Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew According to Armenian Church tradition, the Apostles
Thaddeus and
Bartholomew traveled through Armenia in AD 45 to preach the word of God, where many people were converted and numerous secret Christian communities were established. The ancient Christian historian
Moses of Khorene told the following story, considered a legend by most modern historiographers. Thaddeus converted King
Abgar V of
Edessa. After his death, the Armenian kingdom was split into two parts. His son Ananun crowned himself in Edessa, while his nephew
Sanatruk ruled in
Armenia. About AD 66, Ananun gave the order to kill Saint Thaddeus in Edessa. The king's daughter Sandokht, who had converted to Christianity, was martyred with Thaddeus. Her tomb is said to be located near the monastery.
Events The annual ceremony and pilgrimage in the St. Thaddeus Monastery was held 14–16 July 2016. It was held by the
Armenian Diocese of Atrpatakan. In December 2020,
UNESCO added the pilgrimage to its list of
Intangible Cultural Heritage. == Gallery ==