M01 · First
St. Mary — The Blessed Virgin
Mary was the mother of Jesus. The Gospels remember her faith, humility, courage and presence at key moments in Christ’s life, including the Crucifixion.
Constantine · Christian knowledge
SAINTS
Saints, the Twelve Apostles and the first witnesses of the Church
This collection presents saints and holy people connected with Jesus and the beginnings of Christianity. It includes His family and friends, people who encountered Him, the Twelve Apostles, and other important witnesses of the early Church.
Dates from the first century are often uncertain. Where Scripture and reliable historical sources do not give a birth or death year, this page says unknown rather than presenting a guess as fact.
M
J02 · Second
St. Joseph
Joseph was the husband of Mary and the earthly guardian of Jesus. A carpenter or craftsman by tradition, he protected and cared for the Holy Family.
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St. John the Baptist
A prophet and preacher who called people to repentance and baptised Jesus in the Jordan River. He prepared the way for Christ.
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St. Martha of Bethany
Martha was the sister of Mary and Lazarus. She welcomed Jesus into her home and made a profound confession of faith before Lazarus was raised.
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St. Mary of Bethany
Martha’s sister and Lazarus’s sister. Mary sat at Jesus’ feet to listen to His teaching and anointed Him before His Passion in the Gospel account.
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St. Lazarus of Bethany
Lazarus was the brother of Martha and Mary. Jesus raised him from the dead, a sign that points to Christ as “the resurrection and the life”.
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St. Mary Magdalene
A devoted follower of Jesus who witnessed the Crucifixion and was the first witness of the risen Christ in John’s Gospel. Jesus sent her to tell the disciples.
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St. Elizabeth
Elizabeth was the wife of Zechariah and the mother of John the Baptist. She welcomed Mary and recognised the blessing of the child Mary carried.
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St. Zechariah
Zechariah was a priest and the father of John the Baptist. The angel Gabriel announced that Elizabeth would bear a son; Zechariah later praised God.
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St. Simeon
A righteous and devout man in Jerusalem who, guided by the Holy Spirit, recognised the infant Jesus in the Temple and praised God.
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St. Anna the Prophetess
An elderly widow and prophetess who worshipped in the Temple. She gave thanks to God and spoke about the child Jesus to those awaiting redemption.
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St. Nicodemus
A Pharisee and member of the Jewish council who came to Jesus by night, later defended fair treatment for Him, and helped prepare His body for burial.
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St. Joseph of Arimathea
A respected council member and secret disciple of Jesus who courageously asked Pilate for Jesus’ body and provided a tomb for His burial.
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St. Joanna
Joanna was the wife of Chuza, an official in Herod’s household. She supported Jesus’ ministry and was among the women who went to the tomb.
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St. Susanna
Susanna is named among the women who travelled with Jesus and the Twelve, helping to support them from their resources.
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St. Cleopas
Cleopas was one of the two disciples who met the risen Jesus on the road to Emmaus. They recognised Him when He broke the bread.
The foundation of the Church
The Twelve Apostles
The Twelve were chosen by Jesus as His closest apostolic witnesses. After Judas Iscariot’s death, Matthias was chosen by the gathered disciples to take his place (Acts 1:15–26). The list below therefore names Matthias as the twelfth Apostle.
St. Peter
01 · Apostle
St. Peter (Simon Peter)
A Galilean fisherman and brother of Andrew, Peter became a leading disciple of Jesus. He confessed Jesus as the Messiah, witnessed the Transfiguration, denied Jesus during the Passion, and was restored by the risen Christ. In Acts he became a principal preacher of the Resurrection and a leader in the early Church.
St. Andrew
02 · Apostle
St. Andrew
Andrew was Simon Peter’s brother and a fisherman. In John’s Gospel he is among the first to follow Jesus; he then brought Peter to meet Him. The Gospels also show Andrew helping bring the boy with loaves and fish to Jesus and introducing Greek visitors who wished to see Him.
St. James
03 · Apostle
St. James the Greater
James, son of Zebedee and brother of John, was a Galilean fisherman called by Jesus. He belonged to the inner group who witnessed the raising of Jairus’s daughter, the Transfiguration and Jesus’ agony in Gethsemane. Acts records that Herod Agrippa I had him killed by the sword.
St. John
04 · Apostle
St. John the Apostle
John, son of Zebedee and brother of James, was one of Jesus’ closest disciples. He witnessed key events in Jesus’ ministry and stood near the Cross. The Gospel tradition associates him with the beloved disciple; Christian tradition also identifies him with the author of the Gospel of John and the letters bearing that name.
St. Philip
05 · Apostle
St. Philip
Philip came from Bethsaida and was called directly by Jesus. He brought Nathanael to meet Christ, asked Jesus to show the disciples the Father, and helped Andrew bring Greek visitors to Jesus. He should not be confused with Philip the Evangelist mentioned in Acts.
St. Bartholomew
06 · Apostle
St. Bartholomew
Bartholomew is named among the Twelve in the Synoptic Gospels and Acts. Many Christian traditions identify him with Nathanael, whom Philip brought to Jesus in John’s Gospel, although the Bible does not explicitly state that they are the same person.
St. Thomas
07 · Apostle
St. Thomas the Apostle
Thomas, also called Didymus, is remembered for his honest questions and his desire to see the risen Jesus. When Jesus appeared and invited him to examine His wounds, Thomas made the confession, “My Lord and my God!” Ancient Christian tradition connects Thomas with the spread of Christianity in India.
St. Matthew
08 · Apostle
St. Matthew
Matthew was a tax collector called by Jesus to become a disciple. The Gospel according to Matthew is traditionally attributed to him and presents Jesus as the fulfilment of Israel’s Scriptures. The New Testament does not provide a detailed biography of his later missionary life.
St. James
09 · Apostle
St. James the Less (son of Alphaeus)
James son of Alphaeus is listed among the Twelve. He is traditionally called James the Less to distinguish him from James son of Zebedee. The New Testament gives very little personal information about him, and he should not automatically be identified with James, the brother of the Lord, without noting that this is debated.
St. Jude
10 · Apostle
St. Jude Thaddeus
Jude, also called Thaddeus in some Gospel lists, was one of the Twelve. At the Last Supper he asked Jesus why He would reveal Himself to the disciples and not to the world. Catholic tradition honours him as a patron of difficult and desperate causes.
St. Simon
11 · Apostle
St. Simon the Zealot
Simon is identified as “the Zealot” in Luke and Acts and as “the Cananaean” in Matthew and Mark. He was one of the Twelve, but Scripture does not explain the precise meaning of the title or give a detailed account of his activities.
St. Matthias
12 · Apostle · Chosen after Judas
St. Matthias
After Judas Iscariot’s death, the disciples prayed and selected Matthias by lot to take his place among the Twelve. He had accompanied Jesus’ followers from the time of John’s baptism through the Resurrection and became a witness to the risen Lord.
A figure in the Passion narrative
Judas Iscariot
Judas Iscariot was one of the Twelve disciples chosen by Jesus. He agreed to hand Jesus over to the chief priests for thirty pieces of silver. In the Garden of Gethsemane, he identified Jesus to the arresting group with a kiss. Matthew’s Gospel says that Judas later felt remorse, returned the silver, and went away. The New Testament records his betrayal and death, but it does not give readers a definitive statement about his final eternal destiny.
Remembered for: Betraying Jesus and the tragic warning his story gives about greed, disloyalty and despair.
Scripture: Matthew 26:14–16, 47–50; 27:3–10; Mark 14:10–11, 43–46; Luke 22:3–6, 47–48; John 13:21–30; Acts 1:16–20.
Personal reflection, not a declaration of Church teaching: “Perhaps the Lord Jesus Christ may have forgiven him — perhaps.”
Other early Christian witnesses
St. Paul, St. Barnabas, St. Titus & St. Luke
These four were important leaders and missionaries of the early Church. They are not counted among the original Twelve. Paul and Barnabas are explicitly called apostles in Acts 14:14; Titus was a trusted co-worker of Paul, and Luke is traditionally honoured as an evangelist and Gospel writer.
St. Paul
Beyond the Twelve · Apostle to the Gentiles
St. Paul the Apostle
Paul, first known as Saul, was a Jewish Pharisee from Tarsus who initially persecuted the followers of Jesus. On the road to Damascus he experienced a life-changing encounter with the risen Christ. He became a missionary to the Gentiles, helped establish Christian communities across the eastern Mediterranean, and wrote letters that became part of the New Testament. Paul was not one of the original Twelve, but the Church recognises his distinct apostolic calling.
St. Barnabas
Early Church · Missionary
St. Barnabas
Barnabas, whose name is explained in Acts as “son of encouragement,” was a Levite from Cyprus. He sold property to support the community, welcomed the newly converted Saul when others feared him, and helped bring Saul to the church in Antioch. He travelled with Paul on an early missionary journey. Acts 14:14 explicitly calls both Barnabas and Paul apostles.
St. Titus
Early Church · Bishop and co-worker
St. Titus
Titus was a Gentile Christian and a trusted companion of Paul. Paul took him to Jerusalem as an example in the discussion about Gentile believers, later sent him to Corinth to help resolve difficulties, and entrusted him with organising the church in Crete. Christian tradition remembers Titus as the first bishop of Crete.
St. Luke
Early Church · Evangelist
St. Luke the Evangelist
Luke was a companion of Paul and is traditionally identified as the author of the Gospel according to Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. Paul refers to him as a physician and later mentions him as remaining with him. Luke’s Gospel gives particular attention to prayer, mercy, the poor, women and God’s welcome to all peoples. He was not one of the Twelve.
Historical note: These are traditional devotional depictions, not photographs of the people themselves. Some identities and later stories come from Christian tradition rather than direct biblical or independently verified historical evidence. Feast days can differ between Catholic and Eastern Christian calendars.
Scripture & reference notes
Primary biblical references are shown on each profile. For the joint celebration of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus on 29 July, see the USCCB liturgical note. For Joseph of Arimathea, see the Catholic Encyclopedia; for Nicodemus, see the Catholic Encyclopedia entry; for Cleopas, see the Catholic Encyclopedia entry.