Remembered on October 23
St. James, Brother of the Lord
- ApostleA saint sent to proclaim Christ, especially one of the Twelve or the Seventy, or St. Paul.
All apostles - BishopA bishop honored as a saint for faithfully shepherding the Church.
All bishops - HieromartyrA bishop, priest, or deacon who suffered martyrdom for Christ.
All hieromartyrs
James was the first bishop of Jerusalem and a leader of the Church in the first century. Called the Lord’s brother and James the Just, he helped guide the apostles’ discussion about welcoming Gentiles into the Church. The letter bearing his name insists that faith must show itself in how we treat people, especially the poor. His teaching joins faith to daily life.
How he died
He was martyred in Jerusalem; Josephus records that he was condemned to stoning, while Church tradition also describes a fatal blow with a club.
- Feast day
- October 23
Parishes on the Old Calendar keep it on November 5. - Kind of saint
- Apostle, Bishop, Hieromartyr
Life written by Simply Orthodox; quote freely with a link.