Saint Jude the Apostle
June 19
The biographical details of Saint Jude are somewhat confused, because they are confused with those of the Apostle Thaddeus whose memory is celebrated on August 21. On the other hand S. Efstratiadis mentions in his Agiologio that this Judas was the brother of Christ and in the flesh of the Apostle James the brother of God (Judas and James were Joseph’s children from another marriage). So Judas, according to tradition, preached the Gospel in Mesopotamia, visited Edessa and in the city of Ararat he was captured by the infidels, who executed him with a bow.
Also, S. Efstratiadis mentions that in the Lavriotic Code I 78 f. 2156 the memory of another Holy Apostle Judas the Zealot is mentioned on this day, who after the Ascension of Christ went around all the cities and villages and taught the saving message of the Risen Christ. And after bringing a multitude of people to repentance he died peacefully. And Michael Galanos in the “Lives of the Saints”, mentions about the Apostle Judas that he was one of the twelve Apostles, the son of Alphaeus and the brother of James the Younger, who was also an Apostle. Of course, it has nothing to do with Judas Iscariot. The Apostle Judas also bore the nickname Thaddeus or Levite.
His life near Christ was similar to that of the other Apostles. After Pentecost, after working for a while in the Church of Jerusalem, he preached the Gospel in Mesopotamia amidst many dangers. But Judas, a worthy Apostle of Christ, full of self-denial, was finally martyred in Edessa. In the New Testament, we also have a Catholic Epistle of Jude, which is short, but full of true life messages. Here is what he advises Christians who live in a world corrupted by sin:
“And you, beloved, believe in your holiness, building yourselves up, in the Holy Spirit, praying, keeping yourselves in the love of God, accepting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, to eternal life” (Epistle. Jude 20-21). I mean, you. Beloved, contrary to the corrupt world, build yourselves on the foundation of your holy faith with prayer, which you will make by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, keep and keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting with confidence for mercy of Christ, to achieve eternal life.