Friday, October 23

Apostolic · d. c. 62

Holy Apostle James, Brother of the Lord

First bishop of Jerusalem, called the Just

One of the 'brothers of the Lord' — in Orthodox understanding a son of Joseph the Betrothed, and so the Lord's stepbrother — James did not follow Jesus during the ministry but was granted a personal appearance of the risen Christ, and became the first bishop of Jerusalem and a 'pillar' of the church. He presided at the apostolic council of Acts 15, framing its decision for the Gentiles, and wrote the epistle that insists faith without works is dead. His righteousness was proverbial even beyond the Church: called 'the Just,' he was said to pray so constantly that his knees grew hard as a camel's. His martyrdom around 62 is unusually well attested — Josephus records his death by stoning at the high priest Ananus' order, and Hegesippus adds that he was thrown from the temple parapet and clubbed. The ancient Liturgy of St James bears his name.

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