Our Father among the Saints Auxibius, Bishop of Soli in Cyprus
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Life
Saint Auxibius was the first bishop of Soli (Soloi) in Cyprus, traditionally counted among the apostolic generation of the island's missionary hierarchs. Tradition records that he was born at Rome into a wealthy family and raised together with his brother Tempstagoras, receiving the secular education available in the schools of the city.
To avoid a marriage his family had arranged for him, Auxibius secretly left Rome and journeyed eastward, reaching Cyprus. There he encountered the holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark, who was preaching the Gospel on the island. Mark converted and baptized him and established him as bishop in the city of Soli before departing for Alexandria. Auxibius governed the church of Soli for some fifty years and reposed peacefully around the year 102.
Timeline 3 moments
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1st centuryBirth at RomeBorn into a wealthy Roman family and raised with his brother Tempstagoras, receiving a secular education in the schools of Rome.
1st centuryBaptism by the Apostle MarkHaving fled Rome to avoid an arranged marriage, he reached Cyprus and met the Apostle and Evangelist Mark, who converted and baptized him and established him as bishop of Soli.
c. 102Repose at SoliAfter guiding his diocese for about fifty years, he died peacefully, leaving his disciple Auxinios as his successor on the episcopal seat.
Contributions & Legacy
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Episcopate and Mission at Soli
On taking up his see, Auxibius is said to have gone toward the western gates of the city and settled near the pagan temple of Zeus. From there he preached gradually, and tradition records that he converted the local pagan priest and other idol-worshippers to Christianity.
He is remembered for preaching in the marketplace of Soli and for the miracles and signs attributed to him, through which many in the city and the surrounding villages came to believe in Christ. His brother Tempstagoras later arrived from Rome, was baptized together with his wife, became a priest, and served in one of the churches of the region.
Tradition and Sources
The hagiographic tradition surrounding Auxibius preserves some variation. While the Orthodox synaxarion account attributes his appointment to the city of Soli directly to the Apostle Mark, other accounts attribute his consecration to Saint Herakleidius (Heracleides), an early Cypriot hierarch associated with the journeys of the Apostles Paul and Barnabas, or to the Apostle Paul himself.
He is commemorated on February 17 in the Orthodox calendar, while the Roman Martyrology notes him on February 19 with the entry 'At Soloi, Saint Auxibius, Bishop.'
Relics & Shrines
The fourth-century basilica at Soli, now in ruins, bears the name of Saint Auxibius and is traditionally associated with the site of his baptism by the Apostle Mark.
