Which apostles have documented miracles?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

In the Coptic Orthodox tradition, the miraculous acts of the Apostles are documented across several categories of sacred literature, including the Synaxarium, the Praxis, and distinct hagiographical accounts known as "Acts" or "Lives."

The Church maintains that these miracles did not cease with the Apostolic Age but continue through their relics and intercessions.

1. St. Mark the Evangelist

As the founder of the See of Alexandria, St. Mark’s miracles are extensively documented by Coptic historians.

• The Miracle of the Cobbler (Anianus): While entering Alexandria, St. Mark’s sandal broke. When the cobbler Anianus pierced his hand and cried out "Heis ho Theos" (God is One), St. Mark healed his hand instantly.
• Modern Miracles: The 1968 return of his relics from Venice to Cairo was marked by a period of great miracles and the apparition of the Holy Virgin Mary at Zeitoun, which the Church connects to the arrival of the Apostle.

2. St. Peter and St. Paul

Their miracles are the foundation of the Book of Acts (the Praxis) read in every Divine Liturgy.

• Ancient: St. Peter’s shadow healing the sick and St. Paul’s handkerchiefs curing diseases.
• Modern: In Coptic monasticism, these "Chiefs of the Apostles" are often seen in visions by the Desert Fathers. There are documented accounts of them appearing to guide the Church during times of theological crisis, affirming the Miaphysite faith.

3. St. Andrew the Apostle

Historical ecclesiastical texts (such as those referenced in the works of Gregory of Tours and various "Acts of Andrew") document his power over nature and demons. He is credited with:

• Resurrecting the dead in the city of Patras.
• Blinding an army that came to arrest him during his mission.
• Modern accounts of St. Andrew often appear in the Mediterranean regions where he traveled, with many sailors reporting his miraculous protection.

4. St. Thomas the Apostle

The mission of St. Thomas to India is filled with documented wonders:

• The Miracle of the Building: He was commissioned to build a palace for an Indian king but gave the money to the poor, eventually showing the king a "heavenly palace" built through charity.
• His relics, parts of which have been brought to various Christian centers, are known for manifesting "sweet-smelling oil" (Chrism), a common miraculous sign in Coptic and Oriental traditions.

5. St. John the Evangelist

The "Beloved Disciple" is unique because the Coptic Synaxarium records his "departure" rather than a traditional death, noting that his grave was found empty and filled with manna.

• He is documented as having survived being plunged into boiling oil in Rome without harm.
• In the modern era, St. John is frequently cited in the visions of Coptic saints (such as Anba Ruways or Pope Cyril VI) as a source of divine revelation and comfort.

6. The Seventy Disciples

The miracles of the 70 Disciples (such as St. Luke, St. Stephen, and St. James) are also documented. For example:

• St. Stephen: His relics were miraculously discovered in 415 AD, an event documented to have caused numerous healings and the "shaking of the earth."
• St. James the Just: Documented for his intense life of prayer, where his knees became like "camels' skin," and his intercessions were sought for rain during droughts.

Where These Are Documented:

• The Coptic Synaxarium: Read daily in the Church, containing the lives and miracles of the Apostles on their respective feast days.
• The History of the Patriarchs: Documents how the Apostles protected the See of Alexandria throughout the centuries.
• The Acts of the Apostles (Praxis): The primary New Testament source.

While heretics and rationalists might doubt these accounts, the Coptic Orthodox Church preserves them as historical and spiritual truths, confirming that the "signs and wonders" of the first century continue to this day through the grace of God.