Thaddeus of Edessa was a first-century Christian bishop and one of the seventy disciples of Jesus. Born in Edessa, he traveled to Jerusalem where he was baptized by John the Baptist before becoming a follower of Christ. Following the ascension of Jesus, he traveled through Mesopotamia, Syria, and Persia to spread the gospel. He is credited with establishing the first Christian church in Edessa and is also associated with the founding of a church in Beirut.