Typica Livestream – Saturday, November 22, 2025
Gerald Largent
Glory to Jesus Christ!
On November 22, the Orthodox Church remembers the Holy Apostles Philemon, Apphia, Archippus, and Onesimus of the Seventy, beloved companions of the Apostle Paul and essential figures in the foundation of early Christian communities.
The day’s readings—2 Corinthians 11:1–6 and Luke 9:57–62—invite us to reflect on the cost of discipleship and the sincerity of our devotion to Christ. St. Paul, defending the integrity of his ministry, speaks with apostolic zeal, urging believers to remain steadfast in the true Gospel. In the Gospel reading, Christ teaches that following Him requires decisiveness, sacrifice, and a heart undivided by worldly concerns. Together, these passages remind us that discipleship is not casual—it is transformative and wholehearted.
The saints commemorated today embody this very spirit. Philemon, a gracious host of a house church; Apphia, revered as a motherly protector of the faithful; Archippus, admonished to “fulfill the ministry” entrusted to him; and Onesimus, once a runaway turned bishop—each displays the power of God’s grace at work in different circumstances. Their stories reflect repentance, service, courage, and the sanctifying strength of Christian community.
Please join us tomorrow, November 23, at 6:30 PM Eastern, as we live-stream Vespers on YouTube and on our website, stpanteleimon.com.