Help Your Children Learn about the Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew

During the Feast of the Twelve Holy Apostles of Christ and St. Paul, the Thirteenth Apostle, we honor the lives of Christ's first followers.  Two of the apostles, however, are especially important to the Armenian Church: Thaddeus and Bartholomew.  You can follow this lesson to help get your children thinking about these two men and their stories.

Write the words "Thaddeus" and "Bartholomew" and draw a circle around them.  Then proceed with a "webbing" exercise by asking your children to brainstorm about these two names.  Tell them: "I've written two names down.  We're celebrating the lives of Jesus Christ's apostles, and these are two important ones.  What do you know about them?"

With each answer draw a line from the circle and add the word.  Answers might include: saint, apostle, Pentecost, Armenia, King Sanadroog, Santookht, illuminators, disciple.  If they draw a blank, add words yourself as you tell the story.  Make sure you include the following:

• Sts. Thaddeus and Bartholomew received their commission to Armenia when all the apostles received the gift of languages at Pentecost, open to Acts 2:1-4 and read this brief story.
• Sts. Thaddeus and Bartholomew are called the first Illuminators of the Armenian people (St. Gregory being the second).
• St. Thaddeus went to Armenia first.  Under the pagan King Sanadroog, Christianity in Armenia was outlawed.  St. Thaddeus preached widely, bringing the king' s daughter, Princess Santookht, to Christ.  In a traditional story the princess was offered a crown or a sword by her father and chose martyrdom over worldly power.
• St. Bartholomew also preached widely, converting many pagan Armenians to Christianity, including the king's sister, Vokoohi.
• The tombs of both saints, who were martyred for their faith, still exist in historic Armenia.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Ask your children to discuss the following questions with you.

1. Why do you think it was important for the apostles to know the language of the lands they would travel to (and this was the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost)?

2. What would be some of the challenges facing you if you were going into a pagan land 1,700 years ago to spread the Christian faith?

3. What do you think you would need to bring with you? (See Matthew 10:9-10 for Jesus' advice, keeping in mind the code of welcoming strangers with warm hospitality in Bible times.)

4. Think of the two royal princesses (Santookht and Vokoohi) who turned their back on wealth and power in order to accept Christ.  What might have made their decision difficult?  Easy?