Saint Thaddeus and Saint Bartholomew, the Apostles are the first founders of the Armenian Church. They are called the “First Illuminators” of Armenia, because through their apostolic mission and by proclaiming the words of the Lord, they enlightened the darkened souls of the people.
Saint Thaddeus was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. A special place in the account of his mission in the Armenian lands is the story of the martyrdom of Sandukht, the daughter of King Sanatruk of Armenia. The apostolic mission of St. Thaddeus begins in the city of Edessa in Northern Mesopotamia, where King Abgar reigned. According to tradition, the Apostle healed the ailing king and proclaimed the message of Jesus.
The historian Movses Khorenatsi testifies that most of the inhabitants of Edessa—among them King Abgar and many from his court—became Christians.
From Edessa, St. Thaddeus traveled and preached until he reached the town of Shavarsan in the province of Artaz in Vaspurakan, which served as the Armenian king’s summer residence. With boldness, he preached the teachings of Christ. Through his preaching, Princess Sandukht and many the people embraced Christianity.
King Sanatruk and some of the nobles rejected the “Word of Life.” They turned hostile toward the converts and attempted to hinder the spread of Christianity. Persecution soon began against the newly converted faithful. By the king’s order many Christians were imprisoned and executed. The king showed no mercy, even condemning his own daughter Sandukht to death.
A short time later, St. Thaddeus himself was arrested, and after terrible tortures, he too was executed.
Saint Bartholomew was also one of the twelve Apostles of Christ. His given name was Nathanael, meaning “Gift of God.” He is also called the “First Confessor,” because he was the first person to confess the divinity of Christ. Before coming to Armenia, St. Bartholomew had preached in Persia and India. He arrived in Armenia during the years of St. Thaddeus’s ministry. According to tradition, while traveling toward Artashat, he encountered St. Thaddeus on the hill named after him, in the place called Otyats Khach. After spending the night together there, they parted ways.
Although St. Bartholomew traveled through various provinces of Armenia, the main center of his preaching became the province of Syunik, where many Armenians accepted Christianity. In the province of Goghtn, he built a church and established an episcopal see, ordaining one of his disciples, Kums, as bishop.
After preaching in the provinces of Her and Zarevand, St. Bartholomew finally reached the province of Aghbak in Vaspurakan, where he continued his holy mission. Through his preaching, the king’s sister Voguhí, as well as Derentios the general, became Christians. By order of King Sanatruk, the Apostle, the king’s sister Voguhí, and General Derentios were arrested and brought before the royal court. After prolonged tortures, they were all martyred by the king’s command.
Despite the persecutions that followed the martyrdom of Saints Thaddeus and Bartholomew, the spread of Christianity in Armenia could not be halted.
Each year, at the beginning of December, the Armenian Church commemorates the memory of St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew.
With the devotion of the holy apostles and with the light of divine knowledge, let us enlighten our soul and faith, so that we may dispel the darkness of our spirits and our minds.
Rev. Datev Mikayelian