Sosipater of Iconium

Saint Sosipater the Apostle is mentioned in the Epistle to the Romans (16:21) and counted by tradition among the Seventy Apostles. He is probably the same as Sopater in the Acts of the Apostles (20:4). He is remembered as bishop of Iconium and as a missionary on the island of Corfu. The Orthodox Church remembers him on 28 April with Saint Jason, on 10 November with Erastus, Olympas, Herodion, Quartus and Tertius, and on 4 January. The Latin tradition remembers him on 25 June.

He is said to have been born in Achaia or at Patras, a disciple of the Apostle Andrew and then of the Apostle Paul, his kinsman, from whom he received ordination as bishop of Iconium. After guiding the faithful there for a long time, he set out toward the west with Saint Jason, and in the year 63 they reached Corfu. There they built a church in honour of Saint Stephen the Protomartyr and baptized many pagans. The ruler of the island threw them into prison, where they brought seven robbers to faith: Saturninus, Jakischolus, Faustianus, Januarius, Marsalius, Euphrasius and Mammius. They were beaten and imprisoned again. The ruler later ordered them cast into boiling pitch, but seeing them unharmed he cried out with tears: "God of Jason and Sosipater, have mercy on me", and they baptized him, giving him the name Sebastian. It is said that a few days later they raised his son. With his help the two built several churches on the island and lived there to a great age. The legends add that the ruler's daughter, Kerkyra, converted, was put to death for her faith.

At Garitsa in Corfu stands the church of Saints Jason and Sosipater, where their relics are kept. In the Latin tradition he is said to have died at Beroea.