...Vegetarian Apostles

A friend of mine in Croatia has been doing some research on
Vegetarianism and Early Christianity. I thought you might like to read
these excerpts from a book that is pending publication:

'No less than seven of Jesus' twelve disciples refused meat food (the
rest we do not know). This naturally reflects the teachings of Jesus,
as: "...a servant is not greater than his master..." (John 14.16).

The seven are:

1. Peter: ..."whose food was bread, olives and herbs..." (Clem.Hom.XII,6)

2. James: Church Father Eusebius, quoting Hegesippus (about 160 AD)
that "...James, the brother of the Lord was holy from birth. He drank
no wine or ate the flesh of animals..." (Eusebius, Church History
II,Ch XXIII,5-7)

(Note: James being a Vegetarian "from his mother's womb on" says a lot
about Mary's diet. Which again would lead to a conclusion as to Jesus'
life-style.)

3. Thomas: The apocryphal Acts of Thomas (Ch. 20), which actually were
widely in use among early Christian sects, depict these disciples of
Jesus as ascetics: "He continually fasts and prays, and abstaining
from eating of flesh and drinking wine, he eats only bread, with salt
and drink and water, and wears the same garment in fine weather and
winter, and accepts nothing from anyone, and gives whatever he has to
others."

4. Matthew: "It is far better to be happy than to have a demon
dwelling with us. And happiness is found in the practice of virtue.
Accordingly, the apostle Matthew partook of seeds and nuts, fruits and
vegetables without flesh. And John, who carried temperance to the
extreme, ate locusts and wild honey...." (Clement of Alexandria, The
Instructor,II.I,16: On Eating) (Note here the strong hint of Clemens
towards the Vegetarianism of John the Baptist)

5. Matthias: (who filled the place of Judas (Acts 1:21-26). His food
as told by Church Father Clement of Alexandria was the same as
Matthew's. (Clement/ Stromata III,4,26)

6. Andrew and 7. Jude: Andrew (Peter's brother in both flesh and
faith) and Jude of Bethsaida, originally two of John the Baptist's
followers, must have followed the Baptist's austere diet. (See above
under Matthew)'


http://www.iskcon.net.au/kurma/2007/09/28#a3927