JUNE 30th – THE SYNAXIS (ASSEMBLY) OF THE HOLY, GLORIOUS, AND ALL-PRAISED TWELVE APOSTLES

My beloved spiritual brothers and sisters in Christ God,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

ON JUNE 30th
OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES
THE GREAT FEAST OF THE SYNAXIS (ASSEMBLY) OF THE HOLY,
GLORIOUS, AND ALL-PRAISED TWELVE APOSTLES.

Although each of the Twelve-Apostles has his own Feast Day during the ecclesiastical year, the Orthodox Church has set aside this day for a general Feast of ALL OF THEM, including Saint Paul. The names and Feast Days of the Twelve are:

PETER – June 29th and January 16th.
ANDREW – November 30th.
JAMES the son of Zebedee — April 30th.
JOHN the Theologian–September 26th and May 8th.
PHILIP — November 14th.
BARTHOLOMEW — June 11th and August 25th.
THOMAS — October 6th.
MATTHEW the Evangelist – November 16th.
JAMES the son of Alphaeus — October 9th.
THADDEUS (or Jude the brother of James)– June 19th.
SIMON the Zealot — May 10th.
MATTHIAS– August 9th.
PAUL — June 29th.

Let us also remember here how these holy and selfless men in
the history of the world died and finished their earthly course:

Peter was CRUCIFIED upside down.
Andrew was CRUCIFIED.
James was BEHEADED.
John the Theologian died in a WONDROUS WAY.
Philip was CRUCIFIED.
Bartholomew was CRUCIFIED, then FLAYED and BEHEADED.
Thomas was PIERCED with FIVE SPEARS.
Matthew was BURNED by fire.
James the son of Alphaeus was CRUCIFIED.
Thaddeus was CRUCIFIED.
Simon the Zealot was CRUCIFIED.
Matthias was STONED, then BEHEADED with an axe when dead.
Paul was BEHEADED.

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Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn of the Feast of the Twelve Apostles. Third Tone

O HOLY Apostles, intercede with the Merciful God that He grant
unto our souls forgiveness of offences.

Kontakion Hymn. Second Tone

NOW Christ God, the Rock, doth glorify the rock of faith illus-
triously, the first of the disciples’ choir with great Paul together
with all the company of the Twelve today; as we keep their
memory with faith, we glorify Him that glorified them all.

_____________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"