The Apostle to Edessa

Saint Addal—also known as Saint Addai—is a towering figure in the early Church, remembered as one of the Seventy Disciples sent out by Jesus (cf. Luke 10:1), and traditionally revered as the first Bishop of Edessa (modern-day Urfa in southeastern Turkey). He holds a special place in Syriac Christianity and in the broader Catholic tradition as a bold missionary, healer, and founder of one of the oldest Christian communities outside the Roman Empire. He is most famously associated with the legend of King Abgar and the miraculous healing that followed through his mission. Saint Addal is a model of apostolic zeal, obedience, and healing faith.

A Mission Born from the Master’s Call

Little is known about Addal’s early life, but tradition holds that he was of Syriac or Jewish origin, likely born in the regions near Mesopotamia or Galilee. According to early Christian tradition, he was one of the Seventy Disciples mentioned in Luke 10:1, personally commissioned by Jesus to go ahead of Him “two by two” to proclaim the Kingdom of God.

Saint Addal’s story becomes especially vibrant in the Doctrine of Addai, an early Syriac Christian text that recounts his role in bringing the Gospel to Edessa. According to this tradition, King Abgar V of Edessa, who was suffering from an incurable illness (likely leprosy or gout), heard of Jesus and sent a letter asking Him to come and heal him. Jesus, knowing His mission would culminate in Jerusalem, wrote back promising to send one of His disciples after His resurrection.

True to that promise, Saint Thomas the Apostle, after the Ascension, sent Saint Addal to fulfill Jesus’ word. Addal arrived in Edessa, preached the Gospel, healed the king through the power of Christ, and converted the entire royal household. This event marked the beginning of Christianity in Mesopotamia and established Edessa as one of the earliest Christian cities in history.

Apostolic Fire:

Once in Edessa, Saint Addal’s ministry exploded with miracles and conversions. He baptized King Abgar, many of his court officials, and large numbers of the city’s inhabitants. Under his spiritual leadership, Christianity took deep root in a formerly pagan culture, creating one of the first Christianized states outside Roman influence.

Among the miracles attributed to him during his lifetime are numerous healings, exorcisms, and acts of divine wisdom. The Doctrine of Addai emphasizes that he healed not through sorcery or human skill, but by invoking the name of Jesus Christ, echoing the Acts of the Apostles in both method and boldness: “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6).

Saint Addal also ordained clergy, built the foundation for the Syriac Church, and trained local believers to carry on the mission. His work prepared the Church in the East for centuries of theological richness, including the later emergence of figures like Saint Ephrem the Syrian.

Trials Without Fear:

Though Addal was not martyred, his life was marked by constant risk and spiritual warfare. Operating in a volatile religious landscape—surrounded by pagan temples, Zoroastrian influence, and later Roman hostility—Addal faced opposition from local religious authorities and political elites threatened by the rise of Christianity.

Yet despite threats and hardships, his preaching never ceased, and his ministry endured. His perseverance, especially as an aging apostle far from the support of the original Twelve, is a quiet martyrdom in itself—a witness to what the Catechism calls white martyrdom, the long suffering of those who offer their whole lives to Christ without shedding blood (cf. CCC 2473).

Miracles That Echoed Beyond the Tomb

After his death, Saint Addal’s legacy lived on through the continued growth of the Church in Edessa and the entire East Syrian region. His tomb became a place of pilgrimage and healing, especially for those suffering physical ailments and spiritual bondage.

Numerous miracles were reported at his grave, and devotion to him spread among the Assyrian Church of the East, Chaldean Catholics, and Maronite communities. His name is commemorated in ancient liturgies, and his memory has been enshrined in the Syriac Rite to this day.

Perhaps even more powerful than physical miracles was the enduring spiritual fruit of his mission: the Church he planted endured waves of persecution for centuries and gave rise to a rich theological tradition that continues to this day.

Sent Like the Seventy

Saint Addal’s life challenges us to ask: What would I do if I believed Jesus personally sent me to heal and evangelize the world around me? Because He has.

The Catechism reminds us that all baptized persons are called to be missionaries: “The Church is missionary by her very nature” (CCC 849), and
“Lay people… are called by God to contribute to the sanctification of the world… by their actions, their prayers, and their apostolic endeavors” (CCC 940).

Saint Addal’s obedience, courage, and healing ministry are an invitation to live boldly in our own time, even when the culture around us seems distant from God. Like him, we may never see the full impact of our witness in this life, but God multiplies our small “yes” in ways we cannot imagine.

Be a bringer of Christ’s presence. Speak healing. Baptize hearts with love. And carry the Gospel into every corner of your life—even the uncomfortable ones.

Engage with Us!

Have you ever felt too small, too broken, or too afraid to be a missionary disciple? Saint Addal reminds us that God equips the called. We invite you to share your thoughts, stories, or questions in the comments.

Reflection Questions:

1. Where is Christ calling you to be a witness, even if it’s uncomfortable?
2. What “King Abgar” in your life needs to hear the Gospel from you?
3. How can you cultivate more courage and healing presence in your community this week?

Let’s walk together in faith, encouraging one another and remembering that we are all sent, just like Saint Addal. May we strive to do everything with love, as our Lord Jesus did.

Saint Addal, pray for us!

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