Apostle Crispus

The holy, glorious, all-laudable Apostle Crispus is numbered among the Seventy Apostles, and was bishop of the Greek island of Aegina, near the Peloponnesus.

The Acts of the Apostles mention St. Crispus, as the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house. Crispus is also one referred to by Saint Paul in the First Epistle to the Corinthians. I baptized Crispus, writes the great Apostle. (Acts18:8 and 1 Cor. 1:14)

The Apostles of the 70 were chosen and sent by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself to preach. They were chosen some time after the selection of the Twelve Apostles (Luke 10:1-24). Apostle Crispus is commemorated by the Church on January 4th with the Seventy, but does not appear to have a separate commemoration date.

St Crispus appears on the list of 70 attributed to St Dorotheus of Tyre as a bishop in Galatia, but he is the same person as St Crescens. The list of St Demetrius of Rostov has St Crispus being the person mentioned in Acts and First Corinthians above.

Hymn

Troparion (Tone 3) [1]

Holy apostle Crispus of the Seventy;

Entreat the merciful;

To grant our souls forgiveness of transgressions.

Kontakion (Tone 4)

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

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 link

• Apostle Crispus of the Seventy, OCA website
• The Synaxis of the Holy Seventy Apostles compiled by St. Demetrius of Rostov