Feast Day: June 19th
& June 30th, the Synaxis of the 12 Apostles
The Life of Saint Jude: Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you…
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Prayers
Apolytikion: We know thee as Christ’s kinsman and Martyr, and praise thee with sacred chants. O Apostle Jude, thou didst trample on error, and preserve the faith. As today we celebrate thy memory, through thy Prayers may our sins be forgiven.
Kontakion: You were chosen as a disciple for your firmness of mind: an unshakable pillar of the Church of Christ, you proclaimed His Word to the Gentiles, telling them to believe in One Godhead. You were glorified by Him, receiving the Grace of healing, healing the ills of all who came to you, O most praised Apostle Jude!
Kontakion: Thou hast sprung as a divine branch from a noble root, O Apostle and Brother of God, wise herald of Christ and the Lord’s eye-witness, thou hast nourished the world with thy words, and as the Lord’s initiate thou dost teach the Orthodox faith.
Troparion: Divinely we praise you, O Jude, as a faithful witness, knowing you to be the brother of Christ. You trampled on delusion, and so preserved the faith. Today as we celebrate your Holy memory, by your intercessions we receive remission of sins.
Megalynarion: Come, let us acclaim the Apostle Jude, as the Master’s kinsman and the initiate of His Truth; for he sowed the glad tidings in tears and labours, but reaped a godly harvest in joy and blessedness.
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Most Holy Apostle, Saint Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honours and invokes you universally, as the patron of difficult cases, of things almost despaired of, Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone. Intercede with God for me that He bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of Heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly [make your request here] and that I may praise God with you and all the Saints forever. I promise, O Blessed Saint Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favour granted me by God and to always honour you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you. Amen.
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Saint Judas was called by Christ to be one of the Holy 12 Apostles and closest friends of Christ, following Him and seeing His love and listening to His teachings. He has a few names in the Gospels and has been called Thaddeus, meaning he who renders praise, Lebbaeus which means ardent, and also Barsabas. Saint Judas was the son of Saint Joseph the Betrothed, and his mother’s name was Salome (her grandfather’s brother was Prophet Zacharias the father of Saint John the Baptist). Saint Judas was also brother of Saint Iakovos the Brother of the Lord, and Saint Salome the Holy Myrrh-Bearer. Saint Judas married a woman named Mariam.
Saint Judas often remembered his lack of faith in recognising Jesus as Christ because he intially did not agree with Saint Joseph’s desire to share his possessions with Christ as well as his biological children. Saint Judas therefore considered himself unworthy to be called the brother of the Lord, and referred to himself in his Epistle as the brother of James. In this way he also further confessed Christ to be the Incarnate Lord without an Earthly brother according to the flesh.
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Following Pentecost, Saint Judas travelled around preaching the Gospel of Christ and he wrote a beautiful Epistle.
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The Holy Apostle Judas was Martyred around the year 80 near Mount Ararat in Armenia. He was crucified and pierced by arrows.
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Saint Judas Pray for us! He is the Patron Saint of the hopeless and helps in impossible cases. He has been forgotten because he shares the same name as judas iscariot, and for this reason early Christians avoided Praying to him, however he epitomises the love of Christ and helps everyone who comes to him. Saint Judas knows what it’s like to be forgotten and pushed aside, and is so quick to help us all and he cares for those struggling with despondency and anxiety.
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