Orthodox icon of Apostle James, son of Alphaeus icon. Copy of a contemporary icon.
Commemorated September 10
Saint James of Alphaeus was one of the twelve disciples of the Lord, brother of Matthew the evangelist and son of Alphaeus. James, having fought for the truth of Christ in Jerusalem, then went to other countries to preach the Gospel. There, he destroyed the altars of the idols and by the grace of God healed diseases and cast out unclean spirits. That is why the pagans called him divine sperm.
The sweat, the toil, and the dangers he suffered for the spread of the Gospel were many. Death approached him many times, but in James's mind the words of the Lord prevailed encouragingly, "“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me" (Mark, 34). He who wants to follow me as my true disciple, says the Lord, let him renounce his self-corrupted by sin, and let him decide to suffer for me not only sorrow and trial, but even death on the Cross. And then let him follow me, imitating my example.
So James, imitating his Master, was crucified.
