St. Aristarchus, while not well known, is mentioned throughout the New Testament and was one of St. Paul's faithful disciples. He is commemorated on August 4.
While it may seem like St. Paul was a lonely traveler, he was in fact accompanied by several disciples who joined him on his many adventures.
This includes St. Aristarchus of Thessalonica, who is mentioned in the Roman Martyrology on August 4:
Commemoration of St. Aristarchus of Thessalonica, who was a disciple of St. Paul the Apostle, his faithful travel companion and fellow prisoner at Rome.
He is mentioned several times in the letters of St. Paul and so we have likely heard his name pronounced at Mass during the Liturgy of the Word.
Faithful travel companion
St. Luke writes about him in the Acts of the Apostles, naming him as a companion of St. Paul:
When they heard this they were enraged, and cried out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” So the city was filled with the confusion; and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s companions in travel. Paul wished to go in among the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. (Acts 19:28-30)
He is mentioned again as one of the disciples who was imprisoned with St. Paul:
And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort, named Julius. And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. (Acts 27:1-2)
St. Paul also mentions him by name in his Letter to the Colossians:
Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you. (Colossians 4:10)
Last of all, St. Paul mentioned him in his Letter to Philemon:
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. (Philemon 1:23)
We don't know much about him, but some traditions claim he later became the bishop of Apamea and that he died a martyr's death.
What we do know is that he was one of St. Paul's faithful companions and was with him on various adventures. He learned at the feet of a great saint and strove to imitate his example. All of that makes him a worthy saint to include in our litany of biblical saints.
