Nothing is known of St. James the Great’s early life, though it has been established that he is the son of Zebedee and Salome and brother of John the disciple. The title “the Greater” was added to St. James’ name to help distinguish him from the Apostle James “the Less,” who is believed to have been shorter than James “the Greater.”
He was one of first disciples of Jesus.
Moreover, he was one of the favored three (with Simon Peter and John) who had the privilege of witnessing the Transfiguration of the Lord, the raising to life of the daughter of Jairus, and the agony in Gethsemani.
After spreading the Gospel across Israel to Spain, he returned to Jerusalem. There he was decapitated under King Herod. He is known as the first apostle to die.
In the Catholic tradition, Saint James is the patron saint of Spain and, according to legend, his remains are held in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. This name ”Santiago” is the local evolution of Latin genitive Sancti Iacobi, ”Holy or Saint James” (evolved into a personal name in Spanish, and also in Portuguese -Tiago-, with its derivatives Diego/Diogo).
