The Epistle of the Apostolic Council evoked great joy and consolation among Christians. NOTE: See in the book. Acts of the Apostles, ch. 15, 1-35. The Preaching Labors of the Apostles The Apostles of Christ, by their preaching, which was inspired by the Holy Spirit, in a short time subdued to Christ a multitude of pagans, both simple and ignoble people, as well as scholars and kings themselves.

The apostles bore much labor for this holy work. They endured many sorrows and misfortunes. All the Apostles, except John the Theologian, accepted a martyr's death (the Apostle John the Theologian died in prison at a ripe old age). The number of Christians, even after the death of the Holy Apostles, grew from year to year, and the Christian faith spread throughout the whole earth. The sermon of Ap.

In Rome, the Apostles preached for the most part orally. But in order that the teaching of Christ might be better preserved, some of them, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote it down in books. That is why these books are called holy, Holy Scripture, just like the books of the holy prophets who were before Christ. Two of the twelve apostles, Matthew and John, and two of the seventy, Mark and Luke, each wrote a book about the earthly life of Christ the Savior and His teaching.

These four books are called the Gospels because they contain the teaching of Christ, which the Savior Himself called the Gospel. The apostles who wrote them are called Evangelists. The Evangelist Luke also wrote the book of the Acts of the Holy Apostles (i.e. , the deeds and works of the Holy Apostles). This book tells how the Holy Apostles in the first years spread the Christian faith.

Other of the Apostles: James of Alpheus, Peter, as well as John the Theologian and Judas of James, wrote seven conciliar epistles, i.e. letters to Christians throughout the world, and in these epistles they taught how to believe and live according to the teaching of Christ. (One Epistle of the Apostle James, two of Peter, three of John, and one of Judas). The Apostle Paul wrote fourteen epistles to individual churches and persons.

The Apostle John the Theologian, in addition to the Gospel and the three Epistles, also wrote the Apocalypse, or Revelation. In this book, he sets forth the future fate of the Church of Christ and the whole world. But, of course, the Apostles did not write down everything in the books, what they taught, what they established among Christians, what they heard from the Savior and saw from Him. The Evangelist Apostle John the Theologian himself writes about this: "Jesus did many other things; but if I were to write about it in detail, then, I think, the world itself would not be able to contain the books written."

The teaching and rules that the apostles passed on to Christians in words or by example were firmly preserved by Christians. This teaching, transmitted by them orally and later written down by holy men, is called the Apostolic Tradition, or Holy Tradition. Together with the Apostles and after them, the Apostolic Men (disciples of the Apostles) labored in preaching the Gospel

, pastors, teachers and fathers of the Church of Christ. They spread and strengthened the Church of Christ by word, scripture and their holy life. BRIEF INFORMATION about the preaching and fate of the Holy Apostles of St. The Supreme Ap. Peter (Simon) preached first in Judea, then in Antioch, in Bethany, in Asia, in Illipitsa, as well as throughout Italy and in Rome itself.

In Rome he was crucified upside down, under the emperor Nero. St. Peter, together with the Apostle Paul, as those who labored most of all in the preaching of the faith in Christ, are called St. Peter. By the Church, the supreme ones. St. The Supreme Ap. Paul (Saul) preached in many countries, from Jerusalem to the capital of the world, Rome. In Rome, he was beheaded by Emperor Nero. St. Up.

Andrew the First-Called, was within the boundaries of our Fatherland, he erected a cross on the Kiev mountains, predicting the future enlightenment of Russia by the faith of Christ. He preached along the shores of the Black Sea and in other countries. In Byzantium he ordained Stachys, one of the seventy disciples, as bishop. In the city of Patras, in Achaia (Greece), the pagans crucified him on a cross of a special shape, similar to the letter X, which therefore became known as the St. Andrew's Cross. St. Up.

James Zebedee preached in Jerusalem, and the first of the apostles suffered for Christ. By order of the Jewish king Herod Agrippa, he was beheaded in Jerusalem. St. Up. the Evangelist John the Theologian, after being tortured in Rome, was exiled to the island of Patmos. St. Up. John lived longer than all the apostles and died peacefully in Asia in the mountains. Ephesus. According to tradition, St.

The Apostle, of his own free will, was buried alive by his disciples. When, soon after the burial, the Christians who came dug up his grave, there were the bodies of St. Ap. John was gone. St. Up. Philip – preached in the countries of Asia together with the Apostle Bartholomew and his sister Mariamia. In Phrygia (a province of Asia Minor) in the mountains.

Hierapolis, was martyred — he was crucified upside down. St. Up. Bartholomew (Nathanael) — first preached together with Ap. Philip in Syria and Asia, then he was in India and translated the Gospel of Matthew into the Indian language; then he preached in Armenia, where he accepted a martyr's death in the city. Alvane: according to some sources, he was crucified upside down, according to other sources, he was flogged to death. St. Up. Thomas (Twin)

 — preached in many Asian countries, reaching India, where he was martyred for Christ. He was pierced with spears and then beheaded with a sword. St. Up. the Evangelist Matthew preached for a long time in Judea, and then throughout Ethiopia (present-day Abyssinia, Nubia, Kardafan, Darfur, etc.). He was killed with a sword in one of the cities of Ethiopia. St. Up.