Hand painted Orthodox icon on wood, "Saint Apostles Philemon and his wife, Apphia", 20x26 cm

This hand-painted Orthodox icon on wood represents Saint Apostles Philemon and his wife, Apphia - numbered among the Seventy, celebrated by the Orthodox Church on February 19.

Original artwork in egg-tempera colours by Ana Drăgan (DAM).

The holy, glorious, all-laudable Apostle Philemon, bishop of Gaza, is numbered among the Seventy Apostles. The Church has included a letter he received from the Apostle Paul in the canon of Holy Scripture. His wife, Apphia, is also numbered among the Seventy, and they, with the Apostle Archippus, ministered to the town of Colossae from its Christian center, Philemon's home. During a pagan feast the Church had gathered in his home for prayer. When the pagans learned of it they raided the home and took Sts. Philemon, Apphia, and Archippus to be killed. They were whipped, buried up to their waists and then stoned. Sts. Philemon and Apphia gave up their souls to God. The Church remembers St. Philemon and his fellow martyrs on February 19 and November 22.

Source: orthodoxwiki.org