SAINT SIMON AND SAINT JUDE

Saints Simon the Zealot and Jude Thaddeus
Saints Simon the Zealot and Jude Thaddeus

By Edward Matulanya 

Here are feast day, Missionary Work and Tradition, Martyrdom and Iconography of Saints Simon the Zealot and Jude Thaddeus.

The Roman Catholic Church commemorates Saints Simon the Zealot and Jude Thaddeus on 28 October. Their names are joined in the Canon of the Mass, and their joint feast highlights the tradition that they labored in missionary work together and suffered martyrdom in the same region (Vatican News, n.d.; CatholicCulture, n.d.).

In the liturgy for that day, the first reading is from Ephesians 2:19–22, and the Gospel is Luke 6:12–16. 

Saint Simon the Zealot (Apostle)

Identity and Name

Simon is identified in the Synoptic Gospels and Acts as one of the Twelve Apostles (e.g., Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13). He is distinguished from Simon Peter by his epithet “the Zealot” (in Luke) or “the Canaanite / Cananaean” (in Matthew and Mark). These names likely reflect either his zealous character or possible association with the Jewish “Zealot” movement (EWTN, n.d.; Catholic Online, n.d.; Wikipedia, n.d.). 

Some traditions even identify him with Nathanael of Cana or associate him with the wedding at Cana, though such identifications are speculative and late. 

Missionary Work and Tradition

Because the New Testament gives no account of Simon’s later life, much of what is attributed to him comes from ecclesiastical tradition and apocryphal sources. According to Western tradition, he preached in Egypt and then traveled to Persia, where he is said to have joined Jude Thaddeus in missionary work (Catholic Online, n.d.; EWTN, n.d.; My Catholic Life, n.d.). 

In Eastern tradition, there is an alternate view that Simon died peacefully in Edessa (modern-day Şanlıurfa, in Turkey) rather than a martyr’s violent death. 

Martyrdom and Iconography

The tradition of Simon’s martyrdom is not uniform. One common account says he was sawn in half in Persia; hence, his usual attribute in Christian art is a saw. 

However, as already noted, some traditions (especially Eastern ones) propose he died peacefully, which would render the martyrdom accounts legendary rather than historically certain. 

Simon is venerated as the patron saint of saw-workers, tanners, curriers, and woodworkers in various devotional traditions, likely deriving from the tradition of his martyrdom method. 

Saint Jude Thaddeus (Apostle)

Identity and Name

Jude Thaddeus—also called Judas (not Iscariot) or Judas, son of James—is one of the Twelve Apostles (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13). The name “Thaddeus” is added to distinguish him from Judas Iscariot. 

Some traditions hold that Jude was a relative of Jesus—for instance, that his father Alphæus was brother to Joseph, and his mother Mary Cleophas was cousin to the Virgin Mary. 

Missionary Work and Writings

After Pentecost, Jude is said to have preached in Judea, Samaria, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Libya, and especially in Persia / Mesopotamia, where he is believed to have encountered Simon in missionary work (Vatican News, n.d.; CatholicNewsAgency, n.d.; My Catholic Life, n.d.). 

Jude is also traditionally credited with the authorship of the Epistle of Jude in the New Testament, in which he warns against false teachings and urges perseverance in the faith. 

Martyrdom, Patronage, and Devotion

Tradition holds that Jude died a violent martyr’s death. One common version says he was beaten with a club (and perhaps later beheaded) in Persia (or Armenia). 

Relics attributed to him are venerated in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome (often shared with Simon) and elsewhere (e.g., Rheims, Toulouse). 

Here are feast day identity, background, apostlic mission, symbolism, Legacy, biblical role, martyrdom, Veneration, Relic, and prayers of Saints Simon and Jude Apostles of Zeal and Hope.

Feast Day: October 28

On October 28, the Catholic Church honors Saint Simon the Zealot and Saint Jude Thaddeus, two of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. They are commemorated together because ancient tradition holds that they were martyred together while on missionary journeys in Persia (Butler, 1995; Catholic Encyclopedia, 1912).

Saint Simon the Zealot

Identity and Background

Saint Simon, called the Zealot (Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13) or the Cananean (Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:18), is one of the least-documented apostles in the Gospels. The epithet “Cananean” derives from the Aramaic qan’an, meaning “zealous,” and does not refer to his origin (Farmer, 2011). It suggests that Simon was either a member of the Zealot movement—a Jewish nationalist group opposing Roman rule—or that he was particularly zealous for the Jewish law and faith.

Apostolic Mission

After Pentecost, tradition states that Simon preached the Gospel in various regions, including Egypt, Cyrene, and Persia (Holweck, 1924). Some accounts say he was sawn in half, while others report he was crucified, both signs of martyrdom endured for Christ (Butler, 1995).

Symbolism and Legacy

Simon’s traditional symbol is a saw, representing his martyrdom. He is remembered for his zeal, fervent faith, and missionary courage. His example invites Christians to remain passionate in their commitment to God’s will.

Saint Jude Thaddeus

Identity and Distinction

Saint Jude, also called Thaddeus or Lebbaeus, was the son of Mary of Clopas, making him possibly a relative of the Virgin Mary and the brother of James the Less (Mark 6:3; Luke 6:16). To distinguish him from Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Christ, he is usually referred to as “Thaddeus,” meaning “heart” or “courageous” (Thurston, 1910).

Biblical Role

In the Gospel of John (14:22), Jude Thaddeus asks Jesus why He reveals Himself to His disciples but not to the world—a question expressing compassion and desire for universal salvation. Saint Jude is also the author of the Epistle of Jude, a brief New Testament letter exhorting believers to persevere in faith and resist false teachers (Raymond Brown, 1997).

Mission and Martyrdom

Tradition holds that Jude evangelized in Judea, Samaria, Mesopotamia, and Persia, where he joined Simon the Zealot. Both apostles were martyred in Persia, around A.D. 65–70 (Holweck, 1924). Jude is said to have been beaten to death with a club, which has become one of his symbols.

Patron of Hopeless Causes

Saint Jude became known as the patron saint of hopeless or desperate cases. This devotion arose in the Middle Ages, partly because his name, “Judas,” was similar to that of Judas Iscariot—causing him to be rarely invoked. Devotees began to pray to him only when all other saints had been invoked without success, leading to his reputation for assisting in desperate situations (Thurston, 1910; Farmer, 2011).

His emblem often includes a flame (symbolizing the Holy Spirit at Pentecost) and an image of Jesus on his chest, representing his role as a bearer of Christ’s likeness.

Veneration and Relics

Both Saints Simon and Jude are venerated together, with their relics enshrined in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, beneath the altar of St. Joseph (Butler, 1995). Shrines dedicated to St. Jude exist worldwide, including:

The National Shrine of St. Jude in Chicago, USA

The Shrine of St. Jude in Faversham, England

The Sanctuary of St. Jude Thaddeus in San Lorenzo, Rome

Their joint feast emphasizes unity in apostolic mission and martyrdom.

Feast and Liturgical Observance

Date: October 28

Liturgical Color: Red (signifying martyrdom and the fire of the Holy Spirit)

Purpose: To honor their zeal, courage, and unwavering faith in proclaiming Christ’s Gospel.

Summary Table

Saint Also Known As Missionary Regions Martyrdom Symbol Patronage

Simon the Zealot Simon the Cananean Egypt, Persia Sawn in half / crucified Saw Zeal, perseverance

Jude Thaddeus Judas Thaddeus, Lebbaeus Mesopotamia, Persia Clubbed to death Club, flame Hopeless causes

Selected Prayers

Prayer to Saint Jude Thaddeus.

> “Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus,

The Church honors and invokes you universally as the patron of hopeless cases,

of things almost despaired of. Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone.

Make use, I implore you, of that particular privilege accorded to you,

to 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 [mention intention], and that I may praise God with you and all the saints forever.

Amen.”

References

Brown, R. E. (1997). An Introduction to the New Testament. Yale University Press.

Butler, A. (1995). Butler’s Lives of the Saints: New Full Edition (Vol. 4). HarperCollins.

Catholic Encyclopedia. (1912). St. Simon and St. Jude. Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved from https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/

Farmer, D. H. (2011). The Oxford Dictionary of Saints (5th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Holweck, F. G. (1924). A Biographical Dictionary of the Saints. B. Herder Book Co.

Thurston, H. (1910). The Lives of the Saints: October. Burns & Oates.

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