Synaxis of the Holy, Glorious, and All-Praised Apostles

Life

Although each of the twelve great Apostles has his own particular day of celebration during the year, the Church has designated this day as the synaxal feast of all of them together, and with them Paul. These are the names and these are the days of the special celebration of the holy Twelve: Peter — June 29 and January 16; Andrew — November 30; James the son of Zebedee — April 30; John the Theologian — September 26 and May 8; Philip — November 14; Bartholomew — June 11 and August 25; Thomas — October 6; Matthew the Evangelist — November 16; James the son of Alphaeus — October 9; Thaddaeus (or Jude of James) — June 19; Simon the Zealot — May 10; Matthias — August 9; Paul — June 29. Let us also mention here how each of these most holy and most beneficial men in the history of the world ended his earthly life: Peter — crucified upside down; Andrew — crucified; James the son of Zebedee — beheaded; John the Theologian — reposed miraculously; Philip — crucified; Bartholomew — crucified, then flayed and beheaded; Thomas — pierced with five spears; Matthew — burned by fire; James the son of Alphaeus — crucified; Thaddaeus — crucified; Simon the Zealot — crucified; Matthias — stoned, then after death beheaded with an axe; Paul — beheaded.

From the Hymn of Praise

The whole world was like a dry desert:Through it flew the chariots of the Spirit —The holy Apostles, of fiery appearance:Through them the Most Holy Spirit rebuilt the universe.