FROM SLAVE TO BISHOP! SPC Celebrates Saint Apostle Onisim Today!
Theodor Stratilates was a Roman duke, in the army of Emperor Licinius, and mayor of the city of Heraclea.
TL;DR
- Saint Apostle Onisim was one of the seventy apostles.
- He was initially a slave to Philemon in Kolosaja.
- Onisim fled to Rome, where he met Apostle Paul and was baptized.
- Apostle Paul reconciled Onisim with his master, Philemon, through a special letter.
- Philemon accepted Onisim as a brother and freed him.
- Onisim was later appointed bishop and succeeded Timothy in the Ephesian see.
- He was arrested during Trajan's persecution, brought to Rome, and martyred by beheading.
- His body was honorably buried in 109 AD.