Red-Letter Day
Apostle & Martyr
July 25 · d. 44
also known as James the Elder, Apostle, James son of Zebedee, St. James the Great, Santiago
James son of Zebedee was one of the Twelve Apostles and the first of them to be martyred. With his brother John and Simon Peter, he belonged to the inner circle of three who witnessed the Transfiguration, the raising of Jairus's daughter, and the agony in Gethsemane. He was executed by King Herod Agrippa I in Jerusalem, probably around AD 44.
Traditionally, James is said to have preached the Gospel in Spain before returning to Jerusalem, where he was martyred. This tradition, which became the foundation of the great pilgrimage shrine at Santiago de Compostela, is not attested before the 7th century. Eusebius and Jerome, who catalogue apostolic missionary territories, assign no mission to James. A separate tradition, reported by Clement of Alexandria and preserved in Eusebius, records that James's accuser was so moved by his testimony at trial that he himself confessed Christ and was beheaded alongside the apostle.
James and his brother John were sons of Zebedee, fishermen on the Sea of Galilee whom Jesus called from their boat (Mark 1:19–20). Jesus gave them the surname Boanerges, 'Sons of Thunder' (Mark 3:17), perhaps reflecting their temperament — they once proposed calling down fire on a Samaritan village (Luke 9:54). James appears in all four apostolic lists, consistently paired with John and named in the first group of four alongside Peter and Andrew.
James belonged to the privileged inner circle of three. He was present at the Transfiguration (Mark 9:2), at the raising of Jairus's daughter (Mark 5:37), and at Gethsemane (Mark 14:33). When James and John requested seats at Jesus's right and left in glory, Jesus responded: 'The cup that I drink you will drink' (Mark 10:35–40) — words understood by the early Church as a prophecy of their martyrdom.
Acts 12:1–2 records James's death with stark brevity: 'Herod the king laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword.' This is the only apostolic martyrdom recorded in the canonical New Testament. Herod Agrippa I ruled Judea 41–44, dating James's death to this period.
O gracious God, your servant and apostle James was first among the Twelve to suffer martyrdom for the Name of Jesus Christ: Pour out upon the leaders of your Church that spirit of self-denying service, by which they may have true authority among your people; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.