The Holy Apostle Thaddaeus
The Apostle Thaddaeus was from Edessa, and a Jew by race. When he came to Jerusalem, he became a disciple of Christ, and after His Ascension he returned to Edessa. There he catechized and baptized Abgar. Having preached in Mesopotamia, he ended his life in martyrdom. Though some call him one of the Twelve, whom Matthew calls “Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus” (Matt. 10:3). Eusebios says that he is one of the Seventy, “After Christ’s Resurrection from the dead, and His ascent into Heaven, Thomas, one of the twelve Apostles, inspired by God, sent Thaddaeus, one of the seventy disciples of Christ, to Edessa as a preacher and evangelist of Christ’s teaching”.
Dismissal Hymn (Third Tone)
O Holy Apostle Thaddeus, intercede with the merciful God that He grant to our souls forgiveness of offences.
Kontakion (Third Tone)
The Apostle’s joyous feast is come with radiant splendour; let us keep it on this day with jubilation and gladness. For to them who ever honour him in sincere faith, it grants their sins’ forgiveness and true divine health; for he has great boldness as a divine initiate of Christ’s omnipotent grace.
The Holy Martyr Bassa and Her Sons: Theognis, Agapius, and Pistus
The Martyrs were from Edessa of Macedonia. Bassa was the wife of a certain Valerian, a priest of the idols, to whom she bore three sons and raised them in piety. She was betrayed with her sons to the proconsul by her own husband; each of her sons was tormented before her and beheaded. For refusing to worship the idols, she was imprisoned, cast into water and then fire, was stoned, and remaining unharmed, was brought to the temple to worship the idols. Laying hold upon the idol of Zeus, she overturned it and broke it to pieces. After being preserved through further torments, she was beheaded, about the year 290, in the reign of Maximian.
Apolytikion of Martyr Bassa and her Children in the Fourth Tone
Thy Martyrs, O Lord, in their courageous contest for Thee received as the prize the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since they possessed Thy strength, they cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons’ strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by their prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.
Kontakion of Martyr Bassa and her Children in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
Valiantly following the footsteps of Solomone, thou gavest courage to thy sons to suffer martyrdom, O divinely-blessed Bassa, thou rock of courage. And when thou hadst thrice endured thy three sons’ sufferings, thou through many grievous torments wast joined unto them. Hence, we cry to you: Rejoice, O victors in martyrdom.
Afterfeast of the Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary
Apolytikion of Afterfeast of the Dormition in the First Tone
In birth, you preserved your virginity; in death, you did not abandon the world, O Theotokos. As mother of life, you departed to the source of life, delivering our souls from death by your intercessions.
We Also Celebrate Today:
Athanasios Patelaros, Patriarch of Constantinople
