Apóstolos

This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Apóstolos (Απόστολος),” from “apostéllō (ἀποστέλλω),” composed of two elements: “apó (ᾰ̓πό)” (from, away from) plus “stéllō (στέλλω)” (dispatch, send, set out, journey). In turn, the name means “messenger, to send, envoy, to send off, send away from, dispatch, on some mission or service.” The commissioning of the Twelve Apostles during the ministry of Jesus is recorded in the Synoptic Gospels. After his resurrection, Jesus sent eleven of them (minus Judas Iscariot) by the Great Commission to spread his teachings to all nations, referred to as the dispersion of the apostles. There is also an Eastern Christian tradition derived from the Gospel of Luke of seventy apostles. The Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the name day of Apostolos on June 30, the day of the Assembly of the Apostles, when Christ chose the original 12 Apostles, Judas excluded.