Apostle
Apostle James son of Zebedee
I век, † 44
Apostle James son of Zebedee — the elder brother of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, son of Zebedee, one of the three closest disciples of Christ (with Peter and John, a witness of the Transfiguration); the first of the apostles to be martyred — beheaded by order of King Herod Agrippa I in 44 (Acts 12:2).
Apostle James son of Zebedee, son of Zebedee and the elder brother of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, was among the first called by the Lord, leaving his fishing nets together with his brother. Together with Peter and John, he was one of the three closest disciples to whom the Lord chiefly revealed His divine mysteries — in particular, they witnessed the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor and the raising of Jairus's daughter. Christ gave James and John the epithet "Boanerges" ("sons of thunder"). After the descent of the Holy Spirit, he preached the Gospel, according to tradition reaching as far as Spain. He became the first of the apostles to be martyred: he was beheaded by order of King Herod Agrippa I in Jerusalem in 44 (Acts 12:1-2). His memory is kept on April 30/May 13, as well as June 30/July 13 in the Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles.
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