Apostle 1st century

Apostles Erastus Olympas, Herodion, Sosipater, Quartus, and Tertius of the Seventy

1st century (Apostolic Age)

Also known as Erastus · Olympas · Herodion · Sosipater · Quartus · Tertius

Disciples of Saint Paul mentioned in Romans and apostolic tradition who preached the Gospel and served the early Church in various places.

Feast Day

November 10

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Commemorated as

The Holy, Glorious and All-Praised Apostles of the Seventy Erastus, Olympas, Herodion, Sosipater, Quartus, and Tertius

Come to them for

Missionary Work

Life

Erastus, Olympas, Herodion, Sosipater, Quartus, and Tertius were six first-century disciples of the Apostle Paul, numbered among the Seventy Apostles and commemorated together in the Eastern Orthodox calendar on November 10. Each is named in Paul's Epistle to the Romans, and together they represent the early generation of co-workers who carried the Gospel into the cities of the Mediterranean and served as bishops of the nascent Church.

Most of the six are remembered in tradition as bishops — Erastus at Paneas, Herodion at Patras (also called Neopatras or, in one list, Tarsus), Sosipater and Tertius successively at Iconium, and Quartus at Beirut (Berytus). Two of them, Olympas and Herodion, are held by tradition to have suffered martyrdom in Rome on the same day Saint Peter was crucified, while Quartus and Sosipater are said to have reposed peacefully. The group appears together in Byzantine liturgical art, including a miniature in the tenth-century Menologion of Basil II.

Because each member is also venerated individually on his own feast days, the synaxis preserves both their shared November 10 commemoration and the distinct traditions attached to each apostle.

Timeline 4 moments Read Hide

1st century Disciples of the Apostle Paul All six are remembered as disciples of Saint Paul during the apostolic age and are each greeted or named in his Epistle to the Romans (chapter 16).
1st century Tertius transcribes the Epistle to the Romans Tertius served as Paul's scribe, transcribing the Epistle to the Romans and adding his own greeting, 'I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you' (Romans 16:22).
1st century Martyrdom of Olympas and Herodion in Rome By tradition, Olympas and Herodion traveled to Rome and were beheaded there on the same day and hour that the Apostle Peter was crucified.
1st century Episcopal service of the survivors Erastus served the Church at Jerusalem and later at Paneas; Sosipater and Tertius served successively as bishops of Iconium; and Quartus served as bishop of Beirut, where he reposed in peace after converting many.

Contributions & Legacy

2 contributions Read Hide

The Six Apostles

Erastus is remembered as a deacon and steward of the Church at Jerusalem and later as bishop of Paneas in Palestine. In the New Testament he is identified as the city treasurer of Corinth (Romans 16:23); he is also named in Acts 19:22, where Paul sends him to Macedonia, and in 2 Timothy 4:20. He is commemorated on January 4, July 26, and November 10. An inscribed paving stone discovered at Corinth has been tentatively, though disputedly, connected with him.

Olympas, named in Romans 16:15, is remembered as a companion of the Apostle Peter. Tradition holds that he was present at Peter's crucifixion in Rome and was beheaded there on the same day, by order of Nero.

Herodion (also called Rodion), named in Romans 16:11 as a kinsman of Paul, is remembered as bishop of Patras (Neopatras). He endured severe persecution — by tradition beating, stoning, and stabbing — yet survived to continue serving the Apostles. He later traveled to Rome with Peter and was beheaded alongside Olympas on the day of Peter's crucifixion. He is commemorated on January 4, April 8, and November 10.

Sosipater, named in Romans 16:21, was a native of Achaia and served as bishop of Iconium. By tradition he traveled with the Apostle Jason to Corfu, built a church there, and converted many pagans; he reposed in Iconium. He is also commemorated on April 28 and 29.

Quartus, named in Romans 16:23 alongside Erastus, served as bishop of Beirut (Berytus). He converted many pagans to Christ and reposed peacefully in that city.

Tertius served as Paul's scribe, transcribing the Epistle to the Romans, and became the second bishop of Iconium in succession to Sosipater. He reposed in Iconium and is also commemorated on October 30.

Veneration and Legacy

All six are venerated as saints in the Eastern Orthodox, Catholic, and other Christian traditions, and all are numbered among the Seventy Apostles. In the list attributed to Hippolytus, they appear with their respective sees, though the lists vary — Herodion, for example, is given as bishop of Tarsus in one enumeration and of Patras in another.

The group is depicted together in the Menologion of Basil II, a tenth-century Byzantine liturgical manuscript, in a miniature captioned with their names — confirming their shared commemoration in Byzantine liturgical art and calendar.

Commemorated with Read Hide

The Seventy Apostles

Commemorated together · Jan 4

Notes

Named group kept as one row; members have individual feasts (e.g. Tertius, OS-2117).

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints