♱Daily Synaxarium ♱Friday, August 21, 2026translated

On this day, the Holy Church commemorates:

*Saint Apostle Thaddeus. *The martyr Bassa and her three children, Theognios, Agapius, and Bestos. *The righteous saints Abraham of Smolensk the Russian and his student Avram. *The righteous and diligent Saint Abramius. *What's new about the Russian martyrs, Paul Yagodinsky. *What's new about the Russian martyrs, Alexander Alokhovsky. *The martyr among the priests, Ishaq Al-Hamawi.

✤ Saint Apostle Thaddeus ✤

There are two traditions in the Holy Church regarding the Apostle Thaddeus, the first of which makes him one of the Twelve, based on what was stated in the Gospel of Matthew (10:3) and the Gospel of Mark 3:18, replacing the Apostle Judas, the brother of James. Tradition distinguishes between them and does not identify them. The second tradition makes Thaddeus one of the seventy apostles. The scope of his preaching was, traditionally, Edessa.

Thaddeus is sometimes known as Lebbeus, and it is believed that he was originally from Edessa itself, from a Jewish family in which he acquired a good knowledge of the Holy Bible. A pilgrimage to Jerusalem. He heard Saint John the Baptist calling for repentance. He was jealous of his angelic lifestyle and was baptized by him. After a while, he met the Lord Jesus. The miracles performed by the Master and his sublime education made him believe that he was the Savior whom John and the prophets spoke of. He joined his disciples and followed him to his life-giving passion. It was said that King Abgar baptized and healed him completely of his leprosy. He preached and baptized many people in Edessa. This was the first nation…