Apostle1st century

Apostle Thaddeus of the Seventy

1st century

Also known as Thaddaeus of Edessa

A Hebrew of Edessa, one of the Seventy, who preached Christ in Edessa and beyond.

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Commemorated as

The Holy, Glorious and All-Praised Apostle Thaddeus of the Seventy

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Missionary Work

Life

Thaddeus, an Apostle of the Seventy, was by descent a Hebrew and was born in the Syrian city of Edessa. He is to be distinguished from Saint Jude, also called Thaddeus, who was one of the Twelve Apostles and is commemorated on June 19.

According to tradition, Thaddeus came to Jerusalem for a festival, heard the preaching of John the Forerunner, was baptized by John in the Jordan River, and became a follower of Christ. The Lord chose him to be one of the Seventy Disciples whom He sent out in pairs to preach in the cities and places He intended to visit.

In the Syriac tradition he is known as Addai, and the early liturgical rite of the East, the Liturgy of Addai and Mari, bears his name.

Troparion & Kontakion2 hymnsReadHide

TroparionTone 4

O holy Apostle Thaddeus, witness of God,
Who appeared in the flesh for our sake,
you brought the light of saving grace to those in darkness
and were revealed as an excellent physician to those in Edessa.
Wherefore shelter those who fervently seek you.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

KontakionTone 4

The Church has acquired you as a brilliant star,
and is ever enlightened by your miracles, O Apostle Thaddeus.
Save those who in faith honor your memory.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline4 momentsReadHide

1st centuryBaptism and callingVisiting Jerusalem for a festival, Thaddeus heard John the Forerunner, was baptized in the Jordan, and was chosen by Christ as one of the Seventy Disciples.
After the AscensionMission to Syria and MesopotamiaFollowing the Ascension, Thaddeus preached the Gospel in Syria and Mesopotamia.
1st centuryThe conversion of EdessaHe came to Edessa, converted King Abgar together with the people and the pagan priests, baptized them, established priests, and built up the Church there.
c. 44ReposeAfter declining the gifts of Abgar, he went preaching to other cities and to Beirut, where by one account he founded a church and peacefully died in the year 44.

Contributions & Legacy

3 contributionsReadHide

Mission to Edessa and King Abgar

After the Ascension of the Savior, Thaddeus preached the good news throughout Syria and Mesopotamia. He is most closely associated with the city of Edessa, where, according to Orthodox tradition, he converted King Abgar, the people, and the pagan priests to Christ, baptizing Abgar and all the people of the city.

He established priests in Edessa and built up the Church there. When King Abgar wished to reward him with rich gifts, Thaddeus refused them and continued on to preach in other cities, converting many pagans to the Christian Faith.

The fourth-century historian Eusebius of Caesarea first recorded the tradition of a correspondence between King Abgar and Christ, and reported that the Apostle Thomas sent Thaddeus to Edessa as a preacher and evangelist of the teaching of Christ.

Repose

Thaddeus traveled to the city of Beirut to preach, where he founded a church and, according to the Slavonic Menaion, peacefully died in the year 44. Other sources indicate that his death took place at Edessa.

An ancient Armenian tradition holds instead that, after various tortures, he was beheaded by the sword on December 21 in the Artaz region in the year 50.

Veneration and Legacy

Thaddeus is commemorated on August 21, and also on January 4 with the Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles.

In the Syriac Christian tradition he is venerated as Mar Addai, and the early eucharistic rite known as the Liturgy of Addai and Mari, which traces its origins to roughly the year 200, continues in use among the Assyrian Church of the East, the Chaldean Catholic Church, and Eastern Syriac communities in India.

Member ofReadHide

The Seventy Apostles

Commemorated together · Jan 4

Companions3 figuresShowHide

One of the Twelve Apostles, also called Thaddeus, commemorated June 19; a distinct person from Thaddeus of the Seventy.

Apostle Judethe Brother of the Lord

Apostle of the Twelve who, according to Eusebius, sent Thaddeus to Edessa to preach to King Abgar.

Apostle Thomas

To whom his disciple Chrysos preached the faith.

Martyr Sukias and his Sixteen Companions in Georgia

Related Saints2 saintsShowHide

Saints connected to his life, mission, and place in Orthodox tradition.

Fellow apostle associated in tradition with the evangelization of Armenia and the East alongside Thaddeus.

Apostle Bartholomewof the Twelve

The company of the Seventy Disciples, among whom Thaddeus is numbered (Jan 4).

Seventy Apostles

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints