Our Patron Saint James

James was one of the first disciples of Jesus. He was the son of Zebedee and Shalome and brother of John the Evangelist. Jesus nicknamed James and John 'the sons of thunder'. James is called St. James the "Greater to distinguish him from his fellow-apostle named James (also known as James the Lesser or James the Younger). He is known as "the Greater" due to the fact that he became an apostle of Christ before Saint james the Lesser. James the Lesser was the son of Alphaeus.

The synoptic Gospels state that St. James and John were with their father by the seashore when Jesus called them to begin travelling. James was a loyal disciple of Jesus and his character made him one of Jesus' favourites.

James was the first apostle to be killed because of his affiliation with Jesus and the Christian religion. In the year 44, James was killed in Spain, and that is where his remains lay today. He was the first saint to become martyr, and his feast day is on July 25th each year. His burial town, Santiago de Compostela, is considered the third most holy town of Catholicism.