Onesimus

Saint

Onesimus
Saint; Onesimus
	Painting depicting death of Onesimus, from the Menologion of Basil II (c. 1000 AD)
Holy Disciple Onesimus; Bishop of Byzantium
Died	c. 68 AD or 81-95 AD; Rome (then Roman province)
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church; Eastern Orthodox Church; Oriental Orthodox Church; Lutheranism
Feast	February 15 (formerly February 16 in the West)

Onesimus
Onesimus
Bishop of Byzantium
Installed	54
Term ended	68
Personal details
Died	c. 68
Denomination	Early Christianity

Onesimus (Greek: Ὀνήσιμος, translit. Onēsimos, meaning "useful"; died c. 68 AD, according to Catholic tradition),^[1] also called Onesimus of Byzantium and The Holy Apostle Onesimus in the Eastern Orthodox Church,^[2] was a slave^[3] to Philemon of Colossae, a man of Christian faith. He may also be the same Onesimus named by Ignatius of Antioch (died c. 107) as bishop in Ephesus^[4] which would put Onesimus's death closer to 107. If so, Onesimus went from slave to brother to bishop.

^ "Onesimus". Ecumenic Patriarchate of Constantinople. Retrieved Apr 2, 2011.
^ "Apostle Onesimus of the Seventy", OCA
^ Philemon 1:15-16. For perhaps [Onesimus] was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. (NASB)
^ Ignatius of Antioch (1919) [1900]. The Epistles of St. Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch. Translated by James Herbert Srawley (3rd ed.). Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. pp. 39–40. ... Onesimus, whose love surpasses words, in the flesh as your bishop. I pray that you may love him with a love according to Jesus Christ, and that you may all be like him. For blessed is He Who granted unto you, worthy as you are, to possess such a bishop. (chapter 1)

[1] "Onesimus". Ecumenic Patriarchate of Constantinople. Retrieved Apr 2, 2011.

[oca-2] "Apostle Onesimus of the Seventy", OCA

[3] Philemon 1:15-16. For perhaps [Onesimus] was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. (NASB)

[4] Ignatius of Antioch (1919) [1900]. The Epistles of St. Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch. Translated by James Herbert Srawley (3rd ed.). Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. pp. 39–40. ... Onesimus, whose love surpasses words, in the flesh as your bishop. I pray that you may love him with a love according to Jesus Christ, and that you may all be like him. For blessed is He Who granted unto you, worthy as you are, to possess such a bishop. (chapter 1)

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Saint Onesimus
Painting depicting death of Onesimus, from the Menologion of Basil II (c. 1000 AD)
Holy Disciple Onesimus Bishop of Byzantium
Died	c. 68 AD or 81-95 AD Rome (then Roman province)
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church Oriental Orthodox Church Lutheranism
Feast	February 15 (formerly February 16 in the West)