St James The Great

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St James’ feast day on 25th July has no special recognition outside of Spain and parts of Portugal, and there are no specific rites or rituals associated with its celebration.

St James the Great is recognised across the whole spectrum of Christianity, although there is more likelihood on 25th July actually being celebrated in his honour in the Roman Catholic Church than in other churches. In the Eastern Churches, especially the Orthodox Churches, his feast day is celebrated on 30th April each year.

Saint James The Great was St John the Evangelist's brother and one of Jesus' disciples. His parents were Zebedee and Salome. He was one of the first disciples to join Jesus, which may be why he is called St James The Great, and to distinguish him from the other apostles named James: James the Just and St James the Less.

James is believed to have been involved in the introduction of Christianity to Iberia (now Spain and Portugal). This is purely anecdotal, as there is no mention of it in the Acts of the Apostles.

In fact, much of what we "know" about him is speculative. From at least the 9th century it was believed in Spain that he had travelled to Spain and Portugal and preached the Gospels, that he was probably beheaded by Herod Agrippa I personally, and that his body was carried back to Spain for burial near Santiago de Compostela, the site of his major Shrine where the Cathedral is dedicated to him. How much of this is true is unlikely ever to be certain.

St James' legend had a major influence on the transmission of Christianity from Spain and Portugal to Africa and to central and Southern America through the slave trade. St James Day remains a major festival in Puerto Rico to this day.