Stachys the Apostle (Greek: Στάχυς, "ear-spike"; died 54) was the second bishop of Byzantium, from 38 to 54 AD according to tradition.
Stachys is mentioned just one time in the New Testament as a person loved by Paul the Apostle (Romans 16:9).Bible Gateway website, Romans 16:9, "Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys." (NIV)Catholic Digest website, October: Sts. Eulampius, Charitina, and Stachys, article by Susie Lloyd Other than that, all information regarding him comes from tradition. He seemed to be closely connected to Andrew the Apostle and Paul the Apostle. Eusebius quotes Origen as saying that Andrew had preached in Asia Minor and in Scythia, along the Black Sea as far as Kyiv and the Volga, hence he became a patron saint of Ukraine, Romania and Russia. According to tradition, Saint Andrew founded the See of Byzantium in 38, installing Stachys as bishop,Orthodox Church of America website, Holy Apostles Stakhys, Apelles, Amplias, Urban, and Narcissus of the 70 a position he held for sixteen years.The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, (James Strong and John McClintock, eds.) Harper and Brothers; NY, 1880
This See would later develop into the Patriarchate of Constantinople, having Apostle Andrew as its Patron Saint. Stachys founded a church at Argyropouli, and many people gathered there to hear him preach.VEMA website, Saints Stachys, Andrew, Amplias, Apelles, Urban, Aristobulus and Narcissus of the 70 (31 October), St Andrew's Orthodox Press, NSW, 31 October 2022
It is not clear if Stachys was the same person whom Paul calls "dear" in the Epistle to the Romans (Rom. 16:9), but he is always associated in traditions with five other apostles (Ampliatus, Urban of Macedonia, Apelles of Heraklion, Aristobulus of Britannia and Narcissus of Athens) that are the very same names mentioned together with him by Paul in . Bible Gateway website, Romans 16:8-11, "8 - Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord. 9 - Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys. 10 - Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus. 11 - Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord." (NIV)
His feast day is on 31 October.
Notes and references
External links
antiebeati.it