Saint Philip the Apostle one of the seven Deacons
Holiday date: 11/10
Saint Philip came from Caesarea in Palestine and was a deacon among the seven deacons of the first Church in Jerusalem (Acts f). Also, he was married and had four daughters, endowed with a prophetic gift (Acts 8-9).
Philip, however, did not stop only in Jerusalem. He went to Samaria and preached the Gospel, as if he were a genuine “Apostle of Jesus Christ according to the faith of God’s elect and according to the knowledge of its truth in piety” (To Titon, 1.1). That is, an apostle of Jesus Christ to teach among those whom God has chosen, faith and awareness of the truth, which leads to piety.
There in Samaria, through his preaching, he baptized a Christian and Simon the magician. Then, Philip met the Eunuch of Queen Candace on his way, and after catechizing him, he also baptized him a Christian. Then, he went to Trallei in Asia Minor, where with his teaching he convinced almost all the inhabitants of the city to believe in Christ. Philip in this city, after building a Christian church, surrendered his soul to God.
