Synaxis of the Holy Apostles

Synaxis of the Glorious and All-Praised Twelve Apostles.

On the day after the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, the Church celebrates in one synaxis the Twelve Apostles of Christ. Chosen by the Lord to be with Him and to be sent out to preach, they received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and carried the Gospel to the ends of the known world, nearly all of them sealing their witness with martyrdom.

The Church is called apostolic because it rests upon their preaching and continues their mission. The synaxis on June 30 gathers into one commemoration the men through whom the good news of the Resurrection was first proclaimed in every land.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Synaxis of the Holy Apostles is commemorated on June 30. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on July 13 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

Apostolos, Apostolis, Tolis, Apostolia

Also commemorated on June 30

• Meliton the Martyr

  Martyr, Μελίτων

  Holy Martyr Meliton, who suffered for Christ.

  Name days: Meliton

• Peter of Sinope

  Martyr, Πέτρος ο εκ Σινώπης

  Holy Martyr Peter of Sinope, who suffered for Christ.

• Peter, Prince of the Horde

  Saint, Πέτρος ο Πρίγκιπας του Ορντύνσκ

  Righteous Peter, prince of the Golden Horde, who was baptised and founded a monastery at Rostov.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.