James the Great

Lore & Background

James was born into a family of Jewish fishermen on the Sea of Galilee, the son of Zebedee and Salome. Salome was a sister of Mary, mother of Jesus, making James a cousin of Jesus. He was styled 'the Greater' to distinguish him from James the Lesser, with 'greater' meaning older or taller. He was the brother of John the Apostle and, along with John and Peter, formed an informal triumvirate among the Twelve Apostles. Jesus allowed them to be present at the raising of Jairus' daughter, the transfiguration, and Jesus' agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. James and John asked Jesus for seats on his right and left in his glory, which Jesus rebuked. They also wanted to call down fire on a Samaritan town but were rebuked. The Acts of the Apostles records that 'Herod the king' (usually identified with Herod Agrippa) had James executed 'by the sword.' Henry Alford suggests he was probably beheaded. Nixon suggests his death may have been triggered by his fiery temper, from which he and his brother earned the nickname Boanerges or 'Sons of Thunder.' The site of martyrdom is located within the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral of St. James in the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem, where his head is believed to be buried under the altar.

Reader's Guide

James the Great holds a significant place in Christian tradition as the first apostle to be martyred, setting a precedent for apostolic witness. His association with Spain, though based on later legends rather than contemporary records, has had a profound impact on European history and culture. The tradition that he preached in Hispania and that his relics were translated to Santiago de Compostela gave rise to the Way of St. James, one of the most important Christian pilgrimages from the Early Middle Ages onward. The scallop shell became his emblem, and the battle cry 'Santiago, y cierra, España!' linked him to medieval Spanish identity. His feast day on 25 July is also the National Day of Galicia. The legend of Santiago Matamoros, though a later addition, further cemented his role as a protector of Spain. The mystery of why James died while Peter escaped, as noted by F. F. Bruce, remains a point of theological reflection.

Did You Know?

• James was the second apostle to die after Judas Iscariot and the first to be martyred.
• His mother Salome was a sister of Mary, mother of Jesus, making James a cousin of Jesus.
• His feast day on 25 July is also the National Day of Galicia.