1st century
The first Bishop of Damascus, sent by Christ to restore the sight of Saul and baptize him, who preached openly and suffered martyrdom.
The Holy, Glorious and All-Praised Apostle Ananias of the Seventy, First Bishop of Damascus
Ananias was a disciple of Christ at Damascus and is counted among the Seventy Apostles. According to the account in Acts, the Lord appeared to him in a vision and directed him to Saul of Tarsus, the former persecutor of Christians, who lay blinded at the house of Judas on the street called Straight. When Ananias laid his hands on Saul, his sight was restored, and Ananias instructed and baptized him; Saul thereafter became the Apostle Paul.
Orthodox tradition names Ananias the first Bishop of Damascus. He preached the Gospel boldly and openly before both Jews and pagans despite the dangers, and he is venerated as both an apostle and a martyr.
The Apostle Paul described Ananias as a devout man according to the law, well regarded by all the Jews of Damascus, which suggests he was an established member of that community rather than a refugee fleeing the persecution at Jerusalem.
As bishop of Damascus, Ananias confessed Christ openly before Jews and pagans alike. From Damascus he traveled to preach at Eleutheropolis, where the tradition records that he healed many people of their ailments.
At Eleutheropolis, Lucian, the prefect of the city, demanded that Ananias offer sacrifice to idols. Because of his steadfast confession of Christ, Lucian had him tortured severely, yet the saint remained firm in his witness.
The torturers then led him out beyond the city and stoned him to death. The synaxarion relates that the saint prayed for those who put him to death.
By tradition Ananias was first interred at Eleutheropolis; his relics were afterward returned to Damascus and later translated to Constantinople. The Zoravor Surp Astvatsatsin Church in Yerevan, Armenia, is associated with his tomb.
The Eastern Orthodox Church commemorates Ananias on October 1. He is also venerated in the Roman Catholic Church on January 25, the same day as the Conversion of Saint Paul, in the Coptic Orthodox Church on Paoni 27, and in the Armenian Apostolic Church on the Tuesday after the fifth Sunday following the feast of the Holy Cross.
Apostle of the Seventy; distinct from other saints named Ananias.