1st century
Saints Jason and Sosipater
Companions of the Apostle Paul who, according to tradition, preached the Gospel on Corfu.
Biography
The apostles Jason and Sosipater are mentioned in the New Testament as companions of Paul: Jason hosted the apostle in Thessaloniki, where he ran a weaving workshop, and was seized along with other Christians when the Jews searched for Paul there; Sosipater is named in the Epistle to the Romans.
According to tradition, the two later reached Corfu, where they preached with great success, were imprisoned by the local governor and thrown into a cauldron of burning pitch; Jason emerged unharmed, while Sosipater died there. Their ordeal led to the governor's own conversion.
Jason went on serving the church of Corfu into old age, building churches; the relics of both apostles are kept today at the monastery of Hosios Loukas in Boeotia.