Science of the Saints, 23-XI-2018 (10 Nov.), Holy Apostles Erastus, Olympas, Herodian, Sosipater, Quartus, and Tertius of the Seventy

The Holy Disciples from the Seventy: Erastus, Olympas, Herodian, Sosipater, Quartus, and Tertius lived during the first century.

Saint Herodian was a kinsman of the Apostle Paul (Rom. 16:11), and left the bishop's cathedra at Patras so as to go to Rome with the Apostle Peter. The holy Disciple Olympas, about whom the holy Apostle Paul recollects (Rom. 16:15), was also a companion of the Apostle Peter. Both of these Disciples from the 70 were beheaded on the very day and hour when the Apostle Peter was crucified.

The holy Disciples Erastus, Sosipater, Quartus, and Tertius were disciples of the holy Apostle Paul. The Apostle to the Gentiles speaks of them in the Epistle to the Romans: "Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen, do greet you..." (Rom. 16:21); "And also do I, Tertius, who wrote down this epistle, greet you" (Rom. 16:22); "And Erastus, the city treasurer, doth greet you, and brother Quartus" (Rom. 16:23).

The Disciple Sosipater, a native of Achaeia, was bishop of Iconium where also he died. The Disciple Erastus was at first a deacon and treasurer of the Jerusalem Church, and later on bishop at Paneadis. The holy Disciple Quartus endured much suffering for his piety and converted many pagans to Christ, dying peacefully in the dignity of bishop in the city of Beirut. The holy Disciple Tertius, having written down the dictation of the Apostle Paul contained in the Epistle to the Romans, was the second bishop of Iconium, where also he died.