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St. Philip

"Then Jesus said to them, 'Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.' "

(Mark 1:17)
Painting of the Icon of St. Philip at St. Mary and St. Joseph Coptic Orthodox Church

The Story In A Minute

Saint Philip

St. Philip was born in Bethsaida, Galilee, the city of Saint Peter and Saint Andrew. Since his youth he devoted himself to studying the Holy Books and was acquainted with the prophecies about the coming of the Savior. For this reason he immediately accepted the call of the Lord Christ to follow Him.

"The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, 'Follow Me.' Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter."

(John 1:43-44)

Philip followed the Lord Christ during His ministry on earth and became His disciple along with the rest of the apostles.

Philip and Nathanael - Bartholomew

Philip found Nathanael and brought him to Jesus. He believed that one meeting with Jesus would convince him that Jesus was the Lord Christ that the prophecies had spoken about.

And it came to pass that Nathanael became one of the apostles of the Lord Christ. St. John recounts,

"Philip found Nathanael and said to him, 'We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.' And Nathanael said to him, 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?' Philip said to him, 'Come and see.' Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, 'Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!' Nathanael said to Him, 'How do You know me?' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.' "

(John 1:45-48)

Other Bible References to Saint Philip The Apostle

The Miracle of Feeding the Five Thousand

"Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, 'Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?' But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. Philip answered Him, 'Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.' "

(John 6:5-7)

Monday Following Palm Sunday

"Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, 'Sir, we wish to see Jesus.' Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus."

(John 12:20-22)

The Last Supper

St. Philip is mentioned also in the Last Supper when he said to the Lord, 'Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.' Jesus said to him, 'Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father?' ”

(John 14: 8-10)

Preaching The Gospel and Becoming a Fisher of Men

After the Ascension of the Lord to heaven and the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples, St. Philip first ministered in Jerusalem. He also preached in Persia, Africa, and the surrounding regions. He also went to Hierapolis- in Asia Minor, where he led the people to the knowledge of God, confirming them in the faith.

While preaching in all these different locations, he performed many miracles and wonders which astounded the people. He truly became a fisherman as the Lord Jesus Christ told him:

"Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men."

(Mark 1:17)

The Story of His Martyrdom

The non-believers of Hierapolis took counsel together to kill St. Philip, accusing him of disobeying the king's order that no stranger was allowed to enter their city.
They jumped him and seized him, but he smiled at them saying, "Why do you keep yourselves away from everlasting life and why don't you think about the salvation of your souls?" But they did not pay any attention to his words; instead they tortured him severely, then they crucified him head down.

During the crucifixion an earthquake took place; the people were terrified and ran away. Some believers arrived and wanted to untie him from the cross, but he asked them to leave him, so he might finish his strife and receive his crown. He delivered his soul into the hands of Christ and received the crown of apostleship and the crown of martyrdom in the year 80 A.D. and was buried there in Hierapolis.

His Body

In the sixth century A.D., his body was transferred to Rome. The Lord manifested many signs and great wonders through the body of St. Philip.

His Feast

The church celebrates the commemoration of the martyrdom of Saint Philip on November 27th - the 18th day of the Coptic month of Hathor.

References

Synaxarium- Coptic Reader App

Coptic Church. Net

St. Takla. Org

Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States