Ss. Simon and Jude

Brothers, Apostles, Martyrs

Remembered together, Simon and Jude, are commemorated as apostles, saints, fellow workers for the Gospel, and martyrs. Simon (not to be confused with Simon who is called Peter) and Jude (not Judas who betrayed Jesus) both receive a handful of names and descriptors, which can make it a bit difficult to understand who they are and what they did.

To help clear things up, Simon is referred to as the Zealot, a member of the subset of Pharisees who sought to bring about religious change through forced observance of monastic practices. Like Simon Peter, this Simon was also an apostle; however, they are two different apostles! Simon the Zealot followed Jesus along with the other apostles during Jesus’ ministry and then continued to preach the Gospel in Egypt before traveling to Persia to join Jude.

Jude or “Judas of James” or “Thaddeus” is the brother of James and Simon. Thaddeus means “one who lays hold of the prince” or possibly “courageous” or “courageous heart.” Jacobus de Voragine explains this appellation poetically, saying that “Thaddeus was a royal garment of God by the ornament of his virtues, and by this garment, he laid hold of Christ.” Practically, the name reflects the distinction between him and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed our Lord.

Jude is also traditionally the author of the New Testament epistle that bears his name. In it, he warns against those who would forsake Jesus and pervert the apostles’ teachings into their own passions, “relying on their dreams, defil[ing] the flesh, reject[ing] authority, and blasphem[ing] the glorious ones.” Instead of these errors, he encourages Christians to persevere in the faith, concluding with the beautiful doxology:

“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”

Simon and Jude rejoiced to see the day that their work would be complete through their martyrdom. Both were put to death in Persia, where they worked to bring the good news of Jesus Christ, on the same day as brothers, laborers, and co-heirs with Christ. It is thought that Jude died by the ax while Simon was sawed in half. Like the other apostles, the two are often depicted with the instrument by which they died.

History

While the two are only mentioned in brief in the Gospels and Jude’s letter is only one chapter, writings about their missionary work and martyrdom were preserved in Ecclesiastical History, the 4th-century Christian history by Eusebius, and On the Acts of the Apostles. Portions of those stories are corroborated in Isidore’s On the Death of the Apostles and Usuard’s Martyrology. Jacobus de Voragine describes these and other sources in The Golden Legend.

One legend that he includes is the famous one of St. Jude’s interaction with King Adgar. Supposedly, this king had received a linen cloth upon which the glory of Jesus’ countenance had cast an image of his face. Later, St. Thomas sent St. Jude to this same king, who also suffered from leprosy. But when Jude came to him with a letter from Jesus, King Adgar pressed it against his face and he was healed.

These histories tell a number of different stories about Simon and Jude’s work. Some include triumphing over magicians with evil intent and commanding serpents, and others are about saving children destined to death by wicked parents. Each extols Jesus through his disciples who “bring the dead back to life, not to bring death upon the living” and “absolve the innocent, not bring ruin on the guilty.”

As for all the Jesus’ faithful saints, we give thanks and pray to be imitators for their virtues and faith. Christians should also consider reading Jude’s epistle. (It even makes mention of recently celebrated St. Michael!) It is short enough to read around the dinner table before eating the various treats you might be consuming at the end of October in connection with the many Church and secular holidays celebrated during this time.

Due to the October 28th feast day’s proximity to All Saints’ Day and All Hollow’s Eve (now popularly known as Halloween), it has been confused and fused in some ways with the observances for these days instead. This long association has produced the traditional Scottish and English “Soul Cake” eaten in honor of Ss. Simon and Jude.

Another food in honor of this day is anything inspired by a saw or ax in light of Ss. Simon and Jude’s weapons of death—weapons that ironically also frequently make an appearance for All Hallows’ Eve celebrations.

Collect

O Almighty God, who hast built Thy church upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the head Cornerstone: grant us to be joined together in unity of spirit by their doctrine, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable unto Thee; through the same, Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost: ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Lessons

Resources

References:
1. Voragine, Jacobus de. The Golden Legend: Reading on the Saints. Vol. 2. Translated by William Granger Ryan. Princeton Press. 1993.
2. Pfatteicher, Philip H. Festivals and Commemorations. Fortress Press. 2008.
3. Weedon, William. Celebrating the Saints. Concordia Publishing House. 2016.

Images:
1. Saint Simon, from The Martyrdom of the Twelve Apostles, Lucas Cranach the Elder, Germany, c. 1512.
2. Jude, from The Martyrdom of the Twelve Apostles, Lucas Cranach the Elder, Germany, c. 1512.
3. The Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci, Italy, 1498.