Grace Thompson
Saint Philip the Apostle, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, was a native of Bethsaida on Lake Genesareth. He is believed to have died as a martyr, although the details of his death are not clearly documented in the canonical scriptures. There are several conflicting accounts of his death, including natural causes, stoning, beheading, and crucifixion. Early Christian traditions suggest that he was martyred in Hierapolis, where an empty tomb bearing his name was discovered in 2011.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Death | 1st Century |
| Place of Death | Hierapolis |
| Cause of Death | Natural Causes, Beheading, Stoning, or Crucifixion |
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What You'll Learn
Conflicting accounts of his death
There are several conflicting accounts of how Philip the Apostle died. While he is believed to have died as a martyr, the details of his death are not clearly documented in the canonical scriptures.
One record says he died of natural causes. Another says he was beheaded. Other accounts suggest that he was stoned to death, or that he was crucified upside down. Most of the earliest traditions seem to point to him being martyred in Hierapolis.
In a letter to Pope Victor, Polycrates of Ephesus wrote:
> "I speak of Philip, one of the twelve apostles, who is laid to rest at Hierapolis."
Caius the Presbyter, a third-century Christian writer, wrote:
> "And after this there were four prophetesses, daughters of Philip, at Hierapolis in Asia. Their tomb is there, and that, too, of their father."
The Acts of Philip provides the earliest, most detailed account of his martyrdom, but it is difficult to verify its accuracy. According to this account, Philip converted a proconsul's wife, angering the proconsul enough to have him and Bartholomew crucified upside down.
The confusion surrounding the details of Philip's death is partly due to his frequent confusion with Philip the Evangelist, who is also known as Philip the Deacon. This other Philip is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles and played a minor role in Acts.
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Martyrdom in Hierapolis
Philip the Apostle was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, according to the New Testament. He is mentioned by name in the Apostle lists of the Synoptic Gospels and is a frequent character in the Gospel According to John.
It is believed that Philip was martyred in Hierapolis, a Hellenistic Greek city built on the site of a Phrygian cult centre of the Anatolian mother goddess Cybele, in Phrygia in southwestern Anatolia, Turkey. Hierapolis was famous for its hot springs, high-quality wool fabrics and dyes, and as the birthplace of the Stoic philosopher Epictetus. The city was founded by the Seleucids in the time of Antiochus I (281-261 BC) and received polis status by Eumenes of Permgamon (197-160 BC).
The Acts of Philip provides the earliest and most detailed account of Philip's martyrdom, although it is difficult to verify its accuracy. According to this account, Philip converted a proconsul's wife, angering the proconsul enough to have him and Bartholomew crucified upside down. This aligns with the tradition that Philip was crucified upside down under the persecution of the Roman emperor Domitian (A.D. 81-96).
In 2011, Italian archaeologist Francesco D'Andria claimed to have discovered Philip's tomb during excavations in ancient Hierapolis. The 1st-century tomb, found empty, stood at the centre of a 4th- or 5th-century three-naved basilica, the Church of the Sepulchre. Ancient Greek prayers carved into the walls of the tomb and church venerate Philip the Apostle. The church built on his tomb and the martyrion church some 40 yards away were places of intense veneration for centuries.
Philip the Apostle is often confused with Philip the Evangelist, who is mentioned in Acts and played a minor role. Philip the Apostle is identified as the missionary to Greece, Syria, and Phrygia. He is remembered in the Church of England with a Festival on May 1 and by the Eastern Orthodox Church on several days of the year, including a Primary Feast Day on November 14.
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Confusion with Philip the Evangelist
Philip the Apostle is one of four people named Philip in the Bible, and he is often confused with Philip the Evangelist (also known as Philip the Deacon), who plays a minor role in Acts. This confusion dates back to at least the first or second century, as seen in the writings of Eusebius, who quotes Papias of Hierapolis, a contemporary of the apostles. Papias refers to Philip in Acts 21 as an apostle, a title usually reserved for the Twelve Apostles, which includes Philip the Apostle. However, he also mentions Philip living in Hierapolis with his daughters, which aligns with the description of Philip the Evangelist in Acts 21:8-9.
The distinction between the two Philips is further blurred by the fact that both are associated with similar roles and activities. For example, Philip the Apostle is identified as a missionary to Greece, Syria, and Phrygia, while Philip the Evangelist is known for preaching and performing miracles in Samaria and baptizing an Ethiopian eunuch, which marks the start of the Ethiopian Church. Both Philips are also connected to the city of Hierapolis, with Philip the Apostle's tomb believed to be located there, and Philip the Evangelist possibly settling there, according to late traditions.
Adding to the confusion, the term "evangelist" itself can be interpreted broadly. In the New Testament, it is used sparingly outside of Ephesians 4:11 and 2 Timothy 4:5. This ambiguity may have contributed to the interchangeable use of the title for both individuals in certain texts.
Furthermore, the Gospel of John, which contains the most significant mentions of Philip the Apostle, does not explicitly list the Twelve Apostles, making it challenging to definitively attribute certain actions or characteristics to one Philip over the other. This lack of clarity in the Gospel of John, combined with the early confusion between the two Philips, has resulted in a complex web of intertwined identities that is challenging to untangle.
While it is important to acknowledge the distinct identities of Philip the Apostle and Philip the Evangelist, the historical overlap and imprecise nature of the existing records make it a challenging task to definitively disentangle their individual stories.
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His tomb in ancient Hierapolis
In 2011, Italian archaeologist Francesco D'Andria claimed to have discovered the tomb of Philip the Apostle in ancient Hierapolis, close to the modern Turkish city of Denizli. The 1st-century tomb was found to be empty of relics, standing at the centre of a 4th- or 5th-century three-naved basilica, the Church of the Sepulchre. This church, dedicated to Philip, was one of the focal points of an ancient pilgrimage hill complex.
Ancient Greek prayers carved into the walls of the tomb and church venerate Philip the Apostle. A 6th-century bread stamp shows Philip holding bread with a three-naved church on his left side and a martyrion church on his right. This supports the assertion that the basilica contains the original tomb of the apostle. The church built on his tomb and the martyrion church some 40 yards away were places of intense veneration for centuries.
The remains of the apostle Philip are no longer in the tomb. According to D'Andria, the relics were likely moved to Constantinople in the 6th century and then possibly taken to Rome. They were placed in the Church of St. Philip and St. John (now the Church of the Holy Apostles). However, 12th-century reports describe Philip's remains as still being in Constantinople.
The discovery of the tomb sheds light on the wonderful imagery of a rare 6th-century bronze bread stamp from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The bread stamp shows two churches from the site of Hierapolis in Christian Turkey: the domed martyrium on the right and the newly discovered church containing Philip's tomb on the left.
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His feast day
Philip the Apostle's feast day is celebrated on different dates in the Western and Eastern churches. In the Roman Rite, his feast day is traditionally observed on May 1, the anniversary of the dedication of the church dedicated to him and James the Less in Rome. This date was changed to May 11 in 1960 and has been celebrated on May 3 since 1969. The Church of England also celebrates a Festival dedicated to Philip and James on May 1.
The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates Philip's primary feast day on November 14, which is also the Western feast day for Saint Albert the Great. The Eastern Orthodox Church commemorates Philip on several other dates throughout the year, including June 30 for the Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles and July 31 for the Translation of Philip's Relics to Cyprus. Philip's feast day begins the Nativity Fast in the Eastern Orthodox Church, called Philip's Fast or the Philippian Fast, which is the Eastern equivalent of Western Advent.
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Frequently asked questions
It is believed that Philip the Apostle, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, was martyred in Hierapolis, a city in Phrygia, which is now part of modern-day Turkey. However, there are several conflicting accounts of his death.
One record says he died of natural causes. Other accounts suggest he was beheaded, stoned to death, or crucified upside down.
In a letter to Pope Victor, Polycrates of Ephesus wrote:
> "I speak of Philip, one of the twelve apostles, who is laid to rest at Hierapolis."
Caius the Presbyter, a third-century Christian writer, also mentions Philip's tomb at Hierapolis, as well as the tomb of his four daughters, who had the gift of prophecy.
The Acts of Philip provides the earliest and most detailed account of his martyrdom, but its reliability is uncertain. According to this account, Philip was crucified upside down after converting a proconsul's wife, enraging her husband.
