Hierotheus of Athens
Apostle
Commemorated October 4
The Hiero martyr Hierotheus of Athens , also Hierotheus the Thesmothete (Greek: θεσμοθέτης Ἱερόθεος), a convert of the Apostle Paul, was the first Bishop of Athens. His feast day is October 4 .
Hierotheus was a member of the Athenian Areopagos, from which he may have received the title "Thesmothete" which means ruler, or junior archon, of Athens (literally "rule-setter").
Little is known of the life of Hierotheos other than the tradition of the Church. He was one of the learned men of Athens who came to follow the Gospel of Christ as preached by the Apostle Paul , joining Dionysius the Areopagite who, like Hierotheus, was a member of the Areopagite court. Around the year 53, Paul baptized Hierotheos. Tradition is not clear on whether Hierotheos was actually a priest or bishop . While tradition places Hierotheos as the first bishop of Athens, other traditions note Dionysius as the first bishop of Athens
Also, according to tradition, Bp. Hierotheus was present, with St. Dionysius, during the dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos.
St. Hierotheus died a martyr's death later in the first century.
Troparion
We the faithful all praise Hierótheus, the disciple of Paul,
Hierarch of Athens,
the world's teacher and a preacher of the Faith,
who revealed to us Christ's Mysteries
and poured forth streams of godly doctrine.
His life was well-pleasing to God, who is greatly greatly merciful.
Kontakion
Hierarch of Athens, we praise you for you have instructed us in awesome and ineffable things,
and you were revealed to be a divinely-inspired writer of hymns.
Pray that we be delivered from every kind of sin, so that we may cry to you:
"Rejoice, divinely-wise Father Hierótheus."
Source: OrthodoxWiki
