On July 28 in the Holy Orthodox Church, we commemorate Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon and Parmenas, Deacons and Apostles of the Seventy.
Verses Four men, the disciples of the Word Who is God-man, With a word preach the August Trinity to all men. On the twenty-eighth the four initiates went away together.
These first-century deacons are named in the Acts of the Apostles (6:1-6). The Apostle Peter ordained Prochorus as bishop of Nicomedia. For a time Prochorus was in the service of John the Evangelist and, on the Island of Patmos, copied the Book of Revelation which he heard from the mouth of St. John. After that he returned to Nicomedia where he exerted much effort and labor to convert the people to the Faith. He died a martyr’s death in Antioch at the hands of unbelievers. Nicanor was stoned to death in Jerusalem on the same day as the Proto-martyr Stephen the Archdeacon (Acts 7:58-60). Soon after them, two thousand other Christians were slain by the wicked Jews. Saint Timon was a bishop in Bostra in Arabia and suffered on the cross for Christ. Saint Paramenas zealously preached Christ in Macedonia. He died in peace in Jerusalem before the eyes of the apostles and was mourned and buried by them. By the intercessions of Thy Saints, O Christ God, have mercy upon us. Amen.