Icon of SS Philip, Bartholomew and Barnabas (Dionysiou) – S318

Description

Saint Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of SS Peter and Andrew, and he followed the Lord immediately after them.  Saint Philip was one of the Twelve Apostles and preached in Asia and Greece.  He worked with his sister Mariamna, Saint John the Theologian and Saint Bartholomew.  In Hieropolis Saint Philip and Saint Bartholomew prayed and so killed a snake who was worshipped as a god by the pagans.  Saint Philip and Saint Bartholomew were then seized by the pagans and crucified upside down, but an earthquake soon swallowed up the judge and others.  When the townspeople rushed to take the Apostles down, Saint Philip was already dead.  Saint Bartholomew went on to preach the Gospel in India and Armenia, where he also died as a martyr, crucified, flayed, and beheaded.

Saint Barnabas was born in Cyprus, and knew Saint Paul from the school of Saint Gamaliel the Pharisee in Israel where they studied together.  Saint Barnabas converted and traveled with Saint Paul after he had converted later, and also with Saint Mark.  Saint Barnabas went to Antioch, Rome, and Milan, finally suffering martyrdom on his home island of Cyprus.  All three shine now in Heavenly light.