He is the Apostle from Bethsaida who obeyed the call of 
	Jesus and led Nathaneal to Christ. At the feeding of the 
	5,000 people, Jesus said to Phillip to buy bread, and 
	Phillip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii would not buy 
	enough bread for each of them to get a little." Phillip 
	on another occasion asked Jesus, "Lord, show us the 
	Father" and Jesus retorted, "Yet you do not know me 
	Phillip?" Phillip the Apostle should not be confused with 
	Phillip, one of the seven Deacons. The Apostle Phillip 
	preached the Gospel in Asia and suffered crucifixion, 
	according to tradition. 
	
	Saint Philip was born in a remote corner of the Holy Land,
	in a city named Bethsaida. This village is also the 
	birthplace of Saint Andrew as well. Philip, like the other
	apostles of Christ, was assigned an area to which he would
	preach the word of Christ by the drawing of lots. To him 
	fell the uninviting western area of the continent of Asia,
	or Asia Minor as it has been called. He assumed this 
	responsibility with a confidence and humility born of the
	blessings of the Lord. He was more than ably assisted in 
	this holy work not only by his devout sister Miriam, but 
	by Apostle Bartholomew as well. Their efforts were assured
	success when the Lord chose to make saint Philip an 
	instrument of miraculous powers. 
	
	He traveled the length and breadth of Asia Minor tirelessly
	preaching and doing good work. He then returned for a time
	to Greece, where, like Saint Paul before him, he preached 
	before throngs of Greeks in Athens. Then he brought 
	countless numbers of Hellenes into the Christian fold 
	with the assistance of Bartholomew and Miriam. 
	
	Saint Philip's return to Asia was hastened by reports of 
	a strange Phrygian cult which had been introduced to the 
	superstitious and illiterate populace and which was in 
	direct conflict with the Christian doctrine and practice. 
	A snake of awesome size was being worshipped as a god, but
	with greater reverence than a whole herd of sacred cows, 
	as in India. The colossal viper was said to be invincible, 
	a notion which vanished when Saint Philip strode up to the 
	creature and placed his hand on it causing it to perish on 
	the spot. This display brought the populace bask to its 
	senses and by thousands the Phrygians were baptized into 
	Christianity. 
	
	To say this caused the pagan fanatics considerable 
	consternation would be quite an understatement. 
	The frightened pagans who were caused to change their 
	minds out of fear and bring down the holy trio from their
	crosses were well aware of the Phrygian serpent, but that
	only served to add confusion to their fear after a 
	profusely bleeding Saint Philip died. Probably the first 
	to be nailed to the cross and the last to be removed, the 
	Apostle Philip was beyond help and since it was his will 
	to die, there was no miracle forthcoming to save him. As 
	John Donne was to say centuries later, " shall not live 
	until I see God, and when I have seen Him I shall never 
	die," Philip undoubtedly was aware of this and was as 
	anxious to die as most are anxious to live. It is 
	preferred to believe that the Lord called him to his 
	side, since it is he who decides what the hour of death 
	shall be. Saint Philip was not weary of his travails and 
	certainly missionary work helped tremendously in laying 
	the foundation of the Church of the New Faith, along with 
	his fellow disciples and their associates, but for whom 
	Christianity might have expired. His sister and Saint 
	Bartholomew had been spared, but it was God's will that 
	they do so. Saint Philip, another brave disciple destined 
	to be dwarfed by Saint Peter, as well as the mighty 
	Apostle Paul, had thrust himself into the Christian cause 
	with equal vigor and devotion, and is revered as any of 
	his companions in Christ by the Orthodox Church. 
	
	The holy trio of Philip, Bartholomew, and Miriam, were 
	tried and condemned. The servants of God were sentenced 
	to be crucified. The death sentence was carried out with 
	dispatch and the holy three were nailed to wooden crosses. 
	No sooner had this been done than the sky darkened and the
	earth trembled violently from a rumbling earthquake. This 
	phenomenon struck terror into the hearts of those 
	responsible, who immediately sought to appease the wrath 
	of God by taking the intended victims down from their 
	crosses. 
	
	Miriam and Bartholomew survived, but as though he had 
	willed his own demise so that his death might be on the 
	heads of his enemies, Saint Philip did not. His dying 
	gaze rendered the throng powerless and he bled to death 
	on November 14 with his last breath praising the Lord.