St. Paul had converted Philemon, a powerful man, to Christianity, and St. Onesimus was his slave. After offending Philemon, Onesimus ran away to avoid facing any kind of punishment. Then, while Paul was imprisoned in Rome, he encountered St. Paul. Onesimus was baptized shortly after that.

Then, in a letter to Philemon, Paul requested that Onesimus be liberated so that he may work as one of his aides. This letter is the Epistle to Philemon, and it urges Philemon to accept Onesimus “no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a brother, beloved especially to me.”

Onesimus was pardoned by Philemon and went back to serving St. Paul zealously. He was appointed by St. Paul to carry his epistle to the Colossians along with Tychicus, as is known. (Col. 4:7-9)

He later became a fervent gospel preacher and succeeded St. Timothy as bishop of Ephesus, as St. Jerome and other fathers attest.

A governor in Rome, enraged by his sermons advocating for celibacy, brutally tortured him for eighteen days. Onesimus was stoned to death after having his legs and thighs broken with bludgeons.

In the year 90, he was martyred under Domitian.

Other Saints of the Day
Saint Daniel
Saint Honestus
Saint Julian of Egypt
Saint Juliana of Nicomedia
Saint Elias & Companions