The Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ

brother of the apostle Peter and a follower of John the Baptist. Like his brother he was a fisherman. His name means “courageous” or “manly” Andrew immediately recognized Jesus as the Messiah. Patron Saint of Russia, Scotland, fishermen. Feast: November 30 Since he was crucified on an X- shaped cross (which is called "Saint Andrew's cross) it is one of his symbols. A symbol of two crossed fish has also been applied to Andrew, because he was formerly a fisherman.

Many scholars identify him with Nathaniel. Read John 1:43-51 Became a missionary to India. Converted the King of Armenia. Flayed alive - On account of this latter legend, he is often represented in art (e.g. in Michelangelo's Last Judgment) as flayed and holding in his hand his own skin. Patron Saint of Armenia. Feast: August 24. Because he was flayed alive with knives his apostolic symbol is three parallel knives.

St. James the Greater A special group: Peter, James, and John. The brother of John. Jesus called them the “sons of thunder.” These three Apostles alone were admitted to be present at the miracle of the raising of Jairus's daughter, at the Transfiguration and the Agony in Gethsemane. First of the Apostles to be martyred. The only Apostle whose death is recorded in Scripture. Read Acts 12:1-2. Patron Saint of Spain, Guatemala and Nicaragua. Feast: July 25 His symbol is three shells, the sign of his pilgrimage by the sea.

His symbol is also the staff, pilgrim’s bell and a drinking gourd.

St. James the Lesser wrote Epistles. The son of Alphaeus. He shares his Feast with St._____________: May 3 Because James body was sawed in pieces, the saw became his apostolic symbol. Some say that he was clubbed to death.

St. John After the Resurrection John with Peter was the first of the disciples to hasten to the grave and he was the first to believe that Christ had truly risen. Brother of James the Greater. “The disciple whom Jesus loved". At the foot of the cross with Mary The only disciple not to be martyred. John was exiled to the island of Patmos. Patron Saint of Turkey and of remedies against poison. Feast: December 27. It is said that an attempt was made on John’s life by giving him a chalice of poison from which God spared him. A chalice with a snake in it is his symbol.

St. Jude Patron saint of desperate cases and of hospitals. Traveled to Mesopotamia and Persia (now Iran) Author of the Letter of St.Jude. Pictured with a club and a flame over his head. He has a red shield that ahs a sailboat with a cross on the mast. Shares a Feat with _________: October 28 The chosen symbol for Jude is the ship because he was a missionary thought to be a fisherman.

St. Matthew When summoned by Jesus, Matthew arose and followed Him and tendered Him a feast in his house, where tax-gatherers and sinners sat at table with Christ and His disciples. Levi, tax-collector. Patron Saint of bankers, accountants and security guards. Feast: September 21. The apostolic symbol of Matthew is three money bags which remind us that he was a tax collector before Jesus called him.

St. Matthias Matthias was chosen to take the place of Judas among the Apostles. Believed to have traveled to Ethiopia where he was martyred. Patron Saint of sailors. Feast: May 14. His symbol is the lance. It is an old tradition that Saint Matthias was martyred in southern Asia with such a weapon.

St. Peter “You are Christ, the Son of the living God". "Blessed art you, Simon son of John: because flesh and blood have not revealed it to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I say to you: You are Kephas, the rock, and upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shall bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven.” First Pope. Feasts: Feast of the Chair of Peter: February 22 and the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul: June 29.

St. Philip He was called by Jesus Himself and brought Nathanael to Christ. Philip was present at the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Read John 12:20-22 Just before the Passion, Jesus answered Philip's question to show them the Father. Read John 14:8. According to tradition, he killed a dragon. Patron Saint of Uruguay. He shares his Feast with St. James the Lesser: May 3 The symbol of Philip is a basket, because of his part in the feeding of the five thousand. It is he that stressed the cross as a sign of Christianity and victory.

St. Simon the Apostle Simon the Zealot because of the zeal he showed for the Law of Moses. Preached in Egypt and Persia (modern day Iran) Martyred by being beaten with clubs and sawed. Shares his Feast with St. Jude: October 28. His apostolic symbol is a fish lying on a Bible, which indicates he was a former fisherman who became a fisher of men through preaching.

St. Thomas “doubting Thomas” Thomas Didymus – a Greek word for “twin” Read John 20:24-29 Travelled to India and was martyred there. Patron Saint of India and Pakistan. Feast: July 3. He is said to have built the first church in India. Patron Saint of architects. He is also invoked against blindness. He was killed with a spear as a martyr for his Lord. His symbol is a group of spears, stones and arrows.

St. Paul Paul of Tarsus Former great persecutor of the Church before his conversion. He was on his way to Damascus. Read Acts 9:1-19. He wrote ____________ epistles. Feast: January 25-Conversion of St. Paul He was beheaded. His symbols is the sword and Scripture since he wrote that the Word of God is a sword.