The Twelve Apostles of the New Jerusalem – Thaddeus

by Rev. Michaël Merle

Thaddeus, also known as Jude, is quite obscure. It seems that he has a relationship with Simon the Zealot. Simon is referred to by St Jerome as Simon the Canaanean. This relationship to Canaan suggests that he was present at the marriage in Cana when Jesus preformed his first sign. Simon and Jude are referred to as brothers of the Lord. Is this brotherhood because both Simon and Jude are of the Royal family of Bethlehem and therefore blood brothers of Jesus, or cousins? Or is the brotherhood a spiritual brotherhood? Is it related to them being present at the baptism and accompanying Jesus to Cana for the Wedding Feast and remaining as part of the company of Jesus to the end? This also places Matthias into the same company. Matthias is connected with the mission that Judas Iscariot fails to complete and Matthias is elected an apostle after Judas kills himself. The criteria for selection to be confirmed by the Holy Spirit was that the twelfth apostle be chosen from among those who had been with Jesus “from the beginning” and was still connected now after the Ascension. These three men understood the event at the Wedding Feast of the forces of the sun that turns the water in the vine to wine. They recognised the forces of the Sun in the man Jesus and thereby the Being of the Son become flesh.

Jude wrote an Epistle that forms part of the cannon of the New Testament – The Letter of Judas (Jude). In this Epistle Jude describes himself as the brother of James (son of Alphaeus). There is therefore also a relationship that could see James, Jude and Simon as a triad. They could have belonged to a spiritual community known as sons of Alphaeus.
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Thaddeus is connected with chrysoprase (literally golden leak). Chrysoprase is connected with Gemini. Jude refers to himself as a brother hence the connection to the sign of brothers (twins). The soul quality connected with Gemini is perseverance which must be transformed to the spiritual quality of faithfulness. Jude has been long associated with assisting and aiding what appears to be a hopeless cause. He thus represents the hope in Christ that is never exhausted, even when it may so appear to us.

Chrysoprase

The attributed Coat of Arm for Thaddeus Jude