Archippus

This article is about the 1st century Christian believer. For the Athenian comic poet, see Archippus (poet). For the 2nd century BCE Greek general, see Archippus of Achaea.

Archippus (/ɑːrˈkɪpəs/; Ancient Greek: Ἄρχιππος, "master of the horse") was an early Christian believer mentioned briefly in the New Testament epistles of Philemon and Colossians.

Saint Archippus
Martyr
Born	possibly Colossae, Asia, Roman Empire or Laodicea, Asia, Roman Empire
Died	c. 1st century
Venerated in	Eastern Orthodox Church Roman Catholic Church
Feast	19 February (Eastern Orthodox Church) 20 March (Roman Catholic Church)

Role in the New Testament

In Paul's letter to Philemon (Philemon 1:2), Archippus is named once alongside Philemon and Apphia as a host of the church, and a "fellow soldier." In Colossians 4:17 (ascribed to Paul), the church is instructed to tell Archippus to "Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it."

Role in tradition

According to the 4th century Apostolic Constitutions (7.46), Archippus was the first bishop of Laodicea in Phrygia (now part of Turkey). Another tradition states that he was one of the 72 disciples appointed by Jesus Christ in Luke 10:1. The Roman Catholic Church observes a feast day for Saint Archippus on March 20. According to tradition, he was stoned to death.

Veneration

Eastern Orthodoxy

The Eastern Orthodox Church commemorates Archippus on several days.

• January 4: Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles.^[1]
• February 19: The apostles Archippus and Philemon, and the martyr Apphia.^[2]
• November 22: The apostles Philemon and Archippus, the martyr Apphia, and Onesimus.^[3]

See also

• Colossians 4