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Apostle1st century

Hermes of the Seventy

1st century

Also known as Hermas · Apostle Hermes · Hermes of Dalmatia

One of the Seventy Apostles, mentioned by Saint Paul in his Epistle to the Romans. He is said to have served as bishop in Dalmatia.

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Commemorated as

The Holy and All-Praised Apostle Hermes of the Seventy, Bishop of Dalmatia

Life

Hermes is venerated as one of the Seventy Apostles, the wider circle of disciples sent out by Christ beyond the Twelve. He is identified with the Hermes greeted by the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romans (16:14), and by tradition he served as bishop in Dalmatia.

Little detailed biography survives. The Orthodox tradition remembers him as a first-century laborer of the apostolic generation who carried the Christian message into the region of Dalmatia on the eastern Adriatic coast. The Orthodox Church in America commemorates him on March 8, recording that he reposed in peace.

Because his name was borne by more than one figure of the early Church, sources take care to distinguish him from another Apostle of the Seventy named Hermas who is associated with Philippopolis in Thrace.

Troparion2 hymnsReadHide
TroparionTone 3

Holy Apostle Hermḗs,
entreat the merciful God
to grant our souls forgiveness of transgressions.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

TroparionTone 4

(Podoben: “Thou hast appeared...”) The Church hath acquired thee for ever as a most radiant star,
enlightening all with the multitude of thy miracles, O Apostle Hermḗs;
wherefore we cry aloud to Christ:
"Save those who in faith honor the memory of Thine Apostle,
O greatly merciful One."

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline3 momentsReadHide
  1. 1st centuryGreeted by Paul in RomansHermes is named among the believers the Apostle Paul greets in his Epistle to the Romans (16:14); tradition numbers him among the Seventy Apostles.
  2. 1st centuryBishop in DalmatiaBy tradition Hermes served as bishop in Dalmatia, on the eastern Adriatic coast, where one account holds that he succeeded Titus.
  3. 1st centuryReposeAccording to the Orthodox Church in America, Hermes reposed in peace.

Contributions & Legacy

2 contributionsReadHide

Identity and Apostolic Mission

Hermes is numbered among the Seventy Disciples and is usually identified with the Hermes named by the Apostle Paul in Romans 16:14, where Paul sends greetings to a group of believers at Rome. From this single scriptural mention the Church remembers him as one of Paul's co-workers in the apostolic generation.

According to tradition he served as bishop in Dalmatia, a province along the eastern shore of the Adriatic. One strand of the tradition holds that he succeeded Titus as Bishop of Dalmatia, linking his ministry to the apostolic mission established in that region.

Commemoration

The Orthodox Church in America commemorates the Apostle Hermes on March 8 and records that he reposed in peace. In the broader liturgical tradition he is also remembered on April 8, where he is named together with fellow apostles of the Seventy, and on January 4 in the Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles.

Liturgical hymnography commemorates him in the company of other apostles of the Seventy, among them Herodion, Agabus, Rufus, Asyncritus, and Phlegon. The Synaxarion compiled by Hippolyte Delehaye (1902) records that he appears in some witnesses under the name Ermylos.

Member ofReadHide
The Seventy Apostles
Commemorated together · Jan 4
Companions3 figuresShowHide
Fellow apostle of the Seventy commemorated together with Hermes in the April 8 grouping (Herodion, Agabus, Rufus, Asyncritus, Phlegon, and Hermes).
Apostle Herodionof the Seventy
By one tradition, Hermes succeeded Titus as Bishop of Dalmatia.
Apostle Titusof the Seventy
Also greeted in Romans 16:14 and numbered among the Seventy; a distinct apostle of the same day.
Apostle Hermasof the Seventy
Related Saints1 saintShowHide

Saints connected to his life, mission, and place in Orthodox tradition.

The Apostle whose co-worker Hermes is reckoned to be, greeting him among the believers at Rome (Romans 16:14).
Apostle Paul

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