On October 9th we commemorate James, son of Alpheus, Apostle. The Holy Apostle James (also known as the lesser) was one of the 12 Apostles. He was the brother of the holy Evangelist Matthew. James heard the Lord’s words and witnessed His miracles. After the Descent of the Holy Spirit, he and the Apostle Andrew the First-Called, made missionary journeys throughout Judea, Edessa, Gaza, and Eleutheropolis. They proclaimed the Gospel, healed all sorts of sickness and disease, and converted many. St James finished his apostolic work in the Egyptian city of Ostrachina, where he was crucified by the pagans.
