In Phrygia, a region in Asia Minor, there lived a rich and distinguished man named Philemon. When the holy apostles preached the Gospel, Philemon believed and was later counted among the seventy apostles.
Philemon, even before his conversion, had a slave named Onesimus. Having committed some offense before his master, Onesimus was afraid of punishment and fled from him to Rome, where the holy apostle Paul was preaching at that time. Many Romans, having heard the word of the holy apostle, turned to the Lord. And Onesimus heard the preaching of the apostle Paul. His words aroused in him sincere repentance and ardent faith. He followed the apostle. When Paul was subjected to persecution and exile, Onesimus did not separate from him, he accepted the holy Baptism and continued to serve him diligently.
Paul loved Onesimus and wanted to keep him with him forever. When he learned that Onesimus belonged to Philemon, he found that he had no right to leave him with him without the will of the master. Paul sent Onesimus to Philemon with a letter in which he asked for forgiveness for him and exhorted Philemon to graciously accept his slave - as a brother in Christ. This letter - an epistle to Philemon - is included among the other epistles of the Apostle Paul in the New Testament of the Holy Bible.
Philemon not only forgave Onesimus, but also granted him freedom. Onesimus returned to St. Apostle Paul and served him with zeal and devotion. He himself, taught by Paul, became one of the apostles and after the death of his teacher, went to preach the Word of God in distant lands. He preached in Spain, in many cities of Greece and Asia Minor, and already in his old age was appointed bishop of Ephesus, after Timothy and John the Theologian. St. Ignatius the God-Bearer mentions him in one of his epistles as a pious and active man, zealously fulfilling his duties.
For several years Onesimus was bishop of Ephesus, converting pagans to Christ, strengthening believers through teachings and an example of a virtuous life.
In the reign of Trajan (98-117 AD), persecution against Christians began and Onesimus was summoned to Rome. Brought to trial before the governor Tertullus, Onesimus steadfastly confessed the Name of Christ. When asked who he was and what kind of family he was, he replied:
- I am a Christian. In my youth I was a slave to a man, and now I am a faithful slave of the Lord Jesus Christ!
- For what price did your new Master buy you? - asked the manager.
- The Son of God, Jesus Christ, with His precious blood has redeemed me from destruction - Onesimus answered.
When asked what is called a vain life, Onesimus listed the vices that distance us from God: greed, pride, envy, slander, lies and hypocrisy, anger, intemperance and drunkenness.
- All this is called a vain life - said Onesimus - and the source and cause of all this is the worship of false gods. I also exhort you, Tertius, to know the truth, abandon temporary vanity, accept the Law of love for your neighbor, and turn with faith to the Creator and Savior! He will accept you, for He does not want the destruction of sinners, but rejoices in their repentance and forgives them their past sins.
These words, full of meekness and love, irritated the governor:
- So you not only persist in your delusions alone - he exclaimed. - but you also want to turn us to them? You will be subjected to torture for this.
- Torture does not frighten me - Onesimus answered, - amidst sufferings the hope of a future life will comfort me and the power of Christ will strengthen me.
The governor ordered Onesimus to be taken to prison, where the holy apostle spent eighteen days. He was comforted by the frequent visits of Christians and their sympathy. He preached the Word of God to the unbelievers and converted many of them to the truth.
After eighteen days, the governor expelled Onesimus from Rome and sent him into exile in Puteoli. And there, St. Onesimus continued to preach the Gospel without fear and convert the pagans.
When Tertullus learned of this, he again summoned him to court. Seeing that Onesimus was unshakable in his faith, he ordered him to be severely beaten and then handed him over to death. A Christian woman of royal lineage took the beheaded body of the holy martyr and placed it in a silver coffin.