Apostle 1st century

Apostle Andronicus of the Seventy and Junia

1st century

Also known as Andronicus · Junia

Kinsfolk and fellow-laborers of the Apostle Paul, named by him in the Epistle to the Romans as 'of note among the apostles'; they preached Christ among the nations and shared his imprisonment.

Feast Day

May 17

Also Jul 30

Draft

Draft — pending review. Not yet verified for publication.

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Commemorated as

The Holy and Glorious Apostle Andronicus of the Seventy, Bishop of Pannonia, and his Fellow-Laborer Junia

Come to them for

Missionary Work

Life

Andronicus and Junia were kinsfolk and fellow-laborers of the Apostle Paul, numbered among the Seventy Apostles and named together by Paul in his Epistle to the Romans. Writing to the Church at Rome, he greeted them as relatives who had shared his imprisonment and who had come to Christ even before his own conversion: 'Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and fellow prisoners, who are of note among the Apostles, who also were in Christ, before me' (Romans 16:7).

In the tradition of the Eastern Church, Andronicus was made Bishop of Pannonia, but his ministry was itinerant rather than confined to a single see, carrying him and Junia far beyond the bounds of his diocese to preach the Gospel among the pagans. Together they are remembered as having strengthened the early Church, converted many to the faith, and brought down pagan temples, in whose place Christian churches were raised.

Both are venerated as martyrs who suffered for Christ. Their relics were among those uncovered near Constantinople in the fifth century and identified by later tradition, and they are commemorated by the Orthodox Church on May 17 and again on July 30 among the Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles.

Timeline 4 moments Read Hide

1st century Among the earliest believers Andronicus and Junia, kinsfolk of the Apostle Paul, come to Christ before Paul's own conversion.
1st century Greeted in the Epistle to the Romans Paul salutes them in Romans 16:7 as his kinsmen and fellow prisoners, 'of note among the Apostles.'
1st century Episcopate and mission in Pannonia Andronicus is made Bishop of Pannonia; he and Junia preach widely, converting pagans and building churches in place of pagan temples.
5th century Uncovering of the relics Under the emperors Arcadius and Honorius, relics including those of Andronicus are uncovered near Constantinople at the gate of Eugenius.

Contributions & Legacy

3 contributions Read Hide

Companions of the Apostle Paul

Andronicus and Junia belong to the first generation of Christian believers, the circle of relatives and co-workers gathered around the Apostle Paul. Paul calls them his 'kinsmen' and 'fellow prisoners,' indicating both a family tie and a share in the sufferings of the apostolic mission. His remark that they 'were in Christ before me' places their conversion earlier than his own, marking them among the very earliest followers of the faith.

The phrase Paul uses of them — 'of note among the Apostles' — has long been the subject of discussion, with interpreters divided over whether it ranks them as apostles in their own right or simply as figures well regarded by the apostles. The Eastern Church receives them firmly as apostles, numbering Andronicus among the Seventy and honoring Junia as his fellow-laborer in the same work.

Bishop and Missionary in Pannonia

By tradition Andronicus was appointed Bishop of Pannonia, the Roman territory along the middle Danube, yet he did not remain fixed in one place. He and Junia traveled widely, preaching to lands far from the boundaries of his diocese. Their labors are credited with converting pagans to the knowledge of God, closing many pagan temples, and seeing Christian churches built in their stead.

Accounts of their ministry also relate that they healed the sick and cast out unclean spirits as they went. Through their joint efforts the synaxarion records that the Church of Christ was strengthened among the nations they reached.

Martyrdom and Relics

The liturgical service in honor of the two saints states that they suffered martyrdom for Christ. In the fifth century, during the reign of the emperors Arcadius and Honorius, a body of relics was uncovered on the outskirts of Constantinople at the gate of Eugenius, an uncovering kept in memory on February 22, together with the relics of other martyrs.

By tradition a cleric named Nicholas Kalligraphos received a revelation identifying Andronicus among the seventeen martyrs whose relics had been found there, after which a church was built at the site. Because Andronicus and Junia belong to the undivided Church of the first century, they are honored not only in the Eastern Orthodox tradition but also among the Coptic, Catholic, and Anglican churches.

Commemorated with Read Hide

The Seventy Apostles

Commemorated together · Jan 4

Notes

Of the Seventy; not of the Twelve. Also commemorated Jul 30 with the Apostles of the Seventy.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints