Who is st james?
St. James the Greater was the author of the Book of James in the New Testament and was the first apostle to die for the Christian faith. In the gospels James is named as the son of Zebedee and the brother of John. James and John were mending their fishing nets in their father’s boat in Galilee when Jesus called them to become His disciples. Jesus used the Greek word Boanerges (“sons of thunder”) to describe James and John because of their fiery tempers, impetuous characters, and firm convictions. Of the twelve disciples, Jesus permitted only Peter, James and John to be with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. Herod put James to death by the sword. St. James’ feast day is July 25.
