James, brother of Jesus
James the Just, or a variation of James, brother of the Lord (Latin: Iacobus from Hebrew: יעקב, Ya'aqov and Greek: Ἰάκωβος, Iákōbos, can also be Anglicized as "Jacob"), was a brother of Jesus, according to the New Testament. He was the first leader of the Jerusalem Church of the Apostolic Age. Traditionally, it is believed he was martyred in AD 62 or 69 by being stoned to death by the Pharisees on order of High Priest Ananus ben Ananus. James, Joses, Simon, and Judas are mentioned as the brothers or siblings of Jesus as well as two or more unnamed sisters. (See Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3.)
Saint James the Just | |
|---|---|
Neo-Byzantine icon of James | |
| Apostle and Martyr, Adelphotheos | |
| Born | Early 1st century |
| Died | 62 AD or 69 AD Jerusalem |
| Venerated in | All Christian denominations that venerate saints |
| Canonized | Pre-Congregation |
| Feast | May 3 (Catholic), October 23 (Lutheran), (Episcopal Church (USA)), (Eastern Orthodox), December 26 (Eastern Orthodox) |
| Attributes | Red martyr, fuller's club; man holding a book |
| Controversy | There is disagreement about the exact relationship to Jesus. |
Catholics and Orthodox Christians teach that James, along with others named in the New Testament as "brothers" of Jesus, were not the biological children of Mary, mother of Jesus, but were possibly cousins of Jesus, or step-brothers from a previous marriage of Joseph (as related in the non-canonical Gospel of James).
The Catholic tradition holds that this James is to be identified with James, son of Alphaeus, and James the Less. It is agreed by most that he should not be confused with James, son of Zebedee also known as James the Great.