Saint Philip Bonneuve André Description

The Holy Apostle Philip was born in the same town of Bethsaida, from which the brothers Peter and Andrew, the sons of Jonah, and James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were born. From an early age Philip was given by his parents to study book wisdom. He studied the Holy Scripture and knew all the prophecies about the expected Messiah. Rereading them and pondering them, Philip flamed with love for the future, with all his being he was eager to see Him. And Philip did not know that He, Whom he so eager to see, already lives among the Jews. Philip's secret thoughts and desires soon came true. Christ came to the borders of Galilee and found Philip. "Follow Me" (John 1:43), - the Lord told him. According to the first words of Christ addressed to him, Philip believed that He is the true Messiah, of whom the prophets spoke. With all my heart Philip heeded the call of the Lord and followed Him. The joy of Philip was great when he learned that the Messiah had come to earth and awarded him, Philip, to make his disciple. He wants to share his joy with others, and so he goes to his friend Nathanael, later to the Apostle Bartholomew. In joyful excitement he tells Nathanael his news. But he doubted. "Go and see" (John 1:46), "Philip began to assure. He knew that, only he would see Nathanael Christ and hear His salutary words, he would immediately know that He is the true Messiah. So it really happened (John 1: 43-49).
As a worthy disciple, Philip was chosen by the Lord as one of the 12 apostles (Luke 6:14, Mark 3:18). Having learned before the book wisdom from people, now Philip studied the divine wisdom from Him who is the very truth (John 14: 6-9). Drawing from the Source of Truth, Philip, however, could not yet abandon his sensory views. By nature, he was, apparently, more inclined to the visible and the external. Therefore even in the divine Master he saw only the lofty human perfections, but he did not yet fully understand His deity. And so Christ wanted to correct it. Once Christ was on the other side of the Sea of ​​Tiberias with 5,000 people. It was getting dark. Christ did not want to leave His hearers without reinforcement. But where was the food for such a multitude? "Where do we buy bread to feed them?" (John 6: 5) - the Lord turned to Philip. I knew, of course, the Lord that there was nowhere to get bread for 5,000 people, he knew in advance and what Philip would answer him knew that he himself wanted to do. The Lord asked Philip to test him, to give him an opportunity to realize his own lack of faith, to be ashamed of it and completely believe. After hearing the question of Christ, Philip did not even think about the omnipotence of God, he thought only of human means to feed so many people. "They will not have enough bread for two hundred pence, so that each of them gets a little bit of everything" (John 6: 7), "he said. And then with other disciples he began to ask the Lord: "Let them go so that they go to the surrounding villages and villages and buy themselves some bread, because they have nothing to eat" (Mark 6:36). But the Lord filled 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish. Then Philip saw that from the hand of the Lord, as from an inexhaustible barn, everyone is served with abundant food. He was ashamed of his lack of faith, strengthened in faith, and with others glorified the power of God in Christ (John 6: 1-14; Mk 6: 35-44; Mt 14: 15-21; Luke 9: 12-17). Another time Philip's inclination to the sensual and the external was expressed even more sharply. This happened shortly before the cross sufferings of Christ, during his farewell conversation with the disciples.
Philip began to ask his Master to show them his Father. "So much time I am with you," replied the Lord with a gentle reproach, "and you do not know Me, Philip?" He who has seen me has seen the Father, how do you say, "Show us the Father?" Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me, the words that I speak to you, I do not speak of myself, the Father who dwells in me, does works, believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me ... "(John 14: 9-11).
Having received the gifts of the Holy Spirit, descended on the Apostles on the day of Pentecost, Philip began to preach the name of Christ. At first he preached Christ within Palestine, in Galilee and Samaria. One day he met a woman who was carrying his dead son in his arms. She was crying inconsolably and sobbing over him. At the sight of the inconsolable mother, Philip was overcome with pity. "Stand up," he said, stretching out his hand to the deceased, "Christ, whom I preach, commands you." Immediately the boy revived. Mother joyfully fell at the feet of the Apostle, giving him thanks for the resurrection of her son. Both of them believed in Christ and were baptized by St. Philippe. And he turned many more into the faith of Christ. Then he went to the pagan lands.
St. Philip arrived in Greece and preached the word of God, healed the sick and worked many miracles. Once by the power of Christ he resurrected the deceased. This miracle brought to the amazement of the Jews living there, and they were perplexed how to treat them to the preaching of the Apostle. Then they sent to Jerusalem to the bishops and princes of the Jews the news that an unknown person came to them, named Philip, preaching the name of Jesus crucified, driving out evil spirits by this name, heals illnesses and even revived the deceased, and so many have already believed in Christ . According to this message, one of the bishops with several scribes arrived from Jerusalem. This bishop still indignantly indignant at St. Philip for his preaching was a great success in Palestine. The bishop sat proudly on a high judicial seat, around which many Jews and Gentiles were crowded. Have brought there and sv. Philip. "It was not enough for you," the bishop turned angrily to the St. Apostle, "in Judea, Galilee and Samaria, to seduce ordinary and unlearned people," here you have come, to the wise Greeks, and here you preach your new doctrine, which you learned from Jesus who was against the law of Moses, for which He Himself was condemned and died a dishonorable death, crucified on the cross.On the occasion of the feast of the Passover, He was buried, and you His disciples secretly stole His body, to the temptation of many, and were told everywhere that He rose from the dead. .. "The people became agitated when they heard these angry words of the bishop. "What do you say, Philip?" the crowd echoed impatiently. And, as always happens in large gatherings, they began to argue about him without waiting for the Apostle's answer. But there were few defenders of him, there were more opponents. Some of them were demanded immediately to put Philip's death, others insisted that he should be taken to court and executed to Jerusalem. Meanwhile, waiting for a moment when the noise subsided somewhat, Philip spoke to the bishop: "It is in vain that you love the bustle of the earth and say lies, why has your heart so hardened that you do not want to admit the truth? Did not you yourself put the seals on the coffin and did not they put a watchman on him, and when our Lord rose again without destroying the seals, did not you give gold to the soldiers then that they lied, as if during their sleep, the dead were stolen by his disciples? How are you not ashamed now Your very seals bear witness to the truth of the resurrection of Christ and of They will lie your lies, they will be your accusers on the day of retribution. " The Bishop was completely mad with anger and fury. Jumping from his seat, he rushed to the Apostle to kill him with his own hands. But suddenly the daring man became blind and turned black all over. The people did not understand this miracle. Everyone thought that this was the affair of Philip's witchcraft, and they wanted to kill him immediately as a sorcerer. Then there was another, even greater miracle. With all who rushed to seize the Apostle, it became the same as with the bishop, and at the same time the earth was shaken terribly. All trembled with fear and knew the power of Christ. At the sight of the plight of the blinded, both spiritually and bodily, St. Philip tears and begs God to give them healing and enlighten their mind and heart. By the prayer of the Apostle, immediately they saw everything. This miracle, almost all the many people who were there, turned to Christ. Only the bishop was so embittered that he did not try and did not want to admit the truth after the punishment. He became even more annoyed at the Apostle and even began to vilify Christ. Then he suffered even more punishment. Suddenly the earth opened and he disappeared into the depths. Having baptized after this believers in Christ and having placed there a bishop, St. Philip went with the gospel to other cities and villages of Greece. One day, walking by the road, St. Philip began to ask God for help in the works of the gospel. When he kneeled down to pray, a sign appeared to him in the form of an eagle with wings spread, spread out like a crucified Christ. The Holy Apostle was strengthened by this sign and went on his way to preaching the Gospel. He enlightened many cities of Ethiopia and Arabia by the faith of Christ. Then he boarded a ship and sailed to Azot, a seaside town in Palestine. At night, during the voyage, a terrible storm arose. There was no hope of salvation, and all with fear awaited the last terrible moment. Then St.. Philip began to pray, and then a bright image of the cross appeared in the air and lit up the night gloom. After that, the sea began to subside, and the waves settled down. In Ashdod, St. Philip took to his house one stranger, named Niccolides. At the daughter of Nicolide, Haritina, the eye was very ill, so she could not find peace anywhere. Entering Nicolas, St.. Philip began to preach the word of God. Everyone listened attentively to the sermon; Listened to St. Apostle and Charitin. She listened with such pleasure to his words that she had forgotten her painful illness. St. Philip noticed her zeal for the word of God. Knowing that she was sick, he told her to put his hand on the sick eye and call on the name of Christ. Haritina fulfilled the apostle's command and healed her eye. The whole house of Nicoland at the sight of this miracle believed in Christ and took holy baptism.
From Ashdod to St. The Apostle Philip went to the north and came to the Syrian city of Hierapolis. The people reacted fiercely to the sermon of St. The apostle. He even wanted to be stoned, and only the intercession of a certain Ira saved him from popular outrage. "Citizens," said the people of Ir, "Listen to my advice: do not do evil to this person until you know the justice of his teaching, if his teaching turns out to be unfair, then we will kill him." Ir was known to all people in the city, everyone respected him and treated him with reverence. And now, after listening to the words his people did not dare to contradict him. So St. Philip got rid of the real danger. Ir suggested he stay at his house. Soon the house of Ira became a place of preaching, where they were converted to Christ Irene with all his household and his neighbors. The inhabitants of Hierapolis learned that Ir was baptized, and was greatly indignant at him. They surrounded the house of Ira and wanted to burn in him a sleepy Ira with all the domestic and St. The apostle. But St. Philip warned them. He boldly went out to the rebels. Those sure wild animals rushed at him and dragged him to the trial. The head of the court, named Aristarchus, boldly seized St. Philip's hair. But Aristarkh's arm dried up immediately, and he himself was blind and deaf. Anger has subsided among the people, everyone was amazed at the miracle and began to ask the Apostle to heal Aristarchus. "He will not receive healing," answered Philip, "if he does not believe in the God I preach." At that time they carried past to bury the deceased. "Now, raise this dead man," the people began to mock him, "then Aristarchus, and all of us will believe in your God." Then Philip prayerfully lifted his eyes to heaven and said in a mild voice, turning to the deceased: "Theophilus!" Immediately the dead rose on the stretcher, on which he was carried, and opened his eyes. "Christ commands you," continued Philip, "get up and talk with them." Theophilus came down from the stretcher and fell at the feet of the Apostle, giving him thanks for having saved him from the terrible torments attracted to him by some two black monsters.
Everyone was struck by this miracle. Unanimously, everyone began to glorify the one true God, which Philip preaches. Then St.. The apostle made a sign to the people with his hand that he should stop, and told Ira to put a cross on the injured members of Aristarchus. Aristarchus was immediately healed. These miracles turned all the Hierapolis to Christ. All rushed to break the idols. The father of the resurrected Theophilus, before others, smashed 12 golden idols in his house and distributed gold to the poor. St. Philip baptized everyone, ordained Bishop Ira to them and, having created the Church, went to other countries to preach the Gospel. Having passed all of Syria and the upper Asia, Philip came to Lydia and Mizia, the region of Asia Minor. There his sister Mariamia and St. The Apostle Bartholomew. They passed with the gospel all the cities of Lydia and Mizia. Many sufferings they suffered: they were beaten, and stoned with stones, and imprisoned. But the grace of God kept them alive and unharmed, and they continued to preach the name of Christ with jealousy. In one of the Lydian villages, they met St. John the Theologian and with him went to the neighboring region, Phrygia. Going from the preaching of the Gospel to all the villages of the Phrygian, encountered on the way, St. the evangelists came to one city of Phrygia, which was also called Hierapolis.
The inhabitants of Hierapolis did not know Christ yet and worshiped the idols with which the city was crowded. In addition to idols, there was echidna among the deities in Hieropole. A special temple was built for her, where she was brought food and where she was performed in honor of her sacrifice. The holy preachers cast a curse on the vipers with prayer, and it became lifeless. After this, St. The apostle John went to preach to other cities, and the three of them tirelessly taught the inhabitants of Hierapolis about Christ. There was a certain Stachy who remained blind for 40 years. They healed the blind and enlightened them with the faith of Christ. The news of the miracle soon flew all over the city, and many people gathered in the house of Stakhia, where the evangelists settled. They gladly began to teach the congregation the faith of Christ and performed miracles, healing the sick and banishing the evil spirits. A great multitude believed in Christ. The wife of the chief of the city, stung by a snake, lay sick at death. Hearing that in the house of Stakhia some wanderers cured all kinds of illnesses in one word, she, in the absence of her husband, ordered the slaves to take her there. She received healing and believed in Christ. Meanwhile, the mayor, returning home, found out about what happened in his absence, was terribly enraged and ordered immediately to take into custody the pilgrims. The order of the mayor was fulfilled: without any pity they brought Philip, Bartholomew and Miriamy through the streets of the city, beat them and mocked them and threw them into prison. Then the priests gathered to the governor and began to complain about St.. preachers of Christ. "To avenge the dishonor of our gods," they said, "since these pilgrims entered our city, the altars of the great gods have deserted, and our glorious goddess has perished, and the whole city was filled with iniquity: kill these wise men." Listening attentively to the priests, the mayor gave the order to expose St. Philip, thinking that his clothes are hiding in his clothes. Nothing was found in Philip's clothes. The exposed St.. Bartholomew, and nothing was found in his robes. We approached St.. Mariamia, to take off her clothes, but she suddenly turned into a fiery flame in their eyes, and they ran away in fear. Then the mayor condemned all three for crucifixion. First crucified St. Philip. He checks his heels and, having roped them in them, hung him on the cross upside down, before the doors of the temple are viper. In the crucified sufferer they started throwing stones with a curse. When they then crucified St. Bartholomew, there was a sudden terrible earthquake, the earth opened and swallowed the mayor, all the priests and many infidels. In great fear came the survivors, both believers and pagans. With tears they asked the Apostles for pardon. Hurriedly rushed to remove the crucified from the cross. St. Bartholomew was hanged not high, and he was soon removed. But St. Philip, who was hanged on the cross very high, could not take it off, and it pleased the Lord that he should finish his earthly life. Hanging on the cross, St.. Philip turned to God with a fervent prayer that he would pardon his enemies, forgive them of their sins, enlighten their minds to know Him, the true God. Heard was the prayer of St. Apostle: the earth returned from its depths all but the mayor and priests, and then all unanimously confessed Christ. After that, St. Philip betrayed his spirit to God, and he, already dead, was removed from the cross. St. Bartholomew buried with honor the body of St. Philip. This was on November 14, and this day is over. The church dedicated a celebration in honor of St. The apostle. On the place where, during the suffering of the cross of St. Philip expired his blood, in 3 days after his death grew a vine, as if in a sign that St. Philip, the strait on earth for Christ's blood, tastes eternal bliss in his unearthly kingdom. Relics of St. The Apostle Philip is currently in Rome, in the church of St. 12 Apostles (his memory is celebrated by the Holy Church on November 14).