St. James the Greater

Saint James, one of the twelve apostles, was the son of Zebedee and the brother of John the Evangelist. He is called "the Greater" to distinguish him from the other apostle named James (James, son of Alphaeus).

James is described as one of the first disciples to join Jesus. The Synoptic Gospels state that James and John were with their father by the seashore when Jesus called them to follow Him. According to Mark's Gospel, James and John were called Boanerges, or the "Sons of Thunder." The Acts of the Apostles 12:1-2 records that King Herod had James executed by sword. His remains are said to be buried in Santiago de Compostela in Spain. His burial town is considered the third most holy town of Catholicism, after Jerusalem and Rome.

The grave of this Saint has been a popular pilgrimage destination for Western European Catholics from the early Middle Ages onwards, and so he is a patron saint of pilgrimage. His Feast Day is July 25.