Onesimos

Holy Apostle Onesimos, disciple of Paul.

St. Onesimos the Apostle was the slave of Philemon of Colossae who fled from his master and, by God's providence, came to St. Paul in his imprisonment. There he was converted, and Paul sent him back with the Epistle to Philemon, asking that he be received no longer as a slave but as a beloved brother in Christ.

Numbered among the Seventy Apostles, he later served the Church in the preaching of the Gospel, and according to tradition he ended his life as a martyr. He is commemorated on February 15.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Onesimos is commemorated on February 15. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on February 28 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

Onesimos

Also commemorated on February 15

• Anthimos of Chios

  Venerable, Άνθιμος ο Χίος

  Venerable Anthimos Vagianos of Chios, founder of the Convent of Panagia Voithia.

• Eusebios the Hermit

  Venerable, Ευσέβιος

  Venerable Eusebios, hermit of Syria.

  Name days: Eusebios, Efsevios

• John Koulakiotis

  Martyr, Ιωάννης ο Κουλακιώτης

  New Martyr John of Koulakia, teacher, who suffered in Thessaloniki.

• Maior the Martyr

  Martyr, Μαΐωρ

  Holy Martyr Maior, soldier, who suffered at Gaza.

• Chloe, Crispus, Justus and Titius of Corinth

  Saint, Χλόη, Κρίσπος, Ιούστος και Τίτιος

  Sts. Chloe, Crispus, Justus and Titius, fellow-workers of the Apostle Paul in Corinth.

  Name days: Krispos, Crispus, Ioustos, Justus, Chloe, Chloi

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.