Apostle 1st 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.

Feast Day

August 21

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Commemorated as

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

Come to them for

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.

Timeline 4 moments Read Hide

1st century Baptism and calling Visiting 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 Ascension Mission to Syria and Mesopotamia Following the Ascension, Thaddeus preached the Gospel in Syria and Mesopotamia.
1st century The conversion of Edessa He 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. 44 Repose After 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 contributions Read Hide

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.

Commemorated with Read Hide

The Seventy Apostles

Commemorated together · Jan 4

Notes

Apostle of the Seventy; distinct from Jude (Thaddeus) of the Twelve, commemorated Jun 19.

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