ܫܠܺܝܚܶ̈ܶܐ ܩܰܕܺܝܫܶ̈ܶܐ ܕܡܳܪܰܢ ܝܶܫܽܘܥ ܡܫܺܝܚܳܐ

The Holy Apostles of Our Lord Jesus Christ

The Twelve and Their Companions

The Holy Apostles were chosen by our Lord Jesus Christ to be His witnesses, to establish His Church, and to spread the Gospel to all nations. They left everything to follow Christ, received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and went forth to transform the world through their preaching, miracles, and martyrdom. The Syriac Orthodox Church traces its apostolic succession directly through these holy men, particularly through St. Peter who founded the See of Antioch, and St. Thomas who brought the faith to India.

The Twelve Holy Apostles

St. Peter the Apostle

St. Peter (Simon)

St. Andrew the Apostle

St. Andrew

The First-Called

St. James the Greater

St. James the Greater

St. John the Theologian

St. John the Theologian

St. Philip the Apostle

St. Philip

St. Bartholomew the Apostle

St. Bartholomew

St. Matthew the Evangelist

St. Matthew

St. Thomas the Apostle

St. Thomas

Apostle to India

St. James the Less

St. James the Less

Son of Alphaeus

St. Jude Thaddeus

St. Jude Thaddeus

St. Simon the Zealot

St. Simon

St. Matthias the Apostle

St. Matthias

The Feast of the Twelve Apostles together is celebrated on June 30th in the Syriac Orthodox Church, honoring the complete college of Apostles whom Christ chose to be the foundation of His Church.

The Other Holy Apostles

Although they were not part of the original Twelve Apostles, several other holy men are honored by the Church with the title of Apostle because of their great missionary work and their important role in building the Christian faith. The most well-known among them are St. Paul, called the Apostle to the Gentiles, and the Evangelists St. Mark and St. Luke, together with St. Barnabas.

St. Paul the Apostle

St. Paul

Apostle to Gentiles

St. Mark the Evangelist

St. Mark

St. Luke the Evangelist

St. Luke

St. Barnabas the Apostle

St. Barnabas

Son of Encouragement

St. Silas Apostle

St. Silas (Silwanos)

Companion of St. Paul

St. James the Just

St. James the Just

Brother of Our Lord

The Seventy Disciples

The Seventy Disciples

The Seventy Disciples

St. Apollos

St. Apollos

The Seventy Disciples

Notes on the Apostles:

• The Feast of the Twelve Apostles together is celebrated on June 30th in the Syriac Orthodox Church.

• Disciples with the same name: Jesus had two disciples named Simon (Peter and Simon the Zealot), two named Jacob/James (son of Zebedee and son of Alphaeus), and two named Jude (Thaddeus and Iscariot).

• Brothers among the Disciples: Simon Peter and Andrew; Jacob and John (sons of Zebedee); Jacob the Less and Thaddeus (sons of Alphaeus).