Saint James

Principal figures

James the Greater was one of the Twelve Apostles, the son of Zebedee and brother of John. He appears in the Synoptic Gospels among the inner circle of Jesus’ followers. Acts records that a James was executed by King Herod, a passage long associated with this apostle in Western tradition. Medieval devotion links him to the shrine at Santiago de Compostela, which became a major pilgrimage destination.

James the Less is named among the Twelve and is commonly identified as the son of Alphaeus. The epithet "the Less" may refer to his age or size and helps distinguish him from other bearers of the name; scholars debate whether he is identical with other New Testament figures called James.

James the Just (often called "brother of the Lord") was a leading figure of the Jerusalem church in the generation after Jesus. He is mentioned in Paul's letters and in early Christian writings as a presiding leader. A short New Testament letter traditionally attributed to a James has been connected to him, though authorship and dating are matters of ongoing study.

Names, traditions and iconography

The overlapping names and scant contemporary records have produced a variety of local traditions and liturgical practices. James the Greater is often shown as a pilgrim, bearing a staff or a scallop shell, and sometimes as a martyr with a sword. Feast days and devotional customs vary between Eastern and Western churches.

Legacy and historical issues

The association of James with pilgrimage, especially the Camino de Santiago, has had long cultural and religious influence in Europe. Modern scholarship examines ancient sources—Gospels, Acts, Paul's letters and later church historians—to determine which references refer to the same person and which preserve distinct memories. Where certainty is lacking, historians and traditions differ, and scholars state conclusions cautiously.

• Common Western feast: July 25 for James the Greater.
• Principal primary sources: the four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles and Paul's epistles.
• Key scholarly questions: identity overlaps, authorship of the Epistle of James, and historical details of early leadership in Jerusalem.