Apostle Wall

St. Peter (Simon) and his brother St. Andrew were Galilean fishermen before Jesus called them to be His disciples.  Simon was renamed Peter by Jesus, meaning the rock.    Peter converted many Jews in Jerusalem. His widespread ministry eventually led him to Rome.  Known for his leadership skills, he became the first Pope of the early Christian Church.   St Peter was crucified upside down, and his remains are in St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican. St. Peter’s Feast Day: June 29th.

St. James the Greater, son of Zebedee, was the brother of St. John. Known as the “Sons of Thunder”, they were among the first four apostles called by Jesus.  His zeal to proclaim Jesus led him to Spain.  King Herod Agrippa ordered the beheading of James. He was the first Apostle to be martyred. His remains are in St. James Church in Compostela, Spain. Today many pilgrims still follow the ancient pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. St. James Feast Day: July 25th. 

St. Philip was born in Bethsaida, Galilee.  He responded to Jesus call of “Follow Me”. Philip obeyed and later introduced St. Bartholomew to Jesus. Philip played a significant role in spreading Christianity to the Greek speaking world. Philip was martyred for preaching his faith in Heliopolis, Egypt around 54 A.D.  He was crucified upside down.  His remains were eventually brought to Rome and are in the Church of the 12 Apostles.  Feast Day: May 3rd.

St. Thomas proclaimed the words, “My Lord and my God” when he saw the risen Christ. His incredulity led to a personal transformation. His conviction took his mission to proclaim the Gospel as far away as the Malabar coast in India. He died a martyr and his remains are in St. Thomas Cathedral, Mylapore, India. St. Thomas Feast Day: July 3^rd

St. James the Less was known for his humility, service and simplicity. He was appointed the first Bishop of Jerusalem. St James was martyred in Jerusalem for his faith in 62 A.D.  Today his remains are in the Church of the 12 Apostles in Rome with St. Philip.  St. James Feast Day: May 3rd. 

St. Simon the Zealot was a member of a political party called the Zealots who opposed Roman rule.  After his conversion, he traveled to Persia to preach the Gospel. He succeeded St. James as Bishop of Jerusalem. He was crucified. He is buried in Rome at St. Peter’s Basilica. He shares the same feast Day as St. Jude. St Simon's Feast Day: Oct. 28th          

St. Andrew was the brother of St. Peter and the first Apostle to be called by Jesus. Andrew’s mission took him to Greece and he is referred to as the Apostle of the Greek World. He was martyred at Patras, Greece by crucifixion on an X-shaped cross, now known as the St. Andrew Cross. His remains are interred in the Cathedral of Amalfi, Italy.  St. Andrew’s Feast Day: Nov. 30th. 

St. John was the brother of St. James the Great.  Known as the “Beloved Disciple” and guardian of the Blessed Mother, he spent time in Ephesus and founded many churches in Asia Minor. He authored three epistles, one Gospel and the Book of Revelation.  He survived all the apostles and died in Ephesus.  St. John’s Feast Day: Dec. 27^th

St. Bartholomew (Nathanael) was introduced to Jesus by St. Phillip. Jesus says to him, “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.”   He spread Christianity to India and Armenia where he was martyred by being flayed alive.  His relics are in a Church on an Island in the Tiber River in Rome.   St. Bartholomew’s Feast Day: Aug. 24th. 

St. Matthew was a tax collector. Often viewed as a corrupt profession, his response to follow Jesus is a testament to the transformative power of faith.  He wrote one of the four Gospels in the New Testament.  He died near Egypt but it is unsure by martyrdom. His remains are in the crypt of the Salerno Cathedral, Italy. St Matthew’s Feast Day: Sept. 21st. 

St. Jude Thaddeus is known as the Patron Saint of the Impossible; the Saint for the Hopeless and Despaired because of the many prayers answered through his intercession. St Jude died around 65 A D. as a martyr in Persia alongside St. Simon. He was bludgeoned to death. His remains are in a crypt under St. Peter’s Basilica.  Shared Feast Day with St. Simon: Oct. 28th. 

Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus with a kiss for thirty pieces of silver. His regret led him to return the money and then he hung himself.  St. Matthias was chosen as his replacement. He was a disciple from the beginning and had been baptized by John the Baptist. He traveled to the southern edge of Russia and was martyred near the Caucasus Mountains. St. Matthias Feast Day: May 14th.