Equal-to-the-Apostles1st century

Saint Mariamne the Apostolic Virgin

1st century

Also known as Mariamne, sister of the Apostle Philip · Mary

Sister of the Apostle Philip, she shared in his apostolic labors and continued preaching the Gospel in Lykaonia after his death.

February 17New Calendar

Feast Day

March 2Old Calendar

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Commemorated as

The Holy and Righteous Mariamne the Apostolic Virgin, Sister of the Holy Apostle Philip

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Missionary Work

Life

Saint Mariamne, called "the Apostolic Virgin," was the sister of the Apostle Philip, one of the Twelve. By tradition she made a vow of virginity and joined her brother as his companion in the work of the Gospel, sharing in the apostolic labors of the first century.

She is remembered above all for accompanying Philip and the Apostle Bartholomew on their missionary journeys through Asia Minor and for continuing to preach after her brother's death. The Orthodox Church commemorates her on February 17.

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Apostolic Labors

According to the Church historian Nikephoros Callistus, Mariamne, her brother Philip, and the Apostle Bartholomew preached together with success in the Phrygian city of Hieropolis. There the three were arrested and imprisoned for their proclamation of the Gospel.

A wider tradition, preserved in the apocryphal Acts of Philip, places their mission across Greece, Phrygia, and Syria, and recounts their preaching and signs among the peoples of those regions. Mariamne is named in this tradition rather than in the canonical Gospels.

After the Death of Philip

During their imprisonment at Hieropolis, the Apostle Philip was put to death on a cross, while Saint Mariamne and Saint Bartholomew were set free.

Having buried the body of her brother, Mariamne continued the apostolic mission alone, preaching the Gospel in Lykaonia in Asia Minor. There she reposed in peace, ending her life as a missionary rather than a martyr.

Family1 relativeShowHide

Her brother, whom she accompanied in the apostolic mission and buried after his martyrdom at Hierapolis.

Apostle Philipof the Twelve

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Fellow apostle and traveling companion — preached with her and Philip at Hierapolis, where the three were imprisoned together and where she and Bartholomew were afterward set free.

Apostle Bartholomewof the Twelve

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Browse other saints who share her calling and place.

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Feb 17