Synaxarium
Daily Stories of the Saints
for the Blessed Month of Baramoudah
The Seventeenth Day of the Blessed Month of Baramoudah
Baramouda 17
Martyrdom of St.James the Apostle, the
Brother of St.John the Apostle
On this day, St. James the Apostle, the son of Zebedee,
and the brother of St. John, the Apostle, was martyred. After he had preached
the Gospel in Judea and Samaria, he went to Spain. He preached the Gospel
there, and its people believed in the Lord Christ. He returned to Jerusalem
and pursued his ministry. He always advised his flock to give alms to the
poor, the needy, and the weak. They accused him before Herod who called
him and asked him: "Are you the one that instigating the people not to
give the taxes to Caesar but to give it to the poor and the churches?"
Then he smote him with the sword, cutting off his head, and St. James received
the crown of martyrdom. Clement of Alexandria, from the fathers of the
second century, said: "The soldier that seized the Saint, when he saw his
courage, he realized that there must be a better life and asked the Saint
for his forgiveness. Then the soldier confessed Christianity and received
the crown of martyrdom
(Acts 12:1,2)(Acts 12:3-4) So on a set day
Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration
to them. And the people kept shouting, "The voice of a god and not of a
man!" Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not
give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.
(Acts 12:21-23)
As of the body of St. James, the believers took it, shrouded it, and buried
it by the Temple. It was said that the body of St. James was translated
to Spain, where James the elder considered to be its Apostle.
May His prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.