Apostle Sosthenes

The holy, glorious, all-laudable Apostle Sosthenes is one of the Seventy Apostles, and was a bishop in either Caesarea or Colophon in Asia Minor. He is commemorated by the Church on January 4 with the Seventy; on March 30 with Apostles Apollos, Cephas, Caesar, and Epaphroditus of the Seventy; and on December 8 with Ss. Apollos, Cephas, Tychicus, Epaphroditus, Caesar, and Onesiphorus.

Life

St. Sosthenes was head of the Jewish synagogue at Corinth before his conversion to Christianity (cf. Acts 18:17). He suffered a beating during a riot against the Apostle Paul. St. Paul converted him to Christianity. Oddly enough there is an obvious contradiction in this belief due to the fact that if Sosthenes was part of the Seventy Apostles sent out by Jesus as is seen in Luke 10, he would have been following Christ way before the Apostle Paul’s conversation.

In addressing the Corinthian church (I Corinthians 1:1), St. Paul sent greetings from both of them: "Paul, by the will of God called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ, and brother Sosthenes..." He departed peacefully to the Lord.

Hymns

Troparion (Tone 3) [1]

Holy apostle Sosthenes of the Seventy;

Entreat the merciful;

To grant our souls forgiveness of transgressions.

Kontakion (Tone 4) [2]

The Church ever sees you as a shining star, O apostle Sosthenes,

Your miracles have manifested great enlightenment.

Therefore we cry out to Christ:

"Save those who with faith honor Your apostle, O Most Merciful One."

External links

• The Synaxis of the Holy Seventy Apostles Chrysostom Press
• Apostle Sosthenes of the Seventy, January 4 (OCA)
• Apostle Sosthenes of the Seventy, March 30 (OCA)
• Apostle Sosthenes of the Seventy, December 8 (OCA)
• The Holy Apostles Sosthenes, Apollos, Tychicus, Epaphroditus, Onesiphorus, Cephas and Caesar (Prologue of Ohrid)