The Holy Apostle James the Son of Alphaeus (1st c.)

The holy Apostle James the son of Alphaeus was the son of Alphaeus, a publican of Capernaum, and the brother of the holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew (commemorated on the 16th of November). James, like Matthew, was called by the Saviour Himself into the number of the twelve most chosen disciples and sent to preach the Gospel (Matt. 10:3).

After the descent of the Holy Spirit the blessed apostle was in Jerusalem for some time (Acts 1:13; 6:2), and then, together with Saint Andrew the First-called, spread the teaching of Christ in Edessa, Gaza, Eleutheropolis and the places round about. From there he went to Egypt, and in the coastal city of Ostracine, on the border of Palestine, he ended his apostolic labour by crucifixion (according to another account, after torments of many kinds the Lord’s chosen one was beaten to death with rods).