St. Simon & St. Jude
THE FEAST OF ST. SIMON & ST. JUDE
The feast of SS. Simon and Jude has been observed at least since the days of St. Jerome, where it appears in his lectionary - which means it was already being observed in some parts of the church prior to that. Simon and Jude are honored with their own feast days in May and June in the Eastern Church, but in the Western Calendar, they are honored together as brother Martyrs. One of the reasons these two saints are honored together in our Calendar is that they were brothers, both sons of Cleophas and Mary Cleophas, and thus the nephews of St. Joseph, with Mary Cleophas being the Virgin Mary’s Sister-in-Law, her husband Cleophas was Joseph's natural brother. Thus, Simeon and Jude were brothers of James of Jerusalem and, therefore, cousins or “brethren” of our Lord as we read about the Gospels. This is all explained in Exposition of the Sayings of the Lord of the Apostolic Father Papias of Hierapolis, who lived from 70-163 AD, by St. Jerome (On the Perpetual Virginity) and by ancient church historian Eusebius of Caesarea.
Of St. Simon or Simeon, John Henry Blunt mentions that some early Greek writers claim that he visited Britain and was martyred there by crucifixion, probably at the hands of the Romans. According to Eusebius, St. Simon was the second Bishop of Jerusalem after the martyrdom of his brother James. Other accounts have him ministering in Persia and being sawn in half by Pagan Magi with his brother St. Jude, who was also the author of the short Epistle in the New Testament, also being martyred. Either way, both were martyrs of Jesus Christ, and their relics were translated shortly after to St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, where the remains of SS Simon and Jude now rest in the same tomb, intentionally right next to their uncle St. Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus Christ. Thus, we wear red vestments today in honor of the blood of Martyrs and the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives as Apostles and Bishops.
We observe multiple festivals of the saints during the Christian year. As the Christian Calendar developed, the first feasts came from the Jewish Calendar - Pascha or Easter, Pentecost, and then Ascension Day was based upon these. Then were observed feasts of the Lord’s Incarnation, developing around the Annunciation on March 25 and then, of course, Christmas 9-months later on December 25. But, incredibly early on in the church were the widespread commemorations and festivals of the martyrs - the remains or relics of the martyred were tended to, revered, and treated with the utmost measure of honor. We must remember that many of the earliest churches were found in catacombs. The church worshiped amongst her dead, and altars were literally built over the remains of their brothers and sisters who gave their lives, even to the point of death, to imitate Christ Jesus, who gave himself for the life of the world. Their feasts were generally kept on the date of their martyrdom (heavenly birthday).
We must note that this was not only an early Christian practice either, but grew naturally out of Judaism. We read in the account 2 Maccabees Chap. 7, perhaps the first martyrology of seven sons terribly martyred in front of their mother for following the Lord’s covenant and not bowing down to the false gods and rulers of the Greeks - these martyrs are likewise commemorated by St. Paul in his “Cloud of Witnesses'' in the Epistle to the Hebrews. Also, in the 12th chapter of 2 Maccabees, the remains of fallen Jewish soldiers were carefully tended to, prayed for, and gathered to be laid amongst the ancestral graves. Likewise, King David’s tomb was a place of pilgrimage and was known during the Apostles’ times in Acts 2:29. Thus, this is the practice of the early church. This is also one of the corporal works of mercy and why we have rules, liturgical services, and customs in the Prayer Book for the Burial of the Dead.
The Holy Gospel today, for the feast of SS. Simon and Jude come from John 15. Jesus contends for his people to follow him, even in opposition and trial: “If the world hates you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” The world hated SS. Simon and Jude, the world hated SS. Peter and Paul, the world hated S. John the Baptist...the world hated Jesus. The world put them to death, the world persecuted what was holy, and tried to extinguish the “Marvelous Light” that God had brought into the world in Christ Jesus. But Jesus has overcome the world. He has overcome death, and he has conquered hell. The old age will one day completely pass away because a new Kingdom has been inaugurated in the midst of this present evil age. Therefore, let us keep the faith, let us not be given over to a spirit of fear, and let us crucify the flesh and live in the reality of the work of Christ. SS. Simon and Jude are witnesses of Jesus - let us look to them in our missionary endeavors. They followed Christ to the end of their lives and have been given a martyr's crown in return and will experience the bliss of the resurrection - eternal life.
Their ministry, the Apostolic ministry, through the work of the Godhead, is what makes our epistle lessons true - it is by their ministry in Christ Jesus that we are “no longer strangers and foreigners” outside of God’s covenant and family. As St. Paul wrote to the Ephesians: “NOW, therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone.” Praise be to God! As we remember them at the altar this day, remember that we are participating in this Holy Communion with them. “Therefore with angels and archangels, and all the company of heaven…” Likewise, let us “follow their good examples that with them we may be partakers of God’s heavenly kingdom.” And let us be ever grateful that their Apostolic ministry has led us into the household of God. Amen.
