcopate.
- Is Apostle Gaius the same person as the Gaius of Third John?
- Some have suggested that the Gaius addressed in the Third Epistle of John may be the same man, but this identification is not certain and is not established as doctrine.
- Where are the relics of Apostle Gaius of the Seventy?
- The sources consulted do not record the location of any relics of Apostle Gaius.
- Does Apostle Gaius have a specific troparion?
- No troparion specific to Gaius was found. He is included in the common troparion for Patrobas, Hermes, Linus, Gaius, and Philologos, sung on November 5.
Kontakion of St. Apostle Gaius of the Seventy
No kontakion specific to Apostle Gaius was found in the sources consulted, and no group kontakion for the November 5 commemoration could be confirmed from them.
Prayer to St. Apostle Gaius of the Seventy
No traditional prayer addressed specifically to Apostle Gaius was found in the sources consulted. The faithful may honor him through the common troparion for the Apostles commemorated on November 5 and through the Synaxis of the Seventy on January 4.
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References and further reading
- orthodoxwiki.orghttps://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Gaius
- orthodoxwiki.orghttps://orthodoxwiki.org/November_5
- orthodoxwiki.orghttps://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostles
- oca.orghttps://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2021/11/05/103179-apostles-patrobus-hermes-linus-gaius-and-philologus-of-the-seven
- oca.orghttps://www.oca.org/saints/troparia/2009/11/05/103179-apostles-patrobus-hermes-linus-gaius-and-philologus-of-the-seven
- oca.orghttps://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2015/01/04/100017-synaxis-of-the-seventy-apostles
- orthochristian.comhttps://orthochristian.com/89702.html
- johnsanidopoulos.comhttps://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2016/11/holy-apostles-hermas-patrobas-gaius.html
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaius_of_Ephesus
- theforerunner.orghttps://www.theforerunner.org/synaxarion/2024/11/4/5th-of-november
- oca.orghttps://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2021/01/04/100017-synaxis-of-the-seventy-apostles
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parrobus_of_Pottole
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achaicus_of_Corinth
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucius_of_Cyrene
- oca.orghttps://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2009/11/05/103179-apostles-patrobus-hermes-linus-gaius-and-philologus-of-the-seven
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartus
- en.orthodoxwiki.orghttps://en.orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Philologos
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silvanus_of_the_Seventy
- orthodoxwiki.orghttps://orthodoxwiki.org/Category:Seventy_Apostles
- lsj.grhttps://lsj.gr/wiki/Philologus
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