Santiago de Compostela. Image: Wikimedia Commons
Died: Jerusalem, 42 AD. Beheaded at the order of Herod Agrippa.
Feast Day: July 25
Patron: Spain, Shells, Pilgrimages
Shrine: Santiago de Compostela
The Interior of the Shrine to St James the Greater at Santiago de Compostela. Image: Wikimedia Commons
Scripture:
James the Greater was son of Zebedee and Salome and brother of St John the Evangelist. As a ‘son of thunder’, he was styled ‘the Greater’ to distinguish him from the other St James.
“About that time Herod the king laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword; and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread.” (Acts 12:1-3)
Church Fathers: Clement of Alexandria [150 – 215AD] wrote that St James’ followers fled to Jaffa by sea and then sailed for Iria Galicia in Spain.
With thanks to Rev Dr Paul Stenhouse MSC, Whatever happened to the twelve apostles? (2006, Chevalier Press)
