General Presentation of the Apostle James the Greater
Saint James the Greater, also called James son of Zebedee, was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and the brother of John the Evangelist. He was among the first disciples called by Jesus and witnessed several crucial moments in Christ's life, such as the Transfiguration and the resurrection of Jairus's daughter. According to Christian tradition, after Pentecost, James went to preach the Gospel in Spain, although he had little success. He is often considered the first apostle to be martyred, killed by beheading on the orders of King Herod Agrippa around the year 44.
Symbols and Appearances of the Apostle James the Greater
Saint James is often depicted as a pilgrim, carrying a staff (pilgrim's staff), a satchel, and a scallop shell. The scallop shell became the symbol of the pilgrimage to Compostela, one of the most important Christian pilgrimage sites. In some depictions, he also holds a book or a sword, referring to his martyrdom by beheading.
Myths and Legends of the Apostle James the Greater
Saint James is at the center of many legends, notably the one about his body being miraculously transported to Galicia after his martyrdom. His disciples, refusing to let his body remain in Palestine, were said to have been guided by divine Providence to the Spanish coast. His tomb was reportedly rediscovered in the 9th century, and the site became the famous pilgrimage destination of Compostela. Another well-known story is the "miracle of the hanged man," in which James miraculously saves a pilgrim unjustly accused of theft and hanged.
