Apostles of the Seventy: Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, and Parmenas the Deacons — July 28 / August 10 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, July 28 according to the Julian Calendar (August 10 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates the Holy Apostles of the Seventy: Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, and Parmenas the Deacons.

The holy Apostles of the Seventy — Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, and Parmenas — were among the first deacons of the Church of Christ.

The Acts of the Apostles (6:1–6) relates that as the number of Christians multiplied, a murmuring arose among the Greeks against the Hebrews, because their widows were being neglected in the daily ministration. Then the Twelve Apostles called together the multitude of the disciples and said: “Brethren, choose from among you seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business, while we give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” Among the seven chosen were Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, and Parmenas. They were set before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands upon them.

The holy deacons ended their earthly lives at different times and in different places, but the Orthodox Church commemorates them together on July 28.

Saint Prochorus was at first the companion and helper of the Apostle Peter, who consecrated him bishop of the city of Nicomedia. After the Dormition of the Theotokos, the blessed father accompanied Saint John the Theologian on his apostolic journeys and shared his exile on the island of Patmos. There Prochorus wrote down the revelation concerning the end of the world (the Apocalypse), which God deemed His most beloved disciple worthy to behold. After returning to Nicomedia, the holy father labored tirelessly to enlighten the pagans with the light of Christ, and there he found a martyr’s end.

Saint Nicanor was one of the two thousand Christians who were slain together with the Protomartyr Stephen.

Saint Timon was bishop of the city of Bostra in Arabia. For preaching the Gospel he was subjected to terrible tortures by the Jews and the pagans: he was cast into a burning furnace, yet came forth unharmed. According to the tradition of the Roman Church, the deacon Timon died on a cross.

Saint Parmenas zealously labored to spread the teaching of the Gospel in Macedonia. According to one account he died of illness; other sources testify that he was martyred in the last year of the reign of Trajan (98–117).