The Apostles

Giving your life for the sake of Holy Mother Church has been the act of heroism since its founding.

The Holy Scriptures speak of martyrdom. In the Acts of the Apostles 7:56–60, St. Stephen is the first to be accounted for. As for the Apostles, James the Greater (Son of Zebedee and brother of John) and Judas the Iscariot are the only two Apostles whose deaths are cited in the Bible.

Tradition and early writings of the Church account for Peter, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, Simon the Zealot, Thaddeus (Jude), James the Lesser and Matthias.

Beginning with the first Pope, Peter is believed — by tradition and the writings of Origen and Clement of Rome — to have been martyred on a cross upside down on Vatican Hill. His remains are in St. Peter's Basilica, which were publicly revealed and venerated by Pope Francis in 2013.

James the Greater was killed by Herod Agrippa I, as recounted in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 12:2). He was "killed with the sword," which is interpreted to be beheading. He is buried in the Cathedral of Santiago in Spain.

James the Lesser (James the Just) is cited by St. Hegesippus and Eusebius to have been thrown from the top of the Temple by Pharisees and Scribes but did not die. He then knelt and prayed for the forgiveness of those attacking him while he was stoned, but he was actually killed by a blow to his head by a fuller's club. His remains are kept in Rome in the Church of the Twelve Holy Apostles, which is a minor basilica.

Thaddeus (Jude), after traveling throughout the East, is honored by many Orthodox churches. There is discussion of his death, whether it be by a club or shot with arrows while crucified. There is also the claim that he died naturally. The most common account, though, is that he was martyred. The manner of his death is the only discrepancy. He is buried in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

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