James the Apostle, Son of Zebedee

Holy Apostle James, son of Zebedee, brother of John the Theologian.

St. James, the son of Zebedee and elder brother of St. John the Theologian, was called by the Lord from his father's fishing boat to become one of the Twelve. With Peter and John he belonged to the innermost circle of the disciples, present at the Transfiguration and at the agony in Gethsemane.

As the Acts of the Apostles records, he was the first of the Twelve to drink the cup of martyrdom, beheaded in Jerusalem by Herod Agrippa. The Church honors him as the protomartyr among the apostles, and commemorates him on April 30.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, James the Apostle, Son of Zebedee is commemorated on April 30. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on May 13 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

James, Iakovos, Jacob

Also commemorated on April 30

• Donatus of Euroea

  Hierarch, Δονάτος Ευροίας

  Saint Donatus, Bishop of Euroea in Epirus, wonderworker.

  Name days: Donatos, Donatus

• Clement the Hymnographer

  Venerable, Κλήμης ο Υμνογράφος

  Venerable Clement the Hymnographer, abbot of the Studion.

• Maximus of Ephesus

  Martyr, Μάξιμος ο εν Εφέσω

  Holy Martyr Maximus of Ephesus, who suffered under Decius.

• Ignatius Brianchaninov

  Hierarch, Ιγνάτιος Επίσκοπος Σταυρουπόλεως

  Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov, Bishop of the Caucasus and Stavropol, ascetic writer.

• Aphrodisios and the Thirty Martyrs

  Hierarch, Αφροδίσιος ο Ιερομάρτυς

  Hieromartyr Aphrodisios and the thirty martyrs who suffered with him.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.