Our Lord's brother, James (Yacoub), is the son of Joseph's (first) wife (Mark 6:3; Abdul Ahad, 1948, p. 217; Joseph, 2005, p. 21). The Eastern Fathers interpreted "brothers" as stepbrothers, sons of Joseph by a previous wife; while the Western Fathers understood them to be first or second cousins. Never are they called sons of Mary (The Orthodox Study Bible, 1993). James and the other brothers were not among the disciples of Jesus for they did not believe in Jesus before the resurrection (John 7:5).
Identity and Family
Life of Asceticism and Virtue
James ate only vegetables. He neither drank wine nor ate meat. He did not use sandals or cut his hairs (Abdul Ahad, 1948). Hegesippus describes him as "James, the Just" because of his virtue and righteousness (cited in, Cross Livingstone, 1974). St. James was in the habit of being alone in the church and was frequently found on his knees. This caused his knees to turn hard like that of a camel (cited in, Eusebius, 1980).
Role in the Early Church
Several biblical references suggest the role of St. James (Jacob) in the early Church. Jesus appeared to James after his resurrection (1 Cor. 15:7). St. Paul met St. Peter and St. James at Jerusalem probably in A.D. 38 (Gal. 1:18-19). James, the Bishop of Jerusalem, in a synod in A.D. 51 spoke authoritatively:
"Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the gentiles who are turning to God, but that we should write a letter telling them not to eat any food that is ritually unclean because it has been offered to idols; to keep themselves from sexual immorality; and not to eat any animal that has been strangled, or any blood" (Acts. 15:19-20).
After this synod everybody left for different countries except James. When St. Paul came to Jerusalem in A.D. 58 for the last time, only James was there.
Martyrdom
Persecutors of James demanded a denial of his faith in Jesus Christ in public. He, then affirmed his faith that Christ, Our Lord and Saviour, is the Son of God. They threw him down from the top of the church. Even though he survived the fall, he was subsequently beaten to death with a fuller's club (club of laundrymen). He suffered martyrdom in A.D. 62 (Abdul Ahad, 1948).
Literary and Liturgical Contributions
He formulated the divine liturgy of St. James. He celebrated the first holy Qurbono. He wrote the general epistle of St. James in A.D. 61 at Jerusalem. The fifth diptych of holy Qurbono remembers him saying: "The venerable St. James, the first Archbishop of Jerusalem, apostle and martyr." The feast of St. James, brother of Our Lord is celebrated on 19 June.