Saint Philip was one of the Twelve Apostles and is mentioned several times in the Gospel of John, where he plays a mediating role between Christ and others. He is associated with the calling of Nathanael and appears in the Gospel narrative at key moments, including the feeding of the five thousand and during Christ’s final discourse with the disciples.

According to later Christian tradition, Philip undertook missionary work in Asia Minor following the Resurrection. He is said to have been martyred at Hierapolis, where his cult developed in Late Antiquity. In Christian art, Philip is typically shown as an apostle, sometimes identified by a cross or book, reflecting both his missionary role and martyrdom.

Saint Philip in Art

Saint Philip appears in Christian art primarily as a member of the apostolic group and in scenes drawn from the Gospel of John. He is most often shown among the Twelve in narrative cycles such as the calling of the disciples, the feeding of the five thousand, and Christ’s final discourse, where his questioning prompts Christ’s declaration, “He who has seen me has seen the Father.” In later medieval and Renaissance art, Philip is frequently represented as a missionary and martyr, reflecting traditions that place his preaching in Asia Minor and his death at Hierapolis. His attributes vary, but he may be identified by a cross, staff, or book, emphasising his role as an apostle and bearer of the Gospel. Unlike apostles with highly distinctive iconography, Philip is often recognised through inscriptions or his position within apostolic groupings rather than by a single fixed attribute.