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Greek Name Days

1st century

Saint Thaddaeus the Apostle

One of the Twelve Apostles, remembered by tradition for healing and baptising Abgar, the ruler of Edessa.

21 August

Biography

Thaddaeus, a learned Hebrew from Edessa well versed in Scripture, was in Jerusalem on pilgrimage in the days of John the Baptist and was baptised by him. He later followed Christ up to the Passion and is counted among the Twelve Apostles, also called Lebbaeus, brother of James the Less.

After the Ascension he returned to Edessa, where, according to tradition, he healed the ruler Abgar of leprosy and baptised him a Christian. He founded churches in the cities of Syria and reached as far as Beirut, where he taught the Gospel to many before peacefully giving up his spirit.

Sources and further reading