Apostle Ananias of the Seventy, Bishop of Damascus
Apostle
Bishop
Bishop
The Holy Apostle Ananias, Bishop of the city of Damascus, was one of the seventy apostles. By God's command, he baptized Saul, the future great apostle and preacher Paul. Saint Ananias boldly and openly preached Christianity to both Jews and Gentiles. From Damascus, he went with the Gospel to Eleutheropolis, where he healed many sick. The governor of the city, Lucian, tried to persuade the holy apostle to offer sacrifices to idols, but seeing his steadfastness, he ordered him to be tortured. Terrible torments did not shake the witness of the Truth. Then the torturers took him outside the city and stoned him. In prayer for his murderers, the saint departed to the Lord. Later, his relics were transferred to Constantinople.
