Apostle · 1st century
Jude
Apostle Jude, the Brother of the Lord
New Calendar June 19 Old Calendar July 2
Why they are a saint
Jude was one of the Twelve, also called Thaddaeus; author of the Epistle of Jude. Tradition: preached in Mesopotamia and Persia. The years given for this life are 1st century. The Church commemorates him with the apostolic company that first carried the Gospel.
Life
Saint Jude, one of the Twelve Apostles, was a son of Righteous Joseph the Betrothed by his first wife. At first, as the Gospel says, the Lord's brothers did not believe in Him; later Jude believed in Christ as the Messiah and followed Him. Considering himself unworthy to be called the Lord's brother, he calls himself in his Epistle only 'the brother of James'. Matthew calls him 'Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddeus'.
After the Ascension he preached in Judea, Galilee, Samaria and Idumea, and later in Arabia, Syria and other lands. Tradition says he wrote his catholic Epistle in Persia. He died as a martyr around the year 80 near Mount Ararat in Armenia, where he was crucified and pierced with arrows.
Sources: OCA Lives of the Saints. Retold in our own words.
Traditional patronage
The cited source names no specific patronage.
Patronage / why chosen as patron
Orthodox Christians usually take Jude as a patron when they bear the name Jude at baptism, or were born or baptized near the feast on June 19. Those who share his calling as a missionary also ask his prayers.
Prayer
O holy Jude, pray to God for us.
A short general prayer to a saint, not a liturgical text. No public-domain troparion for this saint is included.