Saint Onesimus
Saint Onesimus (born c. 1st century AD; died c. 95 AD in Puteoli (Pozzuoli), Italy, or Rome, Italy) was a runaway slave who became a Christian through Saint Paul the Apostle, is the subject of Paul's Letter to Philemon (the shortest letter in the New Testament), and according to early tradition became Bishop of Ephesus. His conversion from slave to bishop illustrates one of the most radical reversals in the New Testament. His feast day is February 16 in the Roman Rite.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Onesimus
| Saint Onesimus | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | February 16 |
| Profession | Former slave; Bishop of Ephesus (traditional); martyr |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Eastern Orthodox Church; Apostolic era; Church of Ephesus; Paul's companions; Letter to Philemon |
| Patronage | Slaves and the enslaved; those who have run away; converts; those starting over; Ephesus; those reconciled with their masters or employers |
| Attributes | Bishop's vestments (if shown as bishop of Ephesus); chains or broken chains (the slave); scroll (the letter of Paul); Ephesus setting |
| Birthplace | Colossae, Phrygia (traditional; modern Turkey) |
| Death Place | Puteoli (Pozzuoli), Italy (traditional); or Rome |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom; stoned to death, according to tradition; he is venerated as a martyr; the manner and place of his death are uncertain — tradition records Puteoli (Pozzuoli near Naples) or Rome |
| Primary Shrine | No known primary shrine; venerated in the context of Ephesus and Pauline churches; his relics are not specifically documented in the tradition; commemorated in the Roman Martyrology |
| Liturgical Class | Optional Memorial (Roman Rite); February 16; Feast in Eastern Rite churches (February 15) |
| Historic Class | Not in universal 1962 calendar |
Biography
Onesimus was a slave belonging to Philemon, a Christian householder in Colossae (western Asia Minor). He ran away from his master and eventually reached Rome, where he encountered Paul, who was then imprisoned. Paul baptized him and called him "my child."
Paul wrote the Letter to Philemon — the shortest letter in the New Testament — asking Philemon to receive Onesimus back "no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother." Paul offered to personally repay anything Onesimus owed.
Onesimus is traditionally identified with the Bishop of Ephesus named by Saint Ignatius of Antioch in his Letter to the Ephesians (c. 107–110 AD), where Ignatius calls the bishop "a man of inexpressible love." If this identification is correct, the runaway slave became the bishop of one of the greatest cities of the ancient world.
He was martyred, according to tradition, c. 95 AD.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Colossae, Phrygia (traditional; modern Turkey)
Death location: Puteoli (Pozzuoli), Italy (traditional); or Rome
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Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Onesimus have been added to the database yet.
Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| Saint of the Day: February 15th - St Onesimus | Under 5 minutes | Butler's Lives of the Saints |
| Story of Onesimus | 5–15 minutes | Christian Family TV |
| Saint Onesimus: From Slave to Saint, Apostle of Christ | Under 5 minutes | Leyendas De Santos |
| Story of Saint Onesimus | Saints and Angels TV | EP 188 | #saintsandangelstv #saints | 5–15 minutes | Saints and Angels TV |
| The Life Of Saint Onesimus From Slave To Saint #history #saintsations #christiansaint#interesting | Under 5 minutes | Saints Stories |
Shrines
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No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
Feast day
February 16
Veneration
Saint Onesimus is the runaway slave of Philemon who was baptized by Saint Paul and became Bishop of Ephesus. He is the subject of Paul's shortest letter and one of the most remarkable figures of the Apostolic age. His feast is February 16.
Prayers
Authored
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Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.