Jude the Apostle
Jude (Greek: Ἰούδας Ἰακώβου translit. Ioúdas Iakóbou; Syriac/Aramaic: ܝܗܘܕܐ translit. Yahwada) was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament. He is generally identified as Thaddeus (Greek: Θαδδαῖος; Armenian: Թադեոս; Coptic: ⲑⲁⲇⲇⲉⲟⲥ) and is also variously called Judas Thaddaeus, Jude Thaddaeus, Jude of James, or Lebbaeus. He is sometimes identified with Jude, the brother of Jesus, but is clearly distinguished from Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus prior to his crucifixion. Catholic writer Michal Hunt suggests that Judas Thaddaeus became known as Jude after early translators of the New Testament from Greek into English sought to distinguish him from Judas Iscariot and subsequently abbreviated his forename. Most versions of the New Testament in languages other than English and French refer to Judas and Jude by the same name.
Saint Jude the Apostle | |
|---|---|
The Apostle Judas Thaddeus by Anthony van Dyck | |
| Apostle and Martyr | |
| Born | 1st century AD Galilee, Judea |
| Died | c. AD 65 |
| Venerated in | All Christian denominations that venerate saints |
| Canonized | Pre-Congregation |
| Major shrine | St. Thaddeus Armenian Monastery, northern Iran; St. Peter's Basilica, Rome; Reims, Toulouse, France |
| Feast | 28 October (Western Christianity) 19 June and 30 June, (Eastern Christianity) |
| Attributes | Axe, club, canon, medallion |
| Patronage | Armenia; lost causes; desperate situations; hospitals; St. Petersburg, Florida; Cotta; the Chicago Police Department; Clube de Regatas do Flamengo (in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil); places in the Philippines (Lucena in Quezon, Sibalom in Antique, and Trece Martires in Cavite); and Sinajana (in Guam) |
The Armenian Apostolic Church honors Thaddeus along with Saint Bartholomew as its patron saints. In the Catholic Church, he is the patron saint of desperate cases and lost causes.
Jude is commonly depicted with a club. He is also often shown in icons with a flame around his head. This represents his presence at Pentecost, when he received the Holy Spirit with the other apostles. Another common attribute is Jude holding an image of Jesus, known as the Image of Edessa. In some instances, he may be shown with a scroll or a book (the Epistle of Jude) or holding a carpenter's rule.