Thaddaeus the Apostle

Holy Apostle Thaddaeus.

St. Thaddaeus, numbered among the Seventy Apostles, was a Jew of Edessa who came to Jerusalem, heard the preaching of John the Forerunner, and became a disciple of the Lord. According to the ancient tradition of the Church, after Pentecost he was sent to Edessa, where he healed the ruler Abgar, preached the Gospel, and established the Church in that city.

Having enlightened many in Mesopotamia, he completed his apostolic labors in peace. He is commemorated on August 21.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Thaddaeus the Apostle is commemorated on August 21. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on September 3 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

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

Thadeos

Also commemorated on August 21

• Bassa and her Children

  Holy Woman, Βάσσα

  Holy Martyr Bassa of Edessa and her sons Theognios, Agapios and Pistos.

• Athanasios Patellarios

  Hierarch, Αθανάσιος ο Πατελλάρος

  Saint Athanasios Patellarios, Patriarch of Constantinople, wonderworker of Lubny.

• Alexander of Iconium

  Venerable, Αλέξανδρος ο εν Ικονίω

  Venerable Alexander of Iconium.

• Abramios of Smolensk

  Venerable, Αβράμιος Σμολένσκης

  Venerable Abramios, Archimandrite of Smolensk, wonderworker.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.