1st century
An apostolic helper who wrote down the Epistle to the Romans and later served as Bishop of Iconium, dying a martyr.
The Holy Apostle Tertius of the Seventy, Bishop of Iconium
Tertius (also called Tertius of Iconium) was an apostolic helper of the first century, numbered among the Seventy Disciples. He is best known as the amanuensis who, at the dictation of the Apostle Paul, wrote down the Epistle to the Romans; he identifies himself in the letter's closing greetings (Romans 16:22).
By tradition he later became Bishop of Iconium, an ancient city of Asia Minor (modern Konya, Turkey), succeeding Bishop Sosipater in that see. There he is said to have converted many pagans to Christ before ending his life as a martyr, and he is venerated as a hieromartyr and Apostle of the Seventy.
Tertius served as a scribe for the Apostle Paul, recording the Epistle to the Romans as Paul dictated it. His role is documented in the letter itself, where he adds his own greeting: 'I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord' (Romans 16:22). This makes him one of the few apostolic-age scribes named directly in the New Testament.
Tradition holds that Tertius became the second bishop of Iconium, following Bishop Sosipater. According to the synaxarion, he converted many pagans to Christ in that city and ended his life as a martyr, for which reason he is venerated as a hieromartyr.
Iconium was an ancient city of Asia Minor, corresponding to the modern city of Konya in Turkey.
Tertius is included among the Seventy Disciples in the list pseudonymously attributed to Hippolytus of Rome, which survives in the margins of several ancient manuscripts; he appears there as entry 47, 'Tertius, bishop of Iconium.' He likewise appears as entry 47 in the list known as the Book of the Bee.
On October 30 he is commemorated together with the Apostles of the Seventy Mark, Justus, and Artemas. He is also commemorated liturgically alongside fellow apostles Erastus, Olympas, Herodian, Sosipater, and Quartus. He is venerated as an Apostle of the Seventy and hieromartyr in both the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church.
Apostle of the Seventy.