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THE LIFE AND SUFFERINGS OF THE APOSTLE JAMES, FIRST
BISHOP OF JERUSALEM AND BROTHER OF THE LORD
Whose
Memory the Holy Church Celebrates on the 23rd of October
Copied
from: THE LIVES OF THE HOLY APOSTLES
Published
by: HOLY APOSTLES CONVENT
James,
the brother of the Lord and divine apostle, was the first Bishop
of Jerusalem. He was from Judea and was a son of St. Joseph the
Betrothed. There was none as zealous in piety and sweeter in
virtue than James the Righteous, who lived up to his appellation
abundantly and was deservedly called the brother of Christ. As
we have said, he was one of the sons of Joseph by his first
wife, Salome; for when Joseph was betrothed to the Theotokos,
she was a virgin before and after birth. This James, who was
holy from his birth, was first named Joblian, which in the
Hebrew tongue means "righteous", for even as a child
he showed mastery over all his senses and members, and this was
truly rare. His eyes were directed only to good things, and he
was vouchsafed divine mercy. His ears were opened to soul-saving
readings, and his mouth delighted in the law. His right hand
was ever ready to reach out in almsgiving, and he was
sympathetic to all. He controlled his appetite and would not
partake of anything superfluous or unnecessary. All his life he
never partook of anything living, that is, meat, fish or
crustacean. He never drank wine, only water to quench his
thirst. He subsisted on bread and tears. From his prostrations,
his knees were worn to the bone and his bodily appearance
revealed his extreme asceticism. He wore a hair shirt, but would
don a linen tunic when he entered the sanctuary. He would pray
and labor ceaselessly. He was beloved of both relatives and
friends, and strangers and those from afar off revered him on
account of his virtue. This came to include not only the pious,
but even the pagans, who held him in high esteem.
James the Righteous was the first chosen by our Savior and the apostles
for the episcopacy of the Church of Jerusalem. He was adorned
with all the virtues, but two he possessed in particular: he was
able to lead men to perfection both in theory and practice. He
was both humble and moderate. He would sign his name:
"James, servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ."
From his own personal experience, he understood the patience
that results from afflictions, and he would encourage others
with these words: "My brethren, count it all joy when ye
fall into divers temptations; blessed is the man that endureth
temptation, for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of
life" [Jas 1 :2,12].
He
would correct those who would say that sin is natural, thereby
declaring God the author of evil. As an excellent physician, he
would cure these senseless ones with these words: "Let no
man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot
be tempted with evil, neither tempteth any man. But every man is
tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and
enticed" [Jas 1 :13-14]. He taught them that God was not
the cause of the ills of man, and admonished them to recognize
their own indolence and weakness, and to be humble and beg forgiveness.
He also said that without divine grace, we are unable to do a
single good thing, because: "Every good gift and every
perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of
lights" [Jas 1 :17]. He encouraged all to give alms to the
needy, that they might find mercy from the Judge at the hour of
judgment, and would say: "For he shall have judgment
without mercy, that hath showed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth
against judgment" [Jas 2:13]. The righteous one also said
that faith alone does not benefit those who do not keep the
commandments of God, for without works, they are reckoned dead,
just as the body is dead and lifeless without the soul. On this
matter, he said: "But wilt thou know, 0 vain man,
that faith without works is dead?" [Jas 2:20]. He also
taught men to bridle the tongue, and not to utter lies,
babblings, railings or condemnations, but most especially to
flee false swearing, which is very injurious to the soul.
Indeed, not only this kind of perjury, but even a true oath,
should not be uttered. Men should neither swear by heaven, nor
by the earth, nor by any created thing. These and many other
sweet teachings issued forth from the tongue of the Apostle
James, hierarch and brother of our Lord, and are to be found in
his epistle.
All
the apostles revered James, and kept his word as though law. In
several instances in the Acts of the Apostles, such as the
question as to whether it was needful to circumcise the
gentiles, his opinion prevailed. When the apostles and elders
came together to discuss this matter, after Peter, Paul and
Barnabas had spoken, James answered them saying: "My
sentence is that we trouble not them who from among the gentiles
are turned to God: that we write unto them, that they abstain
from pollution of idols, and from fornication, and from things
strangled, and from blood" [Acts 15 :19- 20]. And
his words and vote were effective, for the apostles honored him
above them all. To further show his pre-eminence among them, St.
Paul went with the other apostles to see James, when the elders
were present, to declare those things God had wrought among the
gentiles through his ministry; and they glorified God.
The
just one alone was permitted to enter the Holy Place and would
enter the sanctuary alone. According to Hegesippus, the
sanctuary could only be entered by priests of Aaron's lineage,
yet Nazarites also were granted priestly privileges. He was
often found kneeling, offering up supplications for the
forgiveness of the people, especially those under the law of
Moses; and his knees became calloused like a camel's. Truly, the
remarkable James was high in God's favor for his conduct of
life.
Now
there were certain members of one of the heretical sects of the
Jews who, being incited by Annas, the high priest, dared to
gather around James, demanding that he renounce his faith in
Christ. The haters of Christ asked him: "Tell us, 0
righteous one, what is meant by 'the door of Jesus'?" He
replied: "This is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, of one
essence with the Father." Some, it is true, came to believe
solely because of James and accepted his righteous words of
truth. Certain ones of the various sects were against him,
however, and thought him deceived; for they would not believe in
a resurrection, nor that every man will receive a recompense for
his deeds. Therefore, there was great murmuring among the
Pharisees and scribes, who were convinced that there was a
danger that all might believe in Christ. Wherefore, they went to
James, and said: 'We beseech thee, 0 righteous one: instruct the
people, for they have gone astray and believe in Jesus, that He
is the Christ. Therefore, on the feast of the Passover, when all
have gathered, persuade them not to be deceived by a mere man.
.We implore thee, be so good as to do this, for we all
acknowledge thee to be a righteous and impartial man. Therefore,
we beseech thee: ascend the parapet of the temple, that thou
mayest be easily seen by the people, and that they may hear thy
just words, to instruct them."
When
the Passover arrived, all the tribes had gathered, and even
the Christians were among them. It was then that the arrant
liars, believing that James shared their beliefs, caused him to
stand on the parapet of the temple. Then, in a loud voice, that
all present might hear, they shouted: "Tell us, 0 righteous
one, since we all accept thee: what sayest thou of Jesus Who was
crucified by Pilate, and after Whom the people have gone astray,
thinking He is the Christ and even believing that He is God?
Make it clear to us and proclaim the truth!" The time had
come to speak the truth against the false ones, and James did
not shrink back in fear before death and deny the truth, but,
contrary to their expectations, he lifted up his voice and, with
an unrestrained spirit and tongue,
replied:
"Why do ye question me concerning Jesus? He is seated in
heaven at the right hand of His Father with the heavenly powers,
and He will come again on the clouds of
heaven,
to judge the world with righteousness!" By this testimony,
many were convinced, and cried aloud: "Hosanna to the Son
of David!" But the blind Pharisees and scribes regretted
that they had allowed James this audience, for he had not
given the response which they had expected. Therefore, greatly
incensed, they called out to the crowd: "Lo! even the
righteous one hath gone astray!" Then they ascended the
parapet, and seized him like wild beasts, and cast him down to
the earth. Despite this, the blessed one did not expire. Then
they began to stone him. He accepted the stones calmly as a
precious treasure, and knelt and prayed: "Lord God and
Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
0
blessed soul! 0 wondrous meekness! These were the very words
uttered by both the Master on the Cross and the long-suffering
Protomartyr Stephen. Thus did James, the pure brother of the
Lord, pray for his heartless murderers. Now some overheard him
praying on their behalf, but the ungrateful ones had no respect
for his forbearance, and continued to rain down stones upon him.
One of the descendants of Rechab, the son of Rachabim, of the
priestly caste, cried out: "Cease this! 0 wretched ones,
what are ye doing? The righteous one is praying for us, the
unjust, who stone him!" Then one of the murderers took a
fuller's club, which is used to beat out cloth, and smote James
mightily on the head, and the righteous one gave up the spirit.
He was interred there by the sanctuary. Upon his murder, Symeon,
the son of his uncle Cleopas, was appointed bishop, for he was a
cousin of the Lord, and it was a unanimous demand that he should
be next.
There
were some Jews who were compassionate and fair-minded, who
secretly sent a letter concerning this impious slaying to the
Tetrarch Agrippa, who was Herod's successor. In the letter, they
requested that he order Annas never again to dare to convoke a council without their
authorization. King Agrippa had established him as high priest,
but he did not hold the office more than three months when he
was replaced by another, Jeshua ben Dammams.
Mter
James' repose, many of the Jews felt that the woes that befell
them were a requital for the wicked murder of that just man: for
in A.D. 67, Vespasian laid siege to Jerusalem. Thus, we end our
narrative here, for Josephus records subsequent events in his
writings.
Wherefore,
by the prayers of James, the apostle, hierarch, righteous one,
martyr, and brother of the Lord, whose soul was adorned with
every virtue, 0 Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy
upon us.
ST.
JAMES, BROTHER OF THE LORD
Dismissal
Hymn. Tone IV.
As
a disciple of the Lord, b righteous one, thou didst receive the
Gospel; as a martyr thou art never turned away; as the brother
of God thou hast boldness; as a hierarch thou canst intercede.
Entreat Christ God, that He save our souls.
Kontakion.
Tone IV.
God
the Word, the Only-begotten of the Father, came to us in the
latter days, 0 divinely inspired James, and made thee the
first shepherd and teacher of Jerusalem, a faithful steward of
spiritual mysteries. Wherefore, we all honor thee, 0 apostle.
Megalynarion.
Both in name and deed wast thou known to be the brother of the Lord God,
0 most worthy and holy James; and as Sion's hierarch and
great God-bearing shepherd, thou didst lay down thy life for thy
flock, 0 blessed one.
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