A HOMILY FOR THE SYNAXIS OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES
(June 29/July 13)
About the Lives and Martyrdoms of the Apostles
Brothers and sisters!
On the day after the feast of the holy, glorious chief apostles Peter and Paul, the Church of Christ holds a “synaxis” or gathering of the faithful to commemorate all Twelve Apostles together. So doing, she reminds us that while Saints Peter and Paul enjoy a primacy of honor among the apostles, the others are fully their equals in holiness. Every one of the apostles was filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit, by Whose power they won for Christ multitudes from every nation, despite being poor, simple, unlearned men. What labors the apostles endured for Christ, what sorrows, what dangers! All of them suffered grievously for the risen Saviour, and all except Saint John the Theologian died as martyrs.
Today’s Gospel lection relates Christ’s choosing of the Twelve Apostles, who accompanied Him everywhere and, after the Resurrection, testified to His life and teaching. The names of the twelve are: Simon Peter; Andrew; James, son of Zebedee; John; Philip; Bartholomew, also called Nathaniel; Thomas; Matthew; James, son of Alphaeus; Levi, also called Thaddaeus, or Judas, brother of James; Simon the Zealot or Canaanite; and Judas Iscariot, the traitor. After Judas’ wretched death, Matthias took his place. Later, Saint Paul was called to be an apostle by a wondrous and altogether exceptional divine summons.
For many of us, the names of most of the apostles mean but little, so I would like to say a few words today about each of these mighty pillars of the Church. This way, you will at least know where they preached and where they died. If you wish to learn more, I suggest the excellent book The Holy Apostles, published by Holy Apostles Convent. This volume is translated from the Russian adaptation of Saint Dimitri of Rostov’s Great Collection, and includes not only the Lives of the Twelve Apostles, but of the most prominent of the Seventy.
Chief among the Twelve was Simon Peter, son of Jona. He preached first in Judaea, then in Antioch, Asia Minor, Alexandria, and Italy. In Rome, he was crucified upside-down, by order of the Emperor Nero.
The other chief Apostle, Saint Paul – Saul before his conversion – was preeminent among his brethren for his tireless labors on behalf of Christ. He preached in almost every part of the Mediterranean world, beginning at Jerusalem and ending at Rome. Like Saint Peter, he was executed by Nero, who had him beheaded.
First of the apostles to be called by Christ was Peter’s brother Andrew. The holy Apostle Andrew preached on the shores of the Black Sea; in Byzantium (which later became Constantinople); and in Scythia, later Ukraine. On one of the hills where Kiev would stand he is said to have planted a cross, predicting the future enlightenment of that land. Then, the story goes, he continued on to the north, reaching as far as the site of later Novgorod.
First of the Twelve to suffer for Christ was James, son of Zebedee. He preached in Jerusalem and possibly Spain, and was beheaded by order of King Herod Agrippa.
James’ brother, the holy Evangelist John the Theologian, lived in Jerusalem until the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, whom Christ had entrusted to his care. Then he preached in Asia Minor and was tortured in Rome. After a period of exile on Patmos, he was buried alive at his own urging by his disciples. Soon afterwards, the grave was opened, but Saint John had disappeared. Saint John lived longer than any other apostle.
The holy Apostle Philip also preached in Asia Minor, present-day Asiatic Turkey, with his sister the prophetess Mariam and the Apostle Bartholomew. He was crucified upside-down in Hierapolis, a city of that land.
Saint Bartholomew, also known as Nathaniel, first preached in Asia Minor with Philip, as just mentioned. Then he went to India, where he translated the Gospel of Matthew into one of the local languages. He was martyred in Albanopolis, a city of Armenia.
Saint Thomas, known as Didymus or “The Twin,” also preached in India, where he was run through with spears and then beheaded.
The holy Evangelist Matthew taught the Christian faith for a long time in Judaea. Then he visited Ethiopia and the kingdoms of present-day Sudan. He was killed in Ethiopia.
Saint James, son of Alphaeus, proclaimed the Gospel in Syria, Egypt, and elsewhere in the East. Like several other apostles, he was crucified.
Saint Judas, brother of James, also called Thaddeus or Lebbaeus, preached in Judaea, Galilee, Samaria, Idumea, Arabia, Syria, and Mesopotamia. Later, in Persia, he was hung on a cross and filled with arrows.
Saint Simon the Zealot or Canaanite preached in North Africa and, it is said, in Britain. One ancient source has him crucified in Georgia, another in nearby Persia.
The holy Apostle Matthias, originally one of the Seventy, but elevated to the Twelve to take Judas’ place, preached in Judaea and later in Ethiopia. Upon return to Judaea, he was first stoned, then beheaded.
Brothers and sisters! The holy Twelve Apostles undertook mighty labors for our Lord and for mankind’s salvation, travelling through the entire known world and illumining nations that until then had sat in darkness and the shadow of death.[1] By their preaching and miracles they established the Church and confirmed the faith of Christ; by their example they showed the new believers and us how to remain faithful to the Lord, even unto death. Beyond all expectation, they made steadfast the newly-chosen flock of Christ, so that the Jews and pagans, for all their violence, could never destroy it, any more than could later persecutors. Thanking them for their tireless zeal, labors, and sufferings on behalf of the Christian race, the Orthodox chant with a single voice today: “O disciples of the Saviour, ye traversed all creation, enlightening it and consuming the tinder of idolatrous error by your teachings. Having drawn the nations out of the abyss of ignorance and led them unto divine understanding, ye saved them. Do ye now pray to Christ, that He shew us mercy on the day of judgment.” Amen.
[1] Matt. 4:16
