23 ЖОВТНЯ / OCT 23

The Holy Apostle James, the Brother of God, also called James the Adelphótheos, was the son of the righteous Joseph, the husband of the Most Holy Theotokos. According to Church tradition, Joseph had children from an earlier marriage. For this reason, James is called the “Brother of the Lord.”

Saint James was a Nazirite, a person specially consecrated to God. During the time of his consecration, a Nazirite abstained from wine and other intoxicating drinks, did not cut his hair, and avoided contact with the dead, according to the Law of Moses.

When Jesus Christ began to proclaim the Kingdom of God, Saint James believed in Him and became one of His Apostles. After the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ, James became the first Bishop of Jerusalem. He served the Church there for many years and became one of the most respected leaders of the early Christian community.

Saint James played an important role in the Council of Jerusalem, described in the fifteenth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. The Council discussed an important question: whether Gentile converts to Christianity were required to follow all the customs of the Mosaic Law. Saint James spoke with wisdom and helped the Apostles reach a decision that welcomed Gentile believers into the Church without placing unnecessary burdens upon them.

During his years as Bishop of Jerusalem, Saint James preached Christ with great courage. Through his witness, many people, including Jews, came to believe in Jesus as the promised Messiah.

His preaching angered some of the religious leaders. The Pharisees and scribes eventually plotted to kill him. They brought him to the top of the Temple in Jerusalem and demanded that he tell the people what he believed about Jesus.

Saint James openly proclaimed that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God. His answer angered the leaders, who pushed him from the height of the Temple. Although he survived the fall, he was badly injured. As he prayed, he asked God to forgive those who were attacking him. The people then stoned him, and Saint James gave his life for Christ around the year 63.

His final prayer reminds us of the words of Christ on the Cross: “Father, forgive them.” Even in the moment of his death, Saint James did not seek revenge. He prayed for those who were causing him suffering.

Saint James is also remembered for his contribution to the worship of the early Church. Tradition attributes to him the ancient Divine Liturgy of Saint James, which became one of the earliest forms of Christian Eucharistic worship. The Liturgies of Saint Basil the Great and Saint John Chrysostom developed from the ancient liturgical tradition of the Church.

The Church has also preserved the Epistle of Saint James, one of the books of the New Testament. His letter contains practical and powerful advice for Christian life. He teaches us: “Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath” (James 1:19). He also reminds us: “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22).

These words describe the heart of Christian discipleship. Faith is not simply something we hear or profess with our lips. True faith must become visible in the way we live, speak, forgive, serve, and treat other people.

Saint James teaches us that Christian faith requires both courage and action. He remained faithful to Christ even when his faith brought him suffering. He preached the truth without fear, but at the same time he responded to violence with prayer and forgiveness.

The Church distinguishes Saint James the Brother of God from the other Apostles named James: Saint James the son of Zebedee, commemorated on April 30, and Saint James the son of Alphaeus, commemorated on October 9.

Saint James the Brother of God is also commemorated on the Sunday after the Nativity of Christ, together with the Prophet-King David and Saint Joseph the Betrothed.

May the example of Saint James teach us to listen carefully, speak wisely, live according to the Word of God, remain faithful to Christ in times of difficulty, and forgive those who hurt us. Through his prayers, may the Lord strengthen us in faith and lead us toward the Kingdom of Heaven.