Apostle

An Apostle is one who is sent out by our Lord Jesus Christ to spread the gospel that he is the Messiah, that he is risen, and that we are being saved as a result.

The word apostle comes from the Greek αποστολος, literally meaning "one who is sent out." Originally a military term referring to a sortie sent out against the enemy, apostle has in the Christian context come to refer to a missionary spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Twelve

Our Lord originally appointed twelve apostles as his initial Church community, commissioned with the task of sharing the faith. As told in the Gospels, Judas Iscariot was originally one of them, but with his apostasy and death, he was replaced with Matthias. Their collective feast day is June 30. The Apostles' names are listed at Matthew 10:2, Mark 3:14, Luke 6:12, Acts 1:13, 26.

After Judas' replacement, the Twelve consisted of the following:

Simon Peter - (June 29 and January 16) crucified Andrew the First-called - (November 30) brother of Peter; crucified James (son of Zebedee) - (April 30) also called "the Great"; beheaded John the Theologian - (September 26 and May 8) brother of James; reposed in a miraculous manner Philip - (November 14) crucified Bartholomew - (June 11 and August 25) also called Nathaniel; crucified, flayed and beheaded

Thomas - (October 6) pierced with five spears Matthew - (November 16) also called Levi, brother of James; burned alive James (son of Alphaeus) - (October 9) crucified Jude - (June 19) also called Lebbaeus, surnamed Thaddeus, brother of James the brother of God; crucified Simon the Zealot - (May 10) also called "the Canaanite"; crucified Matthias - (August 9) replaced Judas Iscariot; stoned and beheaded

Hymns to the twelve

Troparion (Tone 3)

O holy Apostles of Christ

Pray to our merciful God,

That he may grant us remission of our sins.

Kontakion (Tone 2)

Today Christ the Rock gladly glorifies the rock of faith,

The chosen disciple, together with Paul and the entire company of the Twelve.

As we celebrate their memory,

We glorify him who has glorified them!

The Seventy

Main article: Seventy Apostles

The Seventy Apostles are those whom the Lord chose (described in Luke 10:1-16) in addition to the Twelve and sent forth to assist in the work of preaching. Over time, the Twelve added others to their number, who were sent out with the original Seventy to preach the gospel. Although this number eventually exceeded seventy, they were all nevertheless referred to as "of the Seventy" out of reverence to the number which the Lord originally chose. Their collective feast day is January 4.

It is difficult to determine a comprehensive and accurate list of the Seventy, but here are some of their names:

Achaicus, Agabus, Alphaeus, Amplias, Ananias (who baptized Paul), Andronicus, Apelles, Apollo, Apphia, Aquila, Archippus, Aristarchus, Aristobulus, Artemas, Asyncritus, Barnabas (leader of the Seventy and companion of Paul), Caesar, Carpus, Cephas, Clement, Cleopas (who accompanied the Lord to Emmaus), Crescens, Crispus, Epaphroditus, Epenetus, Erastus, Evodus, Fortunatus, Gaius, Hermas, Hermes (bishop of Dalmatia), Herodian (Rodion), James (the Brother of God, also called "the Less"), Jason, Junia, Justus (brother of the Lord), Linus, Lucius, Luke the Evangelist (companion of Paul and author of the Gospel that bears his name), Mark the Evangelist (companion of Paul and author of the Gospel that bears his name), Narcissus, Nicanor (one of the original seven deacons), Olympas, Onesimus, Onesiphorus, Parmenas (one of the original seven deacons), Patrobas, Philemon, Philip (one of the original seven deacons), Philologos, Phlegon, Prochorus (one of the original seven deacons), Pudens, Quadratus, Quartus, Rufus, Silas (companion of Paul), Silvan, Sosipater, Sosthenes, Stachys, Stephen the Protomartyr (one of the original seven deacons), Symeon, Tertius, Thaddeus (sometimes confused with Jude of the Twelve), Timon (one of the original seven deacons), Timothy (companion of Paul), Titus, Trophimus, Tychicus, Urban, Zacchaeus, and Zenas.

Hymns to the seventy

Troparion (Tone 3)

Holy apostles of the Seventy,

entreat the merciful God

to grant our souls forgiveness of transgressions.

Kontakion (Tone 2)

O faithful, let us praise with hymns

the choir of the seventy disciples of Christ.

They have taught us all to worship the undivided Trinity,

for they are divine lamps of the Faith.

Other Apostles

The Apostle Paul (June 29) is also referred to as an apostle, though he is not one of the Twelve or of the Seventy. Other missionary saints are also referred to as apostles, though usually not as an initial title, but rather as an epithet, e.g., "Apostle to the North" (though some regard this usage as not traditionally Orthodox). Further, other saints have the epithet "Equal-to-the-Apostles" (in Greek, Ισαποστολος), usually because of their significant work in building up the Church. St. Paul shares the collective feast day with the Twelve Great Apostles. He was beheaded in Rome during the reign of Emperor Nero.

• Apostle to the Abyssinians: Saint Frumentius
• Apostle of the Ardennes: Saint Hubert, 656-727
• Apostle to the Armenians: Saint Gregory the Illuminator, 256-331
• Apostle of Carpatho-Russia: Saint Alexis Kabaliuk, 1877-1947
• Apostle to Karantania: Bishop Virgilius of Salzburg, 745-784
• Apostle to the English: Saint Augustine, died 604
• Apostle to the Franks: Saint Denis, 3rd century
• Apostle to the Franks: Saint Remigius, ca. 437-533
• Apostle to the Frisians: Saint Willibrord, 657-738
• Apostle to the Gauls: Saint Irenaeus, 130-200
• Apostle to the Gauls: Saint Martin of Tours, 338-401
• Apostle to the Gentiles: Saint Paul
• Apostle to the Germans: Saint Boniface, 680-755
• Apostle to the Goths: Bishop Ulfilas
• Apostle to Hungary: Saint Anastasius, 954-1044
• Apostle to India: Saint Thomas
• Apostle to Ireland: Saint Patrick, 373-463
• Apostle to Noricum: Saint Severinus
• Apostle to the North: Saint Ansgar, 801-864
• Apostle to the Parthians: Saint Thomas
• Apostle to the Picts: Saint Ninian, 5th century
• Apostle to the Scots: Saint Columba, 521-597
• Apostle to the Slavs: Saint Cyril, ca. 820-869
• Apostle to the Slavs: Saint Methodius
• Apostle to Spain: Saint James the Great, d. 44

Exteral links

• Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles - from OCA website.
• The Synaxis of the Holy Seventy Apostles compiled by St. Demetrius of Rostov
• The Choosing Of The Seventy Holy Apostles compiled by St. Dorotheus of Tyre