Parmenas

The Holy Apostle Parmenas was one of the Seven Deacons of the Acts of the Apostles, where his name stands sixth in the list of the seven, and one of the Seventy. Tradition says that he preached the Gospel in Asia Minor (in other sources, in Macedonia) and suffered martyrdom in 98 (in another source, 117), in the persecution of Trajan; according to other notes, he died in peace at Jerusalem soon after his election. His feast is on 4 January, in the Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles, and on 28 July, with the other deacons, Prochorus, Nicanor and Timon; in the Catholic Church, on 23 January.

The Acts of the Apostles say that, in the days when the disciples multiplied, a murmuring arose between the Hellenists and the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples and said: "It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business." They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch.

According to his life, Parmenas carried out the commands of the apostles with special zeal and served at tables, but fell asleep in peace even before the apostles left Jerusalem to preach. In the service of the Holy Apostles, on 28 July, it is said: "Great Parmenas was before the eyes of the apostles, fulfilling with warm zeal the divine service." The historian Dorotheus says that Parmenas died only a few years after his election. There is, however, also the view that he preached the Gospel in Macedonia and ended his apostolic labours by a martyr's death, under the emperor Trajan. Christian tradition names him bishop of Soli; some take this to be Soli in Cyprus, others Soli in Cilicia.