Bishop
The son of the righteous Joseph and the Most Pure Virgin, Saint James preferred a strict life from his youth, rejecting bodily pleasures. He wore a hair shirt, prayed much, and maintained the purity of virginity until the end of his life. Having believed in Jesus Christ, he became known as the righteous and was numbered among the seventy apostles. He was entrusted with the Jerusalem church, where he composed the order of the Divine Liturgy and wrote an epistle to the twelve tribes of Israel.
Saint James was respected both among believers and non-believers, entering the Holy of Holies for prayer. The Archbishop of Judea, Ananias, envying his popularity, plotted to kill him. During the feast of Pascha, when the people gathered in Jerusalem, the Pharisees persuaded James to deliver a speech against Christ. However, he confirmed his faith in Jesus as the Son of God, for which he was thrown from the roof of the temple.
After the fall, the saint prayed for his persecutors but was killed by a blow to the head. His body was buried near the temple, and he suffered for Christ at the age of 66, leaving behind a legacy of holiness and teaching.
