Saint James the Brother of the Lord: First Bishop of Jerusalem

The post commemorates Saint James the Apostle, called the Brother of God (Adelphotheos) and James the Just, on October 23. In Orthodox tradition he is the son of Joseph the Betrothed from a previous marriage, making him the step-brother of Jesus Christ, and the Church carefully distinguishes him from the other apostles named James, specifically James the son of Zebedee and James the son of Alphaeus.

From youth he lived a strict ascetic life, abstaining from oil and animal fats, subsisting on bread and water, and praying so much on his knees that his skin hardened like a camel's. After the Ascension he became the first Bishop of Jerusalem, serving for thirty years. He presided at the Council of Jerusalem recorded in Acts 15, where his judgment guided the early Church on Gentile believers.

Even Jewish elders respected his integrity, calling him James the Just. The Apostle Paul notes a personal appearance of the risen Christ to James in 1 Corinthians 15:7. Around 63 A.D. Jewish authorities, angered by his preaching of the resurrection, pushed him from the pinnacle of the Temple. He survived the fall, knelt and prayed for his persecutors, and was stoned; a fuller struck the final blow with a club.

The accompanying images show Greek inscriptions identifying him as the holy Adelphotheos, including a Gospel manuscript fragment and a liturgical text that reads: "Holy Apostle & James Brother of the Lord and remember your death, and we confess your resurrection. Do this so that you do not forget me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you will proclaim the death of the Son of Man, and confess his resurrection until he comes."

A fresco depicts a saint being struck down, and another inscription names the holy church of Father Paul in Jerusalem and Saint Luke.