St. Philip (Apostle
and Martyr) was one of the first disciples to follow Jesus. During the Multiplication
of the Loaves and the Fishes, it was he that pointed out that no one could
feed five thousand people with so little food. During Jesus' final speech
Philip asked to see God the Father himself, but Jesus replied, "He that
sees me, sees the Father". The remainder of his life is composed of various
legends. Some pagans tried to force him to sacrifice to Mars, but a dragon
emerged from beneath the statue's plinth and, with his poisonous breath,
killed both the priest offering the sacrifice and two soldiers. Philip exorcised
the dragon and raised the dead. Philip preached the Gospel in Phrygia and
died at Hierapolis, first stoned, then crucified. Philip is the patron saint
of hatters and pastry-cooks. |
