October 23: Saint James the Brother God is celebratedtranslated

Today the Church honors the memory of Agios Iakovos the Brother of God. We also celebrate the memory of Saint Ignatius Patriarch of Constantinople and Saint Macarius of Rome. Jacob was the son of the Righteous Joseph of Mnestoros of the Theotokos and because of his constant association with Jesus, during their childhood, he was called Adelfotheos or Brother of the Lord. His exemplary faith and devotion to Christ was practically demonstrated through his missionary, pastoral and philanthropic activity as the first bishop of Jerusalem, since according to tradition he had been ordained by the Man of God himself.

The prestige in the person of James is clearly reflected in his positions during the work of the Apostolic Synod of 49 AD, where his contribution to the spread of the new faith in all nations was decisive.

James endowed the Church with his divinely inspired Catholic Epistle, which is counted among the 27 books of the New Testament, as well as with the first Divine Liturgy, which formed the basis for the later ones of M. Basil and Saint Chrysostom.

Brother Iakovos sealed his offering to the Church with his martyrdom, in...