Today the Church remembers St. Epaphroditus, Bishop and Missionary.
Ora pro nobis.
Epaphroditus is named in the New Testament, appearing as an envoy of the Philippian church, the first community of Christians in Europe, to assist the Apostle Paul (Philippians 2:25-30). He is regarded as a saint of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church, and honored as the first Bishop of Philippi.
Epaphroditus appears in the New Testament in the Letter to the Philippians (2:25-30, 4:18). He was a fellow Christian missionary with St. Paul.
Epaphroditus was the delegate of the Christian community at Philippi, sent with their gift to Paul during his first imprisonment at Rome or at Ephesus. Paul, in 2:25, calls him "my brother and fellow-worker and fellow-soldier." He is described as an authoritative delegate representing to church at Philippi. He was sent also as minister (λειτουργός) to Paul's need (2:25), doing for Paul what the Philippian community was unable to do (2:30).
On his arrival, Epaphroditus devoted himself to "the work of Christ," both as Paul's attendant and as his assistant in missionary work. So assiduously did he labor that he lost his health, and in the words of Paul, "he was ill, and almost died." He recovered, however, and Paul sent him back to Philippi with this letter to quiet the alarm of his friends, who had heard of his serious illness. Paul besought for him that the church should receive him with joy and 'honour men like him' (2:29).
Almighty God, who willest to be glorified in thy saints, and didst raise up thy servant Epaphroditus to be a light in the world; Shine, we pray, in our hearts, that we also in our generation may show forth thy praise, who hast called us out of darkness into thy marvelous light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
