Saint Apostles Archippus
Philemon, and Onesimus.

Philemon was from Colossae, a city of Phrygia, a man both wealthy and noble. After they were baptized by the holy Apostle Paul, they converted their house into a house of prayer, where all those who believed in Christ gathered and attended services.

Onesimus was formerly an unbeliever and slave of Philemon; he stole certain of his vessels and fled to Rome. Fearing punishment for an offense against his master, Onesimus fled to Rome, but he was imprisoned for being a runaway slave. In prison he came across the Apostle Paul and was enlightened by him, and was baptized.

Archippus became Bishop of the Church in Colossae and served as mentioned by the Apostle Paul in his epistle to the Colossians (Colossians 4:17) and his letter to the Apostle Philemon (Philemon 11:2).

Saint Philemon became bishop of the city of Gaza, and he preached the Word of God throughout Phrygia. The holy Apostle Paul continued to be his guide, and addressed to him his Epistle filled with love.

After the death of Paul he became a bishop and traveled to many places preaching the gospel, said of Onesimus. In his old age, Saint Onesimus occupied the bishop's throne at Ephesus, after the Apostle Timothy. When they took Saint Ignatius the God-Bearer (December 20) to Rome for execution, Bishop Onesimus came to meet with him with other Christians, as Saint Ignatius mentions in his Epistle to the Ephesians.

Saints Philemon and Apphia, and also Saint Archippus (who also lived at Colossa), all received the crown of martyrdom during the persecution of Nero (54-68). During a pagan festival an enraged crowd rushed into the Christian church when services were going on. All fled in terror, and only Saints Philemon, Archippus and Apphia remained. They seized them and led them off to the city prefect.

The crowd beat and stabbed Saint Archippus with knives, and he died on the way to the court. Saints Philemon and Apphia were stoned to death by order of the prefect.

During the reign of the emperor Trajan (89-117), Saint Onesimus was arrested and brought to trial before the eparch Tertillus. He held the saint in prison for eighteen days, and then sent him to prison in the city of Puteoli. After a certain while, the eparch sent for the prisoner and, convincing himself that Saint Onesimus maintained his faith in Christ, had him stoned, after which they beheaded the saint with a sword.

The Church has included a letter Paul received from the Apostle Paul in the canon of Holy Scripture—the Epistle to Philemon, which stands as a unique testament to Christian reconciliation and forgiveness. This letter became foundational in Christian teaching about the dignity of the enslaved and the power of redemption in Christ.

In Greece, Onesimus is honoured as the patron Saint of the imprisoned. His transformation from slave to bishop embodies the Gospel's liberating power. All three remain venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church as witnesses to faithfulness unto death.

The Eastern Orthodox Church commemorates Onesimus on a variety of dates: 15 February: Primary Feast Day; 4 January: Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles; 6 July: The Apostles Philemon, Archippus, and Onesimus; 22 November: The Apostles Philemon, Archippus, Onesimus, and equal-to-the-apostles Apphia.

The Synaxis of the Holy Apostles Archippus, Philemon, and Onesimus commemorates three figures closely associated with the Apostle Paul, each of whom played a significant role in the early Christian Church and are numbered among the Seventy Apostles chosen by Christ.

Saint Philemon was from Colossae, a city of Phrygia, a man both wealthy and noble. After he was baptized by the holy Apostle Paul, he converted his house into a house of prayer, where all those who believed in Christ gathered and attended services, and they devoted themselves to serving the sick and downcast. Saint Philemon became bishop of the city of Gaza, and he preached the Word of God throughout Phrygia. Paul addressed an epistle to him, which became part of the New Testament canon—the only private letter to appear in Scripture.

Saint Archippus was Bishop of the Church in Colossae. He is mentioned by the Apostle Paul in his epistle to the Colossians (Colossians 4:17) and his letter to the Apostle Philemon (Philemon 11:2). Paul called him a "fellow soldier" in the faith, indicating his active participation in ministry.

Saint Onesimus had a singular path to apostolic dignity. Onesimus, who was formerly an unbeliever and slave of Philemon, stole certain of his vessels and fled to Rome. However, on finding him there, the Apostle Paul guided him onto the path of virtue and the knowledge of the truth, and sent him back to his master Philemon, to whom he wrote an epistle. In his old age, Saint Onesimus occupied the bishop's throne at Ephesus, after the Apostle Timothy. Onesimus was later made a bishop; in Greece he is honoured as the patron Saint of the imprisoned.

All three received their end by martyrdom, when they were stoned to death by the idolaters during the persecution of Nero (54-68). They are commemorated together on July 6, as well as on other feast days throughout the liturgical year.