Thaddeus of Edessa

Thaddeus of Edessa Saint Addai ܡܪܝ ܐܕܝ
Icon of St. Thaddeus (10th century, Saint Catherine's Monastery, Mount Sinai)
Born	c. 1st century AD
Died	c. 2nd century AD
Venerated in	Assyrian Church of the East Chaldean Catholic Church Syriac Orthodox Church Eastern Orthodox Church Roman Catholic Church Oriental Orthodox Church Church of Caucasian Albania
Feast	August 5

According to some Eastern Christian traditions, Thaddeus, Syriac-Aramaic Addai or Aday (ܐܕܝ) (sometimes Latinized as Addeus), was one of the seventy disciples of Christ, possibly identical with Thaddeus (Jude the Apostle) of the Twelve Apostles.

There is no consensus about life and death of Thaddeus of Edessa (Mar Addai / Mor Aday). Some historians and researchers dispute that he actually existed. Some also dispute that Thaddeus of Edessa and Addai are the same individual.

But based on various Eastern Christian traditions, Thaddaeus was a Jew born in Edessa, at the time a Syrian city, (now in Turkey). He came to Jerusalem for a festival, and heard the preachings of John the Baptist (St. John the Forerunner). After being baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River, he remained in Palestine. He later met and became a follower of Jesus. He was chosen to be one of the Seventy Disciples, whom Jesus sent in pairs to preach in the cities and places.

After Pentecost and the Ascension of Jesus, Thaddeus started preaching the Gospel in Mesopotamia, Syria and Persia. Thaddaeus ordained priests in Edessa, converted many to Christianity and built up the church there. He also went to Beirut to preach and founded a church there as well.

The Syriac liturgy referred to as the Divine Liturgy of Addai and Mari, originated around the year 200 A.D. and is used by the Assyrian Church of the East and the Chaldean Catholic Church that claim a connection to the saint and also by the Chaldean Syrian Church and Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in India founded by Thomas the Apostle.