It is deeply moving that the eleven, out of the twelve Apostles, martyred for their faith in Jesus.
They gave their lives for their faith. They did not stop preaching and they paid this with their blood.
According to Nicodemus the Hagiorite, the Twelve Apostles completed their mission as follows:
• Saints Peter and Paul martyred in Rome, the former received the crown of martyrdom being nailed to the cross with his head towards the ground and his feet raised on high while the latter was beheaded.
• Saint Andreas the First-Called martyred by crucifixion at the city of Patras, crucified on a cross of the form called crux decussata (X-shaped cross, or “saltire”).
• Saint James, the brother of John the Apostle, was the first apostle to be martyred, when King Agrippa ordered him to be beheaded.
• Saint John the Evangelist was exiled to Patmos and eventually died in Ephesus.
• Saint Philip was crucified in the city of Hierapolis, Syria.
• Saint Thomas was pierced with a lance in India and reposed in Lord there.
• Saint Bartholomew was crucified upside down in India.
• Saint Matthew martyred by stoning and fire to death in the city of Hierapolis, Syria.
• Saint James, son of Alphaeus, was crucified.
• Saint Simon the Zealot was crucified in Mauritania, Africa.
• Saint Judas Thaddaeus was pierced by arrows while he was hung on a tree in Mesopotamia.
• Saint Matthew was subjected to horrible tortures in Ethiopia.
Even from the early Apostolic Age, Saint Paul speaks of false prophets who preach the Gospel not out of love but for their own benefit.
Now what is the true criterion for the continuation of the missionary work of the First Church?
Where else? Their martyrdom is the only true criterion, which all those who continue the work of the Apostles must set an example.
But why did they have to be subjected to this martyrdom in the end? If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. (John 15:18)
