The Apostles

Prince of the Apostles

Simon, renamed Peter (“Rock”) by Christ, was a fisherman of Galilee and brother of Andrew. Jesus entrusted him with the keys of the Kingdom and primacy among the apostles. Peter denied Christ but was restored and preached boldly at Pentecost. He led the early Church in Jerusalem and Rome, where he was martyred head downward at his own request, deeming himself unworthy to die as his Lord did.

Apostle · First-called

Brother of Peter and a disciple of John the Baptist, Andrew was the first to follow Jesus and brought his brother to the Lord. He preached the Gospel in Greece and Asia Minor. Tradition holds he was bound to a cross shaped like an X, the saltire, where he preached for two days before dying.

Apostle · Son of Thunder

Son of Zebedee and brother of John, James was among the inner circle who witnessed the Transfiguration and Agony in the Garden. With John he was surnamed Boanerges, “Son of Thunder.” He was the first apostle martyred. His relics rest at Santiago de Compostela, one of Christendom’s greatest pilgrimage destinations.

Apostle · Evangelist · Beloved Disciple

Brother of James the Greater, John reclined beside Christ at the Last Supper and stood at the foot of the Cross, where Jesus entrusted Mary to his care. He preached in Asia Minor and was exiled to Patmos, where he received the Revelation. His Gospel and letters breathe the theology of divine love.

Apostle

Philip came from Bethsaida, as did Peter and Andrew. He brought Nathanael (Bartholomew) to Christ. At the multiplication of the loaves he asked how the crowd might be fed. Tradition records his preaching in Greece and Phrygia and martyrdom by crucifixion.

Apostle

Bartholomew is widely identified with Nathanael, whom Philip brought to Jesus. Christ praised him as an Israelite without guile. He preached in India and Armenia. Iconography often shows him holding his own skin, recalling his brutal martyrdom.

Apostle

Thomas doubted the Resurrection until he touched Christ’s wounds, and made the great confession: “My Lord and my God!” He is credited with carrying the Gospel to India, where the ancient St. Thomas Christians trace their origins to his preaching.

Apostle · Evangelist

A tax collector at Capernaum, Matthew left everything at Jesus’ word and hosted a feast where sinners met the Lord. His Gospel presents Jesus as fulfillment of the Old Testament and the new Moses who teaches the Beatitudes on the mountain.

Apostle · Bishop of Jerusalem

Called “the Less” to distinguish him from James the son of Zebedee, he is often identified with James the “brother of the Lord” who led the Church in Jerusalem. He presided over the Council of Jerusalem and wrote the decree read by Paul.

Apostle

Not Judas Iscariot, he is called Thaddeus or Jude to avoid confusion. He asked Jesus at the Last Supper why He would reveal Himself to the disciples and not the world. He is patron of hopeless causes and is widely invoked in desperate need.

Apostle

Called the Zealot, perhaps for former membership in the Jewish resistance to Rome, or for zeal in faith. He preached the Gospel alongside Jude in Egypt and Persia. Tradition holds both were martyred on the same day.

Apostle

After Judas’s death, the Eleven chose Matthias by lot to restore the number twelve, witnessing from John’s baptism to the Ascension. He had been among the Lord’s followers from the beginning though not of the original Twelve called on the mountain.