The Apostle Jason came from Tarsus and was the first Christian in the city. The Apostle Sosipater was from Achaia. Both became disciples of the Apostle Paul. Saint Jason was appointed bishop in Tarsus, and Saint Sosipater in Iconium. In the year 63, they reached the island of Corfu, where they built a church and baptized many. The ruler of the island imprisoned them, where they converted seven robbers to Christ, who met a martyr's end.
The prison guard, seeing their martyrdom, declared himself a Christian and was executed for it. Saints Jason and Sosipater were ordered to be beaten with whips and imprisoned. The daughter of the ruler, the virgin Kerkyra, declared herself a Christian and distributed her ornaments to the poor. Her father tried to persuade her to renounce Christ, but she remained faithful.
The ruler ordered her to be placed in prison with the robber Murin, but a bear attacked the robber, and Kerkyra healed him. Murin declared himself a Christian and was executed. The ruler ordered the prison to be set on fire, but Kerkyra remained alive. She was hanged, suffocated, and shot. After her death, the ruler decided to execute all Christians on the island.
The Apostles Jason and Sosipater were thrown into a cauldron of boiling tar but remained unharmed. The ruler, seeing this, declared himself a Christian and was baptized. With his help, the apostles built several churches on the island and, having lived to a ripe old age, increased the flock of Christ through their preaching.
