Altar of St. Joseph & Relics of the Apostle Sts. Simon and Jude

Altar of St. Joseph with Relics of the Apostles Sts. Simon and Jude

Alongside St. Peter, the relics of St. Simon the Zealot and St. Jude Thaddeus are venerated within St. Peter’s Basilica. Their tomb is located beneath the left transept, near the Altar of St. Joseph, where the apostles’ remains were placed after being transferred to Rome. Tradition holds that Sts. Simon and Jude were martyred in Persia while spreading the Gospel and were later brought to the Eternal City for veneration.

The Vaticano news piece on their relics explores the historical and spiritual significance of their presence in the basilica. The feature highlights the tradition of relic veneration, the apostles' missionary work, and the devotion they continue to inspire among the faithful. The documentary also delves into archaeological and historical evidence surrounding their relics, acknowledging other locations, such as Toulouse, France, and Armenia, where parts of their remains may also be enshrined.

Despite these varying accounts, their tomb in St. Peter’s Basilica remains a significant place of pilgrimage, emphasizing the apostles’ enduring legacy as witnesses to Christ. The relics of Sts. Simon and Jude, like those of St. Peter, connect the modern faithful with the very foundations of Christianity.