Stachys the Apostle

Second bishop of Byzantium from 38 AD to 54 AD From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Stachys the Apostle

Stachys the Apostle (Greek: Στάχυς, "ear-spike"; died 54) was the second bishop of Byzantium, from 38 AD to 54 AD according to tradition.

Quick Facts Saint, Installed ...

Stachys the Apostle
Bishop of Byzantium
Stachys, Amplias, Urban
(Menologion of Basil II)
Installed38 AD
Term ended54 AD
PredecessorAndrew the Apostle
SuccessorOnesimus
Orders
Ordinationby Andrew the Apostle[1]
Personal details
Died54 AD
DenominationEarly Christianity
Sainthood
Feast day31 October
Venerated inEastern Orthodox Church,
Catholic Church
Title as SaintApostle of the Seventy, Bishop of Byzantium
Close

Stachys is mentioned just one time in the New Testament as a person loved by Paul the Apostle (Romans 16:9).[2] Other than that, all information regarding him comes from tradition. He seemed to be closely connected to Andrew the Apostle and Paul the Apostle. Eusebius quotes Origen as saying that Andrew had preached in Asia Minor and in Scythia, along the Black Sea as far as the Volga and Kiev, hence he became a patron saint of Romania and Russia. According to tradition, Saint Andrew founded the See of Byzantium in 38, installing Stachys as bishop,[3] a position he held for sixteen years.[4]

This See would later develop into the Patriarchate of Constantinople, having Apostle Andrew as its Patron Saint. Stachys founded a church at Argyropouli, and many people gathered there to hear him preach.[5]

It is not clear if Stachys was the same person whom Paul calls "dear" in the Epistle to the Romans (Rom. 16:9), but he is always associated in traditions with five other apostles (Ampliatus, Urban of Macedonia, Apelles of Heraklion, Aristobulus of Britannia and Narcissus of Athens) that are the very same names mentioned together with him by Paul in Romans 16:8–11.

His feast day is on 31 October.[3]

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