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The Apostles
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The Apostles
St. Peter - June 29; February 22 (Chair of Peter)
Born: Simon bar-Jonah, at Bethsaida (Galilee) c. AD 1
Martyred: Crucifixion; Rome c. AD 68 (Nero)
Occupation: Fisherman
Ordained: AD 33
Sibling: St. Andrew
Titles: "Rock"
Scripture: "You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church" (Matthew 16:18); "Simon son of John do you love me? Feed my sheep." (John 21:17)
St. Paul - June 29; January 25 (Conversion)
Born: Saul of Tarsus (Turkey) AD 5
Martyred: Beheaded; Rome c. AD 66 (Nero)
Occupation: Pharisee
Ordained: AD 33
Notable: Present at death of first Christian martyr, Stephen; Wrote letters that were lost to history; Preached unceasingly and successfully opposed Peter on retaining Jewish customs of the Law; the greatest evangelist the Church has known.
Scripture: He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4)
St. Andrew - November 30
Born: Andrew bar-Jonah, at Bethsaida (Galilee) c. AD 5
Martyred: Crucifixion; Patras, Achaia AD 60 (Nero)
Occupation: Fisherman
Ordained: AD 33
Sibling: St. Peter
Notable: Founded See of Byzantium
Scripture: "We have found the Messiah" (John 1:41); “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?" (John 6:9)
St. James the Greater - July 25
Born: James, son of Zebeddee, at Bethsaida (Galilee) c. AD 3
Martyred: Beheaded; Jerusalem (King Herod) c. AD 44
Occupation: Fisherman
Ordained: AD 33
Sibling: St. John the Apostle
Notable: First Apostle martyred; Founded See of Iberia (Spain)
Title: "Son of Thunder"
Scripture: Present at the Transfiguration; Present at Gethsemane; Present at healing of Jairus' daughter; Present at Sea of Tiberias when resurrected Jesus appeared.
St. John - December 27
Born: John, son of Zebedee, at Bethsaida (Galilee) c. AD 6
Died: Ephesus c AD 100
Occupation: Fisherman
Ordained: AD 33
Sibling: St. James the Greater
Notable: Wrote Gospel; Caretaker of the Virgin; Exiled to Patmos and wrote Apocalypse; Wrote three epistles; Only Apostle not martyred; Present with brother James at Transfiguration, Gethsemane, etc.
Title: "The disciple whom Jesus loved"
Scripture: "Woman, behold your son ... behold your Mother." (John 19:26-27) Too many additional references to list here.
St. Matthew (aka "Levi") - September 21
Born: at Capernaum, 1st Century AD
Died: Tortured at Ethiopia (?) (King Hirticus)
Occupation: Tax Collector
Ordained: AD 33
Sibling: St. James the Lesser (postulated)
Notable: Wrote Gospel; Led Church in Ethiopia
Title: "The Tax Collector"
Scripture: As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. (Matthew 9:9)
St. Thomas - July 3
Born: at Galilee c. ?
Martyred: Speared; Chennai, India, AD 72
Occupation: Carpenter
Ordained: AD 33
Notable: First Apostle to call Jesus "God"; Founded several churches in Kerala, India
Title: "Didymus (the Twin)"
Scripture: "Let us also go, that we may die with him." (John 11:16); "Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?" (John 14:5) "Unless I see ... I will not believe." (John 21:25); "My Lord and my God!" (John 21:28)
St. James the Lesser - May 3
Born: 1st century BC, Galilee.
Martyred: Stoned(?); Jerusalem (King Herod) c. AD 62
Occupation: Tradesman
Ordained: AD 33
Family: Mother was Mary of Clopas; Brother of St. Jude (Thaddeus) and St. Simon the Zealot
Notable: Wrote earliest epistle;
Title: "Brother of Jesus"
Scripture: Letter of James; Names an Apostle in Mark 3:18.
St. Jude (Thaddeus) - October 28
Born: 1st century AD, Galilee. Called "Thaddeus" by Matthew and Mark to differentiate from Judas.
Martyred: Beheaded; Beirut, 1st Century AD
Occupation: Farmer
Ordained: AD 33
Family: Cousin of Jesus; Son of Mary of Clopas; Brother of James the Lesser
Notable: Wrote Epistle of Jude; Established Christianity in Armenia; Patron saint of Armenian Apostolic Church
Title: "Patron Saint of the Impossible" (revealed to St. Bridget and St. Bernard by Our Lord)
Scripture: Letter of James; Named an Apostle in Mark 3:18.
St. Simon the Zealot - October 28
Born: 1st century AD, Judea.
Martyred: Sawn in Half (!); Beirut, 1st Century AD
Occupation: Zealot
Ordained: AD 33
Family: Cousin of Jesus; Son of Mary of Clopas; Brother of James the Lesser and Jude (Thaddeus)
Notable:
Scripture: Named an Apostle in Mark 3:18.
St. Philip - May 3
Born: at Bethsaida, 1st century AD
Martyred: Crucified; Hieraopolis AD 80 (Titus)
Occupation: Tradesman
Ordained: AD 33
Notable: Introduced Nathaniel (Bartholomew) to Jesus; Spoke Greek; Friend of Andrew and Peter;
Scripture: Asked Jesus how they could feed the 5,000 with only a few loaves and fishes; Assisted Andrew in evangelizing those who spoke Greek; At Last Supper, asks Jesus to show them the Father.
St. Bartholomew - August 24
Born: at Cana (Galilee), 1st century AD
Martyred: Skinned alive and beheaded; Albanopolis, Armenia (1st c. AD)
Occupation: Tradesman
Ordained: AD 33
Notable: Brought Gospel of Matthew to India; Established Christianity in Armenia with St. Jude (Thaddeus); Patron saint of Armenian Apostolic Church; Mistaken for Nathaniel; Medieval manuscripts often have a depiction of St. Bartholomew, since paper was made from flayed and manipulated skin (nod to his manner of martyrdom)
Scripture: Mentioned at Ascension; Often mentioned together with St. Philip.
St. Matthias - May 14
Born: 1st century AD, Judea.
Martyred: Beheaded; Jerusalem, AD 80
Occupation: Unknown
Ordained: AD 33
Family: Cousin of Jesus; Son of Mary of Clopas; Brother of James the Lesser and Jude (Thaddeus)
Notable: Selected by lots to succeed Judas the Betrayer; Planted the faith at Cappadocia, Ethiopia, and the region of Russian Georgia.
Scripture: "Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the eleven apostles." (Acts 1:26)
