Holy Apostle James, Son of Zebedee, Brother of John the Theologian (44)

The holy Apostle James, son of Zebedee (+44), was one of the Twelve apostles and was called by Christ together with his brother, the Apostle John the Theologian.

After the descent of the Holy Spirit Saint James preached in Spain and other countries, and then returned to Jerusalem. The apostle preached Jesus Christ as the Saviour, denounced the Pharisees and scribes with the words of Holy Scripture, and reproached them for their coldness of heart and unbelief. The Jews had no strength to stand against the apostle’s words, and they bribed with money the philosopher and sorcerer Hermogenes, to challenge Saint James to debate and demolish his view of Christ as the promised Messiah. The sorcerer sent his disciple Philip to the holy apostle, but he believed in Christ. Then Hermogenes himself was convinced of the almighty power of God; he burned his books of sorcery, was baptised, and became a true follower of Christ.

The unbelieving Jews advised Herod Agrippa (40–44) to seize the Apostle James and put him to death. Saint James listened calmly to the sentence of death and went on preaching the law of Christ. One of the informers, named Josiah, was amazed at the apostle’s courage and believed in the incarnation of Christ the Messiah. When Saint James was being led away to execution, Josiah fell at the apostle’s feet, repented of his sin and asked forgiveness. Saint James embraced the confessor, kissed him, and said to him: “Peace be to thee, and forgiveness.” Josiah publicly confessed Christ, and together with Saint James met a martyr’s end in Jerusalem in 44.