St. James the Lesser, Bishop of Jerusalem

St. James was one of Our Lord’s twelve apostles. He was called ‘the lesser’ to distinguish him from ‘St. James the Greater’ who was also an apostle. It is not known exactly why one was called ‘the Greater’ and the other ‘the Lesser’ but it is presumed that it related to a difference in age or height. After the Ascension St. James the lesser was made the Bishop of Jerusalem. He is the author of a canonical epistle which he wrote in Greek in which he is critical of the idea that faith alone is sufficient for salvation. He was martyred in 62 A.D. by being stoned and clubbed to death after being thrown from the battlements of the Temple in Jerusalem.