The memory of St. Carpus, Apostle of the Seventy
For a time Carpus labored with the apostle Paul, preaching the word of Christ in all places [among other things, he had been left by the apostle Paul in Troas with the phelons and various books, among which the apostle especially mentions the parchment books (2 Tim. 4:13) ], although he suffered many trials and tribulations for this.
Later, Saint Carpus was appointed by the Apostle Paul as bishop of Berea in Thrace [Thrace was the name of the part of the Balkan Peninsula that lay north of Macedonia, the Aegean and the Marmara Sea.
The city of Beroea is now called Verria or Kara-Verria; it has about 12,000 inhabitants. - The Apostle Paul was in Beroea during his second apostolic journey.] The Holy Apostle Carpus labored, preaching the gospel of Christ also on the island of Crete [The island of Crete (otherwise Candia - from the main city of the same name) is in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Aegean Sea.
(Acts 2:11) Then Christianity was established here by the apostle Paul, who appointed Titus as bishop here in order that he "may correct the things that were defective and appoint elders in city after city". - Titus 1:5.
He was received into his house by Dionysius the Areopagite, a member of the Areopagus, the supreme court of Athens, converted to Christianity by the apostle Paul during his second apostolic journey (c. 54).
- His memory is celebrated on October 8th.] and saw the Lord appearing to him in a vision at the time when Carpus asked him to hand over the two sinners to be executed, and heard his voice crying out: "Torture me again, for I am ready to suffer and be crucified again for the salvation of men".
And the carpenter was grieved thereat; and he was grieved in his heart, as he had never been before; and he thought that the wicked should not dwell on the earth, and he prayed that fire should come down from heaven and devour them both, the wicked and the wicked; and as he prayed, the roof upon which he stood was shaken, and it was rent in two.
When he looked up, he saw heaven open and the Lord Jesus sitting on it.
And when Carpus saw that they that had grieved him were about to fall into the pit, and to be devoured by the serpent that crawled under, he was glad; but as they were not yet fallen into the pit, Carpus was again grieved and grieved, and prayed again to God for their destruction.
Then the Lord said to Carpus, "Torture Me again, for I am ready to suffer again and be crucified for the salvation of men".
St. Dionysius the Areopagite testifies of this holy Carpus, and that he never began to perform the pure and life-giving Mysteries until he was pleased with the divine vision which had appeared to him from heaven.
For example, in a letter to the monk Demofilus, he says of Carpus: "This man was great in his virtues and was distinguished by such elevated purity of mind, that he possessed a great capacity for divination".
He was then cruelly killed by the Jews, and thus delivered his soul into the hands of the Lord. His honourable relics were laid by faithful and God-fearing men in the same city where he had served as a priest, and by these relics healing was given to the sick for the glory of Christ our God.
Apostle Saint Carme, pray to the merciful God that the forgiveness of sins may be granted to our souls.
The thunder, voice three:
Trooper, voice three, Apostle of Saint Carme, pray to the merciful God, that he may forgive our souls our sins.
The condac, voiced four.
Condac, verse 4: The bright star of the church always attracts the Apostle Carpus, your miracles are enlightened by your many miracles: save your memory by the faith of those who read. ________________________________________________________________________ 1 Among other things, the apostle Paul left him in Troas a phelony and various books, among which the apostle particularly mentions the parchments (2 Tim.4:13). 2 Thrace was called that part of the Balkan Peninsula that lay north of Macedonia, the Aegean and the Sea of Marmara.
3 The island of Crete (otherwise called Candia - from the capital city of the same name) is located in the middle part of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Aegean Sea. Christianity was founded here by the event of the Holy Spirit's downfall on the apostles, for at this event there were also the Cretans (Acts 2:11).
And when he prayed for it, the tower on which he was standing was shaken and split into two; and when he lifted up his eyes, he saw the heaven open, and the Lord Jesus Christ sitting therein in the likeness of a man; and he saw a tower in the lower part of the tower, wherein he was standing, and he saw two sinners being cast down.
When Carpus saw that his mourners were about to fall into the abyss and be eaten by the serpent that had slipped down, he rejoiced; but as they had not yet fallen into the abyss, Carpus again began to be annoyed and grieved and began to pray to God for their destruction. When he lifted up his eyes to heaven, he saw that the Lord was approaching those sinners and extending his hand to them. Then the Lord said to Carpus: "Treat me yet, for I am ready to suffer again and be crucified for the salvation of men". This story is reported by Saint Dionysius the Areopagite to the monk Demofilus.
For example, in a letter to the monk Demofilus, he says of Carpus: "This man was a great man in virtue and was distinguished by such a high purity of mind that he had a great capacity for divination".