Skip to content
Greek Name Days

1st century

Saint Phoebe the Deaconess

Deaconess of Cenchreae, mentioned in the Apostle Paul's Letter to the Romans.

3 September

Biography

Saint Phoebe's commemoration is identified with the Phoebe whom the Apostle Paul mentions in his Epistle to the Romans (chapter 16) as a deaconess of the church of Cenchreae.

According to tradition, when Paul preached at Cenchreae, Phoebe devoted herself to his teaching and became a tireless co-worker in his mission among women, like Lydia at Philippi and Priscilla at Corinth.

Paul entrusted her with carrying his letter to the Christians of Rome, a task she completed safely, and in the same letter he calls her his "sister" and "a helper of many, and of myself as well".

Sources and further reading