Jude, ‘not Iscariot’
St Jude of Thaddeus was St James the Lesser’s brother and a relative of Jesus. Biblical scholars agree that he was the son of Clopas and his mother Mary was the Virgin Mary’s cousin.
Ancient scholars also say that St Jude preached the Gospel in Judea, Samaria, Idumaea, Syria, Mesopotamia and Libya. According to Eusebius, he returned to Jerusalem in the year 62 and helped with the election of his brother, St Simeon, as Bishop of Jerusalem.
St Jude should not be confused with Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Christ.
When the disciples are named in Matthew 10:3 and Mark 3:18, Jude’s name does not appear, but “Thaddeus” does. This led early Christians to think that Jude was also known as “Thaddeus” as a sort of nickname.
In John 14:22, a disciple referred to as “Judas not Iscariot” is assumed to be Jude. But little else is known about his life.
Martyred with St Simon
According to legend, he visited Beirut and Edessa and might have been martyred with St Simon during his travels.
St Jude wrote a letter to the churches of the East against the heresies of the Simonians, Nicolaites and Gnostics.
Although St Gregory has been credited as the “Apostle to the Armenians”, Jude and Bartholomew are believed to have brought Christianity to Armenia. Some accounts say Jude was executed there for his faith.
Although scholars still disagree about the location of St Jude’s death, most believe he was martyred either in Armenia or Beirut.
Never give up
The reason Catholics pray to St Jude in desperate situations is because his letter in the New Testament emphasises that the faithful should persevere whatever the circumstances.
After he died, Jude’s body was brought to Rome and left in a crypt in St Peter’s Basilica. Today his bones can be found in the basilica under the main altar of St Joseph with the remains of the Apostle Simon, with whom he shares a feast day.
.jpg)
