Did you know there are unicorns in the Bible? A friend of mine recently wrote an article about the mythical unicorn, which included a list of biblical references.
There are two common jokes about why unicorns may no longer exist. The first is the unicorns did not get on Noah’s ark in time and the second that they did get on the ark, but they were both males. Incidentally, unicorns are traditionally believed to be male and none of the myths, legends or bestiaries shed light on how they reproduce. The only claim about their nature is they are solitary creatures and can live for hundreds of years. So, unicorns may not have been on Noah’s Ark, however, they are mentioned in the Bible. The Hebrew Bible mentions an animal called the re’em, an untamable animal of great strength and agility, with a horn. Unfortunately, it is generally believed the description was based upon the seals belonging to the Indus Valley Civilisation, which are now thought to be aurochs. Nonetheless, the King James Version of the Bible, first published in 1611, translates the word re’em as “unicorn”. There are eight references to unicorns in the Old Testament. They are as follows:
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I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity, By invocation of the same, The Three in One and One in Three. I bind this day to me for ever. By power of faith, Christ’s incarnation; His baptism in the Jordan river; His death on Cross for my salvation; His bursting from the spicèd tomb; His riding up the heavenly way; His coming at the day of doom; I bind unto myself today. I bind unto myself the power Of the great love of the cherubim; The sweet ‘well done’ in judgment hour, The service of the seraphim, Confessors’ faith, Apostles’ word, The Patriarchs’ prayers, the Prophets’ scrolls, All good deeds done unto the Lord, And purity of virgin souls. I bind unto myself today The virtues of the starlit heaven, The glorious sun’s life-giving ray, The whiteness of the moon at even, The flashing of the lightning free, The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks, The stable earth, the deep salt sea, Around the old eternal rocks. I bind unto myself today The power of God to hold and lead, His eye to watch, His might to stay, His ear to hearken to my need. The wisdom of my God to teach, His hand to guide, His shield to ward, The word of God to give me speech, His heavenly host to be my guard. Against the demon snares of sin, The vice that gives temptation force, The natural lusts that war within, The hostile men that mar my course; Or few or many, far or nigh, In every place and in all hours, Against their fierce hostility, I bind to me these holy powers. Against all Satan’s spells and wiles, Against false words of heresy, Against the knowledge that defiles, Against the heart’s idolatry, Against the wizard’s evil craft, Against the death wound and the burning, The choking wave and the poisoned shaft, Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning. Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me. Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger. I bind unto myself the Name, The strong Name of the Trinity; By invocation of the same. The Three in One, and One in Three, Of Whom all nature hath creation, Eternal Father, Spirit, Word: Praise to the Lord of my salvation, Salvation is of Christ the Lord. --- Abbreviated Version I arise today with: The strength of heaven, The light of the sun, The radiance of the moon, The splendour of fire, The speed of lightning, The swiftness of wind, The depth of the sea, The firmness of rock. I arise today with: God’s strength to lead me, God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me, God’s eye to watch over me, God’s ear to hear me, God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me, God’s shield to protect me. Christ be with me, Christ be before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie, Christ when I sit. Christ be in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me and Christ in every ear that hears me. Dear All,
Christ is Risen! The tomb is empty! Unfortunately, so is our church. It has been a strange period of Lent, mostly confined to our homes and it is sad we could not worship together this morning. Although, now thinking about it, I would not have been there anyway as I had planned to go to Spring Harvest. I hope you have been able to celebrate Easter in some form, whether it be watching a service online or on television, or finding time for personal prayer. You will be pleased to know I successfully completed my Lenten challenges. As you know from previous letters, I chose to give up chocolate, which was difficult but I coped. I have not yet been able to gorge myself on this delicacy as the Easter Bunny failed to deliver to my house, but I am sure I will be enjoying some chocolate soon. As well as giving something up, I decided to work hard at and become better at something. I chose to focus on learning German, which I have been trying to do for the past few years. I have an app on my phone called Duolingo that has hundreds of lessons from which you earn points. When I began, I was in what the app calls the Ruby League. Each week, the top ten players in the league are promoted to the next league and I made it my goal to get to the final league by Easter Day. So, for the past six weeks, I have painstakingly used Duolingo for a couple of hours each day, moving up through the leagues: emerald, amethyst, pearl and obsidian; until I final reached the Diamond League. Jetzt kann ich Deutsch sprechen! Now, I plan to think of a new challenge to see me through the Easter period. I look forward to seeing you all soon. Take care. Stay safe. God bless. Martin
God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen Judas Iscariot, the most infamous of the Twelve Disciples, betrayed Jesus to the Sanhedrin in the Garden of Gethsemane, which led to Jesus’ death and crucifixion. Due to this notorious role, Judas is a controversial figure in the Bible. One the one hand, he betrayed Jesus, and on the other, he set in motion the events that led to the resurrection, which was necessary to bring salvation to humanity.
The name Judas was a Greek version of the Hebrew name Judah and, therefore, was popular in Biblical times. We have already looked at the disciple Jude, who was also known as Judas Thaddeus. To distinguish between the two disciples, the Gospel writers used Epithets, such as “Judas, son of James” for Jude and “Iscariot” for Judas. It is not completely certain what “Iscariot” meant, however, some scholars have linked it to a Hebrew phrase meaning "the man from Kerioth.” Other suggestions for the meaning of “Iscariot” are “liar”, “red colour”, and “to deliver”. There is also the theory Judas was connected with the Sicarii group who carried daggers under their cloaks, however, there is no evidence they were around during Judas’ lifetime. “Kerioth Hezron (that is, Hazor)” (Joshua 15:25) was a town in the south of Judea. Judas may have been born there but there is no direct reference to this in the Bible. All we know about Judas’ life before he met Jesus is his father’s name. “Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.” (John 6:71) Judas Iscariot features in all four Gospels, although not always named. In Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus sent out the Twelve in pairs to preach and gave them authority over impure spirits. Other than the twelve, most of Jesus’ disciples had been unable to accept his teachings, which is why they are not named in the Bible. In the Gospel of John, Jesus emphasised that he had chosen the Twelve deliberately, because he knew he could rely on them, however, he also shocked them by saying, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” (John 6:70) The “devil” we know refers to Judas Iscariot. Despite Jesus knowing Judas would eventually betray him, he promised all the disciples, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Matthew 19:28) This suggests Judas had been chosen specifically for the role he would play in the crucifixion and resurrection and would not be punished by God. Judas’ act of betrayal is portrayed from different angles in each Gospel. In Matthew, we are told that Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” (Matthew 26:15) The priests gave Judas thirty pieces of silver. The Gospel of Mark also says the chief priests promised to give Judas money for handing over Jesus, however, Mark does not indicate how much. After the Last Supper, Judas found the opportunity to hand Jesus to the chief priests. Whilst Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas arrived with a large, armed crowd and said, “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” (Matthew 26:48) The Gospel of Luke provides a similar account to Matthew and Mark, however, Luke includes a further detail. Luke suggests Judas did not go to see the chief priests of his own free will but says, “Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.” (Luke 22:3) The Gospel of John is the only Gospel that does not state Judas betrayed Jesus in return for money. Nonetheless, it is implied Judas was greedy and a thief, therefore, it is likely Judas would have asked the priests for something in return for delivering Jesus to them. “He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.” (John 12:6) John also directly indicates that Judas would be the one to betray Jesus. In the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus tells his disciples at the Last Supper that one of them would betray him. In the Gospel of John, however, he makes it more obvious whom this disciple is by saying, “‘It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.’ Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.” (John 13:26-27) Jesus then told Judas to go and do what he had to do quickly, however, the other disciples were unaware of what this meant. “Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor.” (John 13:29) Judas’ betrayal is unusual in that it gets mentioned in all four Gospels. The other eleven disciples are either involved with events recorded in a couple of the Gospels, or they are barely mentioned at all. The New Testament scholar Bart D. Ehrman (b.1955) states this is evidence that Judas’ actions truly happened. Whilst Christians believe everything in the Gospels are fact, it is strange not every Gospel writer thought certain events were worth writing about. It is generally believed Judas was overcome by remorse after the arrest of Jesus and committed suicide. The Gospel of Matthew records Judas tried to return the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests, saying, “I have sinned, for I have betrayed innocent blood.” (Matthew 27:3) The chief priests, would not accept the coins, “So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.” (Matthew 27:5) The chief priests could not accept the money back because it was “blood money.” Therefore, they used the money to buy a plot of land where foreigners (non-Jews) could be buried. “That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day.” (Matthew 27:8) This supposedly fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.” (Matthew 27:9-10) Yet, there is no such prophecy in the Book of Jeremiah, however, there is in Zechariah. The Book of Acts, on the other hand, claims Judas bought the field with the money. “With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.” (Acts 1:18-19) In this verse, there is no suggestion that Judas was remorseful and his death could have been an accident rather than suicide. The two differing accounts of Judas’ death have caused consternation amongst scholars. St. Augustine of Hippo suggested the account in Acts was a continuation of Matthew. The field bought by the chief priests with Judas’ money may have been the same field in which Judas hanged himself. The rope may have eventually broken, causing his body to burst open on impact with the ground. Other writers have suggested the version in Acts was metaphorical rather than factual; "falling prostrate" was Judas in anguish and the "bursting out of the bowels" is pouring out emotion. A couple of Apocryphal books add more to the account of Judas’ death. The Gospel of Nicodemus, written in the 4th century AD, relates that Judas went home to his wife and told her he was going to kill himself because he knew Jesus would punish him after the resurrection. His wife laughed and said Jesus is as unlikely to rise from the dead than the chicken carcass she was preparing for dinner. At that very moment, the chicken was restored to life. The Gospel of Judas, on the other hand, reveals Judas’ worries that the other disciples would persecute him, so he preferred to commit suicide than face that fate. Just as the term “Doubting Thomas” has entered common language, the name “Judas” has come to mean “betrayer” or “traitor”. In Spain, Judas is usually depicted with red hair, which during the renaissance era was regarded as a negative trait. As a result, red hair, alongside greed, became a way of portraying Jewish people in literature. In traditional art, Judas is often portrayed with a dark-coloured halo, which contrasts with the lighter colour of the other disciples. Unlike the other disciples, Judas was not made a saint. Saint Matthias quickly filled his place among the twelve disciples. Nevertheless, Judas will not be forgotten. His betrayal is remembered annually in churches across the world. Judas has also become a fascination with authors and playwrights. Just for fun, here are a few books, films and plays you may enjoy involving the Apostle Judas Iscariot:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love with all my soul. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen --- Lord God: you alone are holy, you who work wonders! You are strong, you are great, you are the Most High, you are the almighty King, you, holy Father, King of heaven and earth. Lord God: you are Three and you are One, you are goodness, all goodness, you are the highest Good, Lord God, living and true. You are love and charity, you are wisdom, you are humility, you are patience, you are beauty, you are sweetness, you are safety, you are rest, you are joy, you are our hope and our delight, you are justice, you are moderation you are all our wealth and riches overflowing. You are beauty, you are gentleness, you are our shelter, our guard and our defender, you are strength, you are refreshment, you are our hope. you are our faith. you are our love, you are our complete consolation, you are our life everlasting, great and wonderful Lord, all-powerful God, merciful Saviour. Amen. --- Lord, help me to live this day, quietly, easily; to lean on your great strength, trustfully, respectfully; to wait for the unfolding of your will, patiently, serenely; to meet others, peacefully, joyfully; to face tomorrow, confidently, courageously. Amen. --- The Lord bless you and keep you. May He show His face to you and have mercy. May He turn His countenance to you and give you peace. The Lord bless you. Found in Progress, the monthly magazine of the Congregational church, Romford, 1949 Once upon a time three men were having a discussion on their respective professions. The Doctor claimed that his was the oldest and therefore most honourable, pointing out in support that according to the first chapter of Genesis woman was made from the rib of a man - that he claimed was a surgical operation. "Ah," says the Architect, "a little earlier it says the earth was made from chaos and only an architect could do that." whereupon the Politician looked at the other two and said, "Who do you think is responsible for the chaos?"
I don't know that this story has much, if anything, to do with what follows, but the other Sunday listening to the reading about the prophets of old and also studying the thing a bit further, it made me wonder what really constituted a prophet and whether there are any today. Obviously they were men of great determination and strong wills and in some quarters most unpopular. I suppose they were something of the mystic - that is the good ones - although in Elijah's day the false prophets seem to have had as good a time as reals ones a hard one. Is there a modern equivalent? We know there are plenty of false ones, masquerading as politician, big business men, trade union organisers and others who promise the earth and a good time and who, when they see things going wrong, haven't the courage to tell the truth because of loss of prestige, or votes or "honours". A few people so give warnings from time to time but none of them seem to be inspired by God. And yet if one did arise I suppose the modern generation would say he was an eccentric old fool and nobody should take any notice of him! But just a minute. Have I got the wrong concept of a modern day prophet? It's just occurred to me. I suppose in a way out ministers are prophets, at any rate all those who believe they are called by God Himself to preach His word. Now, if one were to rise today would he be an Elijah and call down the fire from Heaven or would he be a Jeremiah? I rather think the latter, but we could so with a former! That's one of the interesting things about the Bible - it's astonishing how many of the things that happened in the Old Testament time are being repeated today in modern form. Call the League of Nations or U.N.O the Tower of Babel and we shouldn't be so far out. Yet if it happened and we were not there would we believe it? This may sound a but pessimistic but despite what I've written above I have a firm conviction that the day is not far distant when there will be some God-fearing man who by his strength of character will lead the world out of its present chaos. T.J.D Various prayers in connection with COVID-19 have been coping up all over the internet. I have compiled a few together for easy of access. I hope you find them useful. Prayers from the URC‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.’ Psalm 46:1, NRSV As so much is re-shaped by Coronavirus Covid 19, let us pray with people left unwell, beckoned by death or bereaved;
we praise you, and through times of peril we lean into you, for in Jesus Christ you have trodden paths as difficult as ours, revealing there a love that nothing defeats, a love that bears us through. Even as we strive to behave responsibly, and to care reliably, so we feel after you that in these uncertain times we might trust you are with us, our refuge and strength, and our faith, hope and love might be renewed, through Jesus Christ, Amen For all that is good in life, thank you, For the love of family and friends, thank you, For the kindness of good neighbour and Samaritan stranger, thank you. May those who are vulnerable, hungry or homeless, experience support, May those who are sick, know healing, May those who are anxious or bereaved, sense comfort. Bless and guide political leaders and decision-makers, with wisdom, Bless and guide health workers and key workers, with strength and well-being, Bless and guide each one of us, as we adapt to a new way of living. And may the light shining from our windows, across road and wynd, glen and ben, kyle and isle, be reflected in our hearts and hands and hopes. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen Prayers from the Church of EnglandGod of compassion, be close to those who are ill, afraid or in isolation. In their loneliness, be their consolation; in their anxiety, be their hope; in their darkness, be their light; through him who suffered alone on the cross, but reigns with you in glory, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Gracious God, give skill, sympathy and resilience to all who are caring for the sick, and your wisdom to those searching for a cure. Strengthen them with your Spirit, that through their work many will be restored to health; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen We are not people of fear: we are people of courage. We are not people who protect our own safety: we are people who protect our neighbours’ safety. We are not people of greed: we are people of generosity. We are your people God, giving and loving, wherever we are, whatever it costs For as long as it takes wherever you call us. Barbara Glasson, President of the Methodist Conference Let us pray to God, who alone makes us dwell in safety: For all who are affected by coronavirus, through illness or isolation or anxiety, that they may find relief and recovery: Lord, hear us, Lord, graciously hear us. For those who are guiding our nation at this time, and shaping national policies, that they may make wise decisions: Lord, hear us, Lord, graciously hear us. For doctors, nurses and medical researchers, that through their skill and insights many will be restored to health: Lord, hear us, Lord, graciously hear us. For the vulnerable and the fearful, for the gravely ill and the dying, that they may know your comfort and peace: Lord, hear us, Lord, graciously hear us. We commend ourselves, and all for whom we pray, to the mercy and protection of God. Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. Prayers from the Methodist ChurchGod of all hope we call on you today. We pray for those who are living in fear: Fear of illness, fear for loved ones, fear of other’s reactions to them. May your Spirit give us a sense of calmness and peace. We pray for your church in this time of uncertainty. For those people who are worried about attending worship. For those needing to make decisions in order to care for other For those who will feel more isolated by not being able to attend. Grant us your wisdom. Holy God, we remember that you have promised that Nothing will separate us from your love – demonstrated to us in Jesus Christ. Help us turn our eyes, hearts and minds to you. Amen Loving God, If we are ill, strengthen us. If we are tired, fortify our spirits. If we are anxious, help us to consider the lillies of the field and the birds of the air. Help us not to stockpile treasures from supermarkets in the barns of our larders. Don't let fear cause us to overlook the needs of others more vulnerable than ourselves. Fix our eyes on your story and our hearts on your grace. Help us always to hold fast to the good, See the good in others, And remember there is just one world, one hope, One everlasting love, with baskets of bread for everyone. In Jesus we make our prayer, The one who suffered, died and was raised to new life, In whom we trust these days and all days, Amen The Revd Barbara Glasson, President of the Methodist Conference Prayers from CrosswalkFather,
Worry and fear are not of Your heart. 1 John 4 reminds us that perfect love casts out all fear, and we pray Your perfect love upon the hearts of all those who are burdened with the fear of this virus. Lord, we know with no doubt that You are bigger than the threat of anything, especially illnesses. Please comfort those who are living in fear, please free them from the bondage that anxiety creates within. Remind them that You are still on the Throne and that You are still in control. Fully rain down the serenity that comes only from the Prince of Peace. Help those who are living in unease to trust You in this time so that in times to come we may rest assured that You will be faithful to be with us until the end of the age. We rest at the Throne of the Almighty such fears and cast them upon You (1 Peter 5:7), for Your burden is Light and Your Yoke is easy (Matthew 11:30), we know You cover us with Your wings (Psalm 91:4). In Jesus’ name, Amen Father, We come to pray for those who are caring for the sick. It takes a kind and selfless heart to care for those who are sick, and so Father we pray for them. We pray that You would be their source of rest, their source of replenishment when weary, and their source of hope in such overwhelming times. Lord we know in Luke 6:38 that whosoever pours out shall be given back in proportion, so we pray blessings upon these caregivers. We also pray for their health that they may not fall ill. Father protect them with a hedge of protection against the germs of coronavirus and help those who are giving to be protected as they nurse others back to health. Bless them, oh Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen Found in Progress, the monthly magazine of the Congregational church, Romford, 1949 FOR MEN ONLY (STAND AT EASE) FALL IN - love with some good and domesticated young lady.
ATTENTION - pay to her faithfully and respectfully. RIGHT FACE - in popping the question like a man. QUICK MARCH - to her parents and ask their consent. FILE RIGHT - with her to Church and go through the service of matrimony. HALT - and reflect seriously upon the new duties you have undertaken and then perform them. RIGHT ABOUT TURN - from the haunts you frequented when single, and prefer your own home. ADVANCE ARMS - to your young wife and show your love. ALWAYS BE ON GUARD - against differences and you will be happy. Simon the Zealot or Simon the Canaanite/Cananaean is possibly the most obscure of the disciples. Although his name appears on a list of the disciples mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and John and the Book of Acts, he does not play a named role elsewhere.
To distinguish Simon from Simon Peter, Matthew and Mark use the term “Simon the Canaanite” (Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:18 KJV). Luke and Acts, on the other hand, calls him “Simon Zelotes” (Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13 KJV) or “Simon the Zealot” (NIV) depending on the translation. The term “Canaanite” has led people to assume Simon was from Canaan or Cana, however, the Hebrew text proves this to be a mistranslation. In Hebrew, Simon was referred to as “qanai”, which means “zealous”. The reason for the Canaanite confusion is easy to forgive since the term stems from the same Hebrew word. Unfortunately, no one knows why Simon was singled out as being zealous. Although, in contemporary English zealous means enthusiastic or having a strong passion, in Greek, it was also a synonym for jealous. Catholic scholars have attempted to identify Simon the Zealot with both Simon the brother of Jesus and Simeon of Jerusalem, although there is no evidence in the Bible for either claim. The names of Jesus’ brothers are mentioned in Mark 6:3 “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” Simeon of Jerusalem or Saint Simeon, however, does not appear in the Bible. According to tradition, Saint Simeon was the second Bishop of Jerusalem who was appointed by the Apostles Peter, James and John. He is also said to be the son of Clopas and, therefore, potentially a cousin of Jesus. “Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” (John 19:25) As you may recall from my previous article, the “Judas” mentioned in Mark 6:3 may have been the disciple Jude, also known as Judas Thaddeus, and the “James” was potentially James the Less. So, it is possible, as it says in the Golden Legend compiled by Jacobus de Varagine (1230-1299), "Simon the Cananaean and Judas Thaddeus were brethren of James the Less and sons of Mary Cleophas, which was married to Alpheus." The names Clopas and Cleophas refer to the same person depending on the Bible translation. The Bible does not record how Simon was called to be a disciple, however, a book of the Apocrypha, if it is to be believed, might shed some light on this. The Syriac Infancy Gospel, which supposedly records the childhood of Jesus, contains a story about a boy named Simon who was bitten by a snake. Jesus, who was only a child himself, healed the boy and said, "you shall be my disciple." The story is concluded with "this is Simon the Cananite, of whom mention is made in the Gospel." There are various speculations about Simon’s actions after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Some say he visited the Middle East and Africa. Another tradition claims he visited Roman Britain during the Boadicea’s rebellion in 60 AD. Likewise, there is more than one version of his death. Stories relate Simon being crucified in Samaria, sawn in half in Persia, martyred in Iberia, crucified in Lincolnshire and dying peacefully in Edessa. Traditionally, in art, Simon is portrayed with a saw, suggesting he was sawn in half. Simon the Zealot, like all the apostles, is regarded as a saint and shares a feast day with Saint Jude: 28th October. He is the patron saint of curriers, sawyers and tanners, perhaps alluding to his profession. Just for fun, here are some of the attributes he appears with in artworks:
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