Artemas of Lystra

The Holy Apostle Artemas (Arphemas) of the Seventy was bishop of Lystra. He is mentioned by Saint Paul in the Epistle to Titus (3:12). He is celebrated on 30 October and, in the Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles, on 4 January; some menaia place him on other dates too, and the Greek and Slavic synaxaria count him with Tertius, Mark and Justus on 13 March.

Very little is known of his life. He is thought to have been born in the early part of the first century and sent by the Saviour, together with the rest of the Seventy, to preach the Gospel. Saint Paul mentions him as one of his close disciples: writing to Titus, he says he will send Artemas (or Tychicus) to Crete in his place, that Titus may come to him at Nicopolis, where the apostle was to spend the winter. Perhaps Artemas was sent to lead the community in Crete for a time in Titus's absence. From the trust Paul shows him it is clear that he was greatly valued by him. His name is found in all the apostolic lists.

The Synaxarion of Constantinople and the Slavic Menaia say that he was bishop of Lystra, in Isauria, on the border with Lycaonia. According to Holy Tradition, he was bishop of Lystra and fell asleep in peace, that is, he did not die as a martyr. The Hermeneia of Dionysius of Fourna describes him as a young man with a pointed beard. No separate service for him is known.