The Story of Saint Jude, Later Thaddeus
Mentions in various biographies of Christ indicate the presence in his circle of another disciple named Judas, who should be distinguished from Iscariot. Mark and Matthew call the apostle Levway or Thaddeus. He was one of Joseph the Betrothed's own sons from his first wife and was Jesus' half-brother.
Origin
In the Middle Ages there was no doubt about the relationship between Judas Thaddeus and Christ. Modern Bible scholars believe that these are different individuals. But in his Epistle the apostle calls James his brother. He believed that he was not worthy to be called the brother of the Lord. The Jacob mentioned by Judas is also Joseph's own son, presumably the abbot of the church in Jerusalem, known as Jacob the Righteous.
According to legend, Joseph’s own sons did not see the Divine principle in Jesus and did not want their father to bequeath to him part of the property. Only Jacob recognized his kinship with Jesus and was ready to share the bequeathed land with his half-brother.
After this, Judas Thaddeus had a spiritual epiphany. He believed that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God, followed him on his travels and entered the circle of the apostles. Having become a disciple of Christ, Thaddeus repented of unbelief and greed and did not dare to be called His brother.
Missionary
Saint Jude received the nickname after the betrayal of Iscariot, whose name was placed on an unspoken taboo among the followers of Christ. The name Levway is identical in meaning to Thaddeus, which means “to praise,” which is why both names appear in the Gospels.
After the Ascension of the Savior, Saint Jude carried the Word of God throughout the world. First he went to his native Galilee, and then walked around the lands of Judea, Edomite and Samara. While traveling through Persia, Thaddeus composed a Letter for all believers, with instructions for a righteous life, strengthening the faith by keeping the commandments and good deeds.
The Apostle traveled a long way and converted thousands of pagans to the true faith, until he finally came to Armenia. In the city of Ararat, the preacher fell out of favor with the idolatrous priests, who sealed his end. After much torture, Thaddeus suffered martyrdom on the cross, like the teacher Jesus. Instead of spears, the pagans shot him with bows.
Apostle Judas Jacob (Levway, Thaddeus), brother of the Lord
The Life and Works of the Apostles – Holy Apostle Jude Jacob
Life of the Apostle Jude James, Brother of the Lord
The Holy Apostle Jude, from among the 12 disciples of Christ, came from the line of King David and Solomon, was the son of the righteous Joseph the Betrothed from his first wife.
The Holy Apostle John the Theologian writes in his Gospel: “For His brethren believed in Him” (John 7:5). Saint Theophylact, Archbishop of Bulgaria, explains these words this way: at the beginning of the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, the sons of Joseph, including Judas, did not believe in His Divine essence. Tradition indicates that when the righteous Joseph the Betrothed, returning from Egypt, began to divide the land that belonged to him among his sons, he wished to allocate a part to Christ the Savior, born prenaturally and incorruptibly from the Most Pure Virgin Mary. The brothers opposed this, and only the eldest of them, James, accepted Christ Jesus into joint ownership of his share and for this was called the brother of the Lord. Later, Judas believed in Christ the Savior as the expected Messiah, turned to Him with all his heart and was chosen by Him to be one of the closest 12 disciples. But, remembering his sin, the Apostle Jude considered himself unworthy to be called the brother of God and in his conciliar letter he calls himself only the brother of James.
The holy Apostle Jude also had other names: the evangelist Matthew calls him “Levbeus, surnamed Thaddeus” (Matthew 10:3), the holy evangelist Mark also calls him Thaddeus (Mark 3:18), and in the Acts of the Holy Apostles he is mentioned under the name Barsabas (Acts 15:22). This was the custom at that time.
After the Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ, Apostle Jude set out to preach the Gospel. He spread faith in Christ first in Judea, Galilee, Samaria and Idumea, and then in the countries of Arabia, Syria and Mesopotamia, and finally came to the city of Edessa. Here he completed what had not been completed by his predecessor, the apostle of the 70, Thaddeus. The news has been preserved that the holy Apostle Jude went preaching to Persia and from there wrote his conciliar epistle in Greek, in the brief words of which many deep truths are contained. It contains dogmatic teaching about the Holy Trinity, about the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ, about the difference between good and evil Angels, about the future Last Judgment. In moral terms, the apostle urges believers to protect themselves from carnal impurity, to be correct in their duties, prayer, faith and love, to convert the lost to the path of salvation, to protect themselves from the teachings of heretics. The Apostle Jude teaches that faith in Christ alone is not enough; good deeds characteristic of Christian teaching are also necessary.
The Holy Apostle Jude died as a martyr around the year 80 in Armenia, in the city of Aratus, where he was crucified on the cross and pierced with arrows.
See also: “ Memory of the Holy Apostle Jude, Brother of the Lord according to the flesh” as presented by St. Demetrius of Rostov.
See also: “ The Council of the Holy Glorious and Most Valuable Twelve Apostles” as presented by St. Demetrius of Rostov.
Meaning in Orthodoxy
Saint Jude Thaddeus conveyed in his Message moral principles that are important to learn and comprehend for Orthodox Christians and clergy. To achieve the Kingdom of God, you need to strive for spiritual purity and not betray your faith. You should also avoid heretical teachings and false teachers who reject the one God and distort His laws for the sake of their licentiousness.
The apostle warns against desecration of the flesh and denial of any superior authority. He calls to remember Sodom and Gomorrah and the angels who renounced God, eking out an existence in darkness awaiting the Day of Judgment. The Saint speaks in the Epistle about those who grumble at everything, indulge their lusts and boast about it. Thaddeus also recalls the spread of “scoffers” predicted by the apostles, pursuing selfish goals.
Saint Jude calls on believers to maintain love, humility and fear of God. He teaches to show mercy to sinners “with consideration”: to save and convict with fear, abhorring even defiled clothing.
The instructions of the Apostle Thaddeus remained relevant after many centuries. Saint Jude is an example of selfless devotion to faith and opposition to the dark animal nature of man, which is personified by idolatry, cruel and debauched morals of pagan rulers. Not by kinship, but by loyalty, he earned the right to be called a devoted friend and disciple of Christ.
Reverence
In Orthodoxy, the Apostle Judas Thaddeus is glorified on June 19 (July 2). Catholic Remembrance Day is October 28th.
Saint Jude is revered in Eastern and Western countries. A particle of the relics of the apostle is one of the main relics of the Etchmiadzin Monastery, the stronghold of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The Armenians handed over some of the remains to American Catholics; a piece of the saint’s forearm is kept in Chicago.
The Ukrainian Catholic Church also venerates the Apostle Thaddeus. A piece of it went to the Lviv Church of St. George, as well as the Greek Catholic Church of St. Andrew the First-Called and the Orthodox St. Elias Monastery in Odessa.
A church in Jordan was consecrated in honor of the apostle. Until 1934, the Cathedral of Saints Thaddeus and Bartholomew operated in Baku, which was subsequently destroyed. In Iran there is a monastery named after the Apostle. The monastery is abandoned, but on the day of remembrance of St. Jude, pilgrims gather in the main church and a festive service is held.
The saint has been immortalized in Western culture. El Greco’s painting “The Apostle Judas Thaddeus” is dedicated to the patron of the desperate. The artist of the Spanish Renaissance depicted the saint with a halberd in his hands. In Prague there is a monument to Thaddeus, the apostle and devoted friend of Christ.
Biography of Saint Jude
Childhood and adolescence
The future apostle lived next to the Lord Jesus Christ, but did not immediately believe that He was the expected Messiah.
No special information has been preserved about the childhood years of the holy Apostle. He was born in Galilee, in the city of Nazareth and came from the royal family of King David. The Holy Apostle Jude is the son of the Righteous Joseph the Betrothed, therefore he is called the brother of the Lord, sometimes adding “according to the flesh.” The Lord Jesus Christ was born “of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary”; He has no earthly father. Although Righteous Joseph was betrothed to the Most Holy Theotokos, with whom he guarded, he is not the father in the flesh of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Saint Jude the Apostle was born in Galilee
When Righteous Joseph was betrothed to the Mother of God Mary, he was already in old age and had adult children. According to legend, when Joseph returned from Egypt to the city of Nazareth, he divided his lands among his children, allocating a portion to the Son of the Most Holy Theotokos. Joseph's children were against this, and only Jacob, Joseph's eldest son, shared his share with the Lord. Subsequently, the holy Apostle James became the primate of the Jerusalem Church and he is called the brother of the Lord.
Serving the Lord
Judas did not initially have a firm belief that Jesus is the Christ. The Apostle John testifies to this in the Gospel: “Neither His brethren believed in Him” (John 7:5). Subsequently, he became His disciple, but because of his initial lack of faith, he did not dare to call himself the brother of the Lord, but was called the brother of Jacob, Judah the son of Jacob.
After the betrayal of Judas Iscariot, this name was avoided. Therefore, Judas Jacob was nicknamed Thaddeus, which translates as “to praise,” because he praised God and carried his preaching to many countries. This name appears in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. Judas accompanied the Lord during His earthly ministry as one of the closest 12 apostles until his arrest in Gethsemane.
The saint preached the Holy Gospel in Judea and Galilee, Samaria and Idumea, and later in Arabia, Syria, Mesopotamia, reaching Edessa. Information has been preserved that the apostle wrote his conciliar epistle while staying in Persia. It contains a single chapter of 25 verses and is part of the New Testament. In it, the disciple of Christ briefly outlined the dogma about the Holy Trinity, the incarnation of God the Word, the Angels and the coming Last Judgment.
Saint Jude calls on people to keep themselves pure, to beware of heresies, to convert the lost, to pray, to remain in faith and love. Like the Apostle James, Saint Jude emphasizes the insufficiency of faith without works, since merely converting from paganism to Christianity and accepting Holy Baptism is not enough to save the soul. How can faith be manifested if not in good works? The message was supposedly written in the year 70, about 10 years before the martyrdom of the author.
Saints Simon and Jude Thaddeus
The end of the earthly journey
Saint Jude worked hard preaching the Gospel and converting the pagans to salvation, turning them away from serving idols. As a result, he arrived in Armenia, in Ararat, and helped many people change their lives, take the path of piety and faith in the Lord. However, there were people who opposed the truth and tried in every possible way to destroy it. After the local pagan ministers learned that the holy apostle was there, they decided to seize and kill him.
The prisoner was subjected to severe torture. After torture, he was crucified on a cross and pierced with sharp arrows. But no torture or torment shook the faith of the holy apostle. He witnessed the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ himself, his Passion on the Cross, and the glorious Resurrection. He talked with the Lord after His Resurrection and saw His Ascension.
Finding the relics of a saint
The place where the disciple of the Lord was buried is supposedly located in a mountainous area in the northwestern part of Iran, on the lands of a monastery that is currently not active. Only once a year, on the day of remembrance of St. Thaddeus, a service is held here, which attracts many pilgrims.
The holy relics are in the Orthodox Church of Alexander Nevsky in Prince Lake, and another part is in the Vatican, in St. Peter's Cathedral. Parts of the holy relics are kept in various Orthodox and heretical churches.
Monastery of St. Thaddeus (Kara-Kelisa)
St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican
Temple of Alexander Nevsky in Prince's Lake
Iconography
The description of Judas Thaddeus differs in Greek and Russian iconographic originals. According to Greek tradition, the saint was supposed to be depicted young and beardless. In Russian icon painting manuals of the 18th century, the description of the apostle’s appearance mentions a graying beard, a dark red robe, a blue undershirt, and an omophorion. Judas held the scroll with both hands or only with his right hand, and with his left - the book.
On ancient paintings and reliefs the saint was depicted among the twelve apostles, but without any special signs. He is dressed in a white tunic and cloak or dressed in Greek style in a tunic and himation, like the other apostles.
On monastery frescoes depicting scenes from the New Testament, Judas Thaddeus is marked with initials. The most famous images of the apostle:
- on a triptych based on the apocrypha about the gift of a canvas with an imprint of the face of Christ to King Abgar and in the apostolic deesis from the Sinai monastery of St. Catherine;
- on a painting in the monastery in Matejce (Macedonia) together with James the Righteous and Simeon;
- scene of death on the fresco of the Acts of the Apostles in the Italian church of Santa Maria di Anglona.
On some church paintings, painters depicted the saint crucified or hanging from a tree.
Images of Judas Thaddeus are found on the pages of Greek menias and manuscripts next to the date of the apostle's memory. In the drawings, he holds a scroll in his left hand and blesses with his right. In Russian menaion books, the apostle was depicted as dark-haired, with a short beard, dressed in a green chiton and red cloak, with an omophorion.
Canon to the Holy Apostle Jude, Brother of the Lord
Song a҃.
Irmos:
The horse and the rider in the dark sea, shortening the battle with a high muscle, the heart of the world, and the one who saved, singing the song of victory.
Mysterious nbⷭ҇хъ, і҆ꙋ́to all ꙋ́dre, ᲂuchenichѐ sp҃sov and҆ ҆ѻ҆́́́gṇĆ́nѧ true lives, ѧ҆ꙋmove my tongue, and ҆ word ᲂу҆пспсп¦ It is yours, all-blessed.
Attractive sp҃sov ꙗ҆ре́мъ, а҆пⷭ҇le, и҆рздꙋ̀ сѣкі́й, и҆ ѡ҆пнівлѧ́ѧаїї, сѣмѧ сѣ́ѧл є҆сѝ, и҆ ў злігніжь I brought it to him who called, most glorious.
Words embodied ѡ҆brѣ́t ᲂу҆чс teлѧ, и҆ сегѡ̀, bг҃о́дче, лꙋ we enlighten, there was є҆сѝ свѣт 2nd, е́рвагѡ сїѧ́н We agree, Ven.
Bgorodichen:
Faith is told in this way, and not said, and even more so, the Mother of God, the most incomprehensible God, gave birth to words I have been elevated to manhood.
Song of the city.
Irmos:
Planted upon the empty earth by your command, and hung upon the unbearable earth, upon the immovable, stored, stones of your commandments Your hand is firm, it is more kind and loving to you.
The rise of the treasures of these blessings exceeds all majesty: this is because it is also proper, and among others days, and pine trees, and those storytellers.
Yes, your brothers praise you, brother, and we never forget your flesh, the words of the Lord are born. The mother has risen, and the unborn parent.
Having died on earth yours, lived with the life of all the gods, become rich, and the life-giving lives of the entire universal proclamation no one was you, the living verbs of the sermon.
Bgorodichen:
You, above all others, have blessed everyone, have surpassed all qualities, have exalted everyone, and have exalted them all. There are higher powers, and they have been.
Kontakion, voice v҃.
The interlocutor, as well, with this sermon announced to us all the blessings, secret verbs and blessings To my wife. Now, for the sake of your cry: do not cease praying to all of us.
Sedalen, voice and.
Rodshshagѡsѧ ѧ ҆ ҆ bastards all and ҆zbrah, і҆ꙋ ҆ꙋ ҆ꙋ ҆ ҆ ҆ ҆ ҆ ҆ ҆ ҆ ѿ ѿ ѿ ѿ ѿ ѿ ѿ ѿ ѿ ҆ ҆ ҆ ҆ ҆ ҆ ҆ ҆ ҆ ҆ ҆ ҆ ҆ ҆ ҆ ҆ ҆ ’ In the darkness of workers' Now, for the sake of we cry out to you: pray for God, sin has been given to give your loving memory to those who love you.
Bgorodichen:
Ꙗ҆́кѡ all-incorruptible nevѣ́to creatorꙋ̀, ꙗ҆́кѡ uniskꙋsomꙋ́zhnaѧ mt҃i izdá́́vac, prїѧ́ately ꙗ҆́кѡ с ꙋ́schi ᲂу҆тѣ́шс , preach, I am lawless with the nasty slaughterhouse, and the devilish game in the form of the former, indulging in those evils. ̀ and deliver, and the bright dwelling of the virtues, complete, luminous, imperishable: wife and cloud of passions , and the heavenly communion, and the light of the evening, through your prayers.
Song of the day.
Irmos:
Your God once and exhaustively foresighted and oh, God, with trembling I cry to you: for the salvation of people, yours are anointed to save them Yours has arrived.
The great blessing of God is blessed, and beloved by the speed of the dawn and the kindness of the sight.
The blessings are full and filled with gifts, given by God, and to the saving haven of those hymn-worded instructions.
By the power of the invincible spirit of the Lord, we are the servant of the ineffable, who drives the world with the word of grace.
Bgorodichen:
Unspeakable, all-blameless, your creator and God, pray, save us and our troubles, and give good salvation to those who sing, oh dear.
Song є҃.
Irmos:
Here comes my holy robe, to you, and my call to you: for my enlightenment, gloomy, heart that's good, it's good.
He established the law, the truth, the image of light was preached by him, in the spirit of the mentor.
The words of command and fulfillment, a҆pⷭ҇le, ꙗ҆҆ы́ки allѧ̑ ᲂу҆чє́нїи by yours on the ꙋcháѧ ѡ҆btékl є҆сѝ, and ҆ц цц і ѕсх з з̀ рⷪ By human call.
Rain is coming, dew is from above, your divine thing, divine preaching, the darkness of the destruction of polytheism, and we preach .
Bgorodichen:
Restore my dead passions, Mother of God, and restore them to the true resurrection.
Song of ѕ҃.
Irmos:
The frenzy that is happening before the end of the day, because of the passions, the sea of ᲂu҆krotѝ, and the rest of the world, for the good of the world.
We see, life, light, hrⷭ҇tov a҆pⷭ҇le, sїѧ́ѧ, sꙋ́schyѧ in the depths of neveїѧ enlightened him.
Send light to all people, and the message will be fulfilled, most sacred.
The God-Seeer tells us, with the same words of glory he tells us, for the sake of the flesh. ꙋdesỳ.
Bgorodichen:
Prestңаѧ is due to the abundance of God, and to rid oneself of the earth, and passions, see the source of the passionlessness of the birth.
Kontakion, voice v҃.
We are firm and chosen disciples of you, and the pillar of the unity of the church is ours, our language preaches. He gave this word to God, to put the verb in one thing: he glorified everything, especially the gift of healing, The goals of the week flowing to you, and the apostle to all things.
Ikos:
Let us worthy praise the true pious preacher, and the sovereign champion of truth, like a Christian and a witness: the passion of God On the body, it’s very important, he’s a student of words and an all-valuable one.
Song z҃.
Irmos:
The exalted one is here, the flame is extinguished, the verses of Russia, in agreement with those who sing: bzhe, blessed be he.
God is blessed with the blessing of God, let us sing everything, agreeing with the singing: God, blessed be He.
Movable and modern language of your world and brothers with our preaching, let us all sing better, blessed are you ҆сѝ.
He gives you a new inheritance, and the Most Holy One rests on it, and says: God, blessed be he.
Bgorodichen:
Ou҆sty and in this way we preach joyfully: God gave birth to her, and we still sing: God, blessed Yes.
Song and.
Irmos:
To you all, in the cave of the Trinity, the face of the whole world is intertwined: the deeds of all, where you sing, and extol for all ages.
The wealth of the people, and the honor of kings, the blessings of them, howl, and how: all things are done where, where sing, and extol at all times.
All the dawn, blessed, blessed, come, calling, glorious: all things where you sing, and extol at all times.
Things of corruptible hatred, heavenly glories have been ordered by him, who is all-knowing, and also by the same cry: all things Wherever, wherever, sing and exalt for all eternity.
Bgorodichen:
Come, I will kindly remember, I will sing above all, I agree with the singing: everything is where you are, where you are singing, and exalting it in everything For centuries.
Song ѳ҃.
Irmos:
And the face, the face, the two faces in the womb, and the birth of the first person, the same person, the east and the mind: greater greatness Yes, we are going to do this.
Everything shines, more gloriously, brightly, the dawn of the dawn, where it shines more than the whole of nature, and in the future Ummanꙋilev: This is more majestic, that is, bggovidche, we are blessed.
With the Agggal rites, the self-witnesses and the spectators of the first-born, the flesh of the poor, are coming for us: for this reason we pray You, save our children.
Bgorodichen:
Having given birth, above all, the creatures of all parents bear the beginning, incomparably superior and exalted. Moreover, we worship and glorify your Christmas.
Luminous.
During the course of your red legs, before the apostle, returning to the procession, the nbⷭ҇omꙋ rose in joy, and finally presented himself, in You see the dream, and the spirit of your life: now, for the sake of your most holy faith, and the celebration of your memory.
Bgorodichen:
I remember terrible experiences and experiences, many of my past experiences are terrifying and terrifying: but please be generous, most kindly, with your warmth I pray, and give me salvation: if you want, you can.
What do they ask for from the patron of the desperate?
Saint Jude Thaddeus is a helper in hopeless cases. The Apostle is also considered the patron saint of Armenians.
Prayer to the apostle helps resolve the following situations:
- acquit an unjustly accused person;
- stop slanderers;
- take on a task that seems impossible;
- return hope and joy, to those in despair - to achieve justice and success;
- alleviate intractable diseases.
The saint is approached with a simple or special prayer. A special prayer is read for nine days and is called “nine day”.
Prayer text
Simple
Saint Thaddeus! You had the happiness of belonging to the family of Christ the Savior, glorious apostle and martyr. You shine with great virtues, faithful deputy of those who glorify you and trust you! You are our guardian and substitute in difficult circumstances. Therefore, I stand before you and pray from the depths of my heart:
Come to my aid with your powerful protection, for you have the grace from God to come quickly with help to those who have already lost all hope of salvation. Look at me kindly!
My life is a life of crosses, and the days of my life are a sea of suffering. The roads of my life are covered with thorns and every minute of it is a witness of tears and sighs. And to increase my misfortune, black thoughts creep into my heart. Anxiety, cowardice, lack of trust, even despair press close to the heart. Providence is closed before my eyes, and faith wavers in my heart. Such thoughts embed me in dark clouds of sadness. Don’t leave me in such a difficult state, but come with help!
I humbly ask you: Look mercifully at me and do not disdain my request. Let my trust not be betrayed! God has given you the grace to come to the aid of those who find themselves in a hopeless situation. Therefore, I also found myself in difficulty, please intercede before Christ the Savior. All my life I will express my gratitude to you and glorify your name and respect you as my special guardian. I will praise God for the mercies received through your mediation. I praise you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Nine Day
Holy Apostle Jude Thaddeus! With the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in my heart, I turn my prayer to You. You were a faithful disciple and follower of Your Brother and Teacher Jesus Christ, carried his teachings, gave help to people in great trouble and need.
You suffered martyrdom at the hands of the pagans, but you did not betray your Brother and Teacher either in thought, word, or deed, and for that you have great and eternal gratitude in human hearts.
Help me, a sinner, get out of my difficulty, turn away trouble from me, and I will thank You for Your mercy and affection with a righteous life and will remember Your name in prayers. I glorify You in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and ever. Amen.
Daily prayer to the Apostle Jude Jacob
O Saint Jude - Thaddeus, who was worthy to belong to the family of the Savior, the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph, I resort to You through the Sacred Heart of Jesus, I want to bring glory to God for the caresses bestowed upon You. Falling on my knees, I humbly ask You through the Sacred Heart of Jesus, look upon me mercifully, do not despise my humble request, so that trust may not be shaken. God has given you kindness that you come to people with help in hopeless circumstances.
Oh, come to me with help, so that I can magnify the mercy of God forever and ever. Amen.
Saint Jude is one of the 12 apostles, but he should not be confused with Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. He did not call himself the brother of the Lord in his message because he did not immediately believe in Him. Having worked hard preaching the Gospel, he suffered martyrdom.
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