Parmenas
Life and witness
At Philippi in Macedonia, of St. Parmenas, one of the seven first deacons, who through the grace of God, faithfully fulfilling the offi.ce of preaching committed to his charge, under Trajan obtained the glory of martyrdom.
Baring Gould January · S. PARMENAS, _one of the first Seven Deacons, end of 1st cent._
S. PARMENAS, _one of the first Seven Deacons, end of 1st cent._ S. MESSALINA, _V. M., at Foligno, in Italy_, A.D. 250. S. ASCLAS, _M., at Antinoë, in Egypt, circ._ A.D. 304. S. EMERENTIANA, _V. M., at Rome_, A.D. 304. (_See p. 321._) S. CLEMENT, _B. of Ancyra_, AND COMPANIONS, _MM., beginning of 4th cent._ S. AMASIUS, _B. C. of Teano, near Capua, circ._ A.D. 356. S. EUSEBIUS, _Ab. in Syria, 4th cent._ S. MAUSIMAS, _P. in Syria, circ._ A.D. 400. S. URBAN, _B. of Langres, 5th cent._ S. JOHN THE ALMSGIVER, _Patr. of Alexandria_, A.D. 616. S. ILDEPHONSUS, _B. of Toledo_, A.D. 667. S. BOISILUS, _of Melrose, circ._ A.D. 664. S. MAIMBOD, _M., at Besançon._ S. BERNARD, _Ab. of Vienne, in France, 9th cent._ S. RAYMOND, _of Pennaforte, C. in Spain_, A.D. 1275. S. MARGARET, _V., at Ravenna_, A.D. 1505.
Biographical overview
Parmenas (Greek: Παρμενᾶς) was one of the Seven Deacons appointed to serve the early Christian church as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, where his name appears sixth in the list of the seven. He is believed to have preached the gospel in Asia Minor. Parmenas suffered martyrdom in 98, under the persecution of Trajan. Christian tradition identifies him as the Bishop of Soli. Some historians take this to be Soli, Cyprus, while others interpret it as Soli, Cilicia. He is one of the four deacons jointly celebrated on 23 January.
Martyrologium Romanum · Latin witness
Philippis, in Macedonia, sancti Parmenae, qui fuit unus de septem primis Diaconis. Hic, traditus gratiae Dei, injunctum sibi a fratribus officium praedicationis plena fide consummans, martyrii gloriam, sub Trajano, est adeptus.