St. James the Elder

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He is John’s brother from Bethesda. The Lord called him as a disciple with his brother John and so they left their father with the fishermen and followed him (Matthew 4:21 &22). He was one of the witnesses of the first miracle of the Lord Jesus Christ in Cana of Galilee (John 2:2). He was one of the witnesses to the rising of daughter of Jarius from death, Transfiguration, and prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ in Gethsemane. The Lord Jesus Christ called him with his brother John the “sons of thunder” (Mark 3:17). He preached in Judea and Samaria. He was beheaded by Herod Agrippa and attained the crown of martyrdom in 44 AD (Acts 12:1). While he was on his way to be beheaded he cured a lame man and so the solider who led him to his death believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and was martyred at the same time along with him. He remained a virgin all his life. His relics were transferred to Compostella of Spain and have remained there until today.