As we in the Helsinki metropolitan area rejoice over the acquisition of a third church building—when the lease for St James’s Church in Lauttasaari takes effect on August 1—it is an excellent occasion to pause and reflect on who this Saint James truly was. Below is a summary we have compiled.
The apostle James, son of Zebedee, also known as James the Greater (Iacobus Maior in Latin), was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. He came from the shores of Galilee, most likely from Bethsaida or Capernaum, and worked as a fisherman together with his father Zebedee and his brother John. His mother Salome is also mentioned in the New Testament as one of the followers of Jesus. Jesus called James and John to follow him, and they immediately left their nets and went with him (Matt. 4:21–22).
James belonged to Jesus’ innermost circle along with Peter and his brother John. This trio was present at several of the most decisive moments: at the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor, at the raising of Jairus’s daughter, and in the Garden of Gethsemane. The evangelist Mark tells us that Jesus gave James and John the nickname Boanerges, “sons of thunder” (Mark 3:17), which is often interpreted as a reference to their passionate or fiery temperament. This is reflected, for instance, in the Gospel of Luke, where they propose calling down fire from heaven to destroy a Samaritan village that refused to welcome Jesus (Luke 9:54).
James’s position in the Gospels is clearly significant. He is often mentioned among the first in the lists of apostles. His closeness to Jesus, his presence at key events, and his bold witness make him a model of faithfulness and dedication.
According to the Acts of the Apostles, James was the first of the apostles to suffer martyrdom. King Herod Agrippa I had him executed around the year AD 44: “About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword” (Acts 12:1–2). This is the only apostolic martyrdom mentioned explicitly in the New Testament and affirms his role as a true witness to Christ. His death in the midst of the Christian community in Jerusalem made him especially important in the memory of the early Church.
The fate of James’s remains is not mentioned in the biblical sources. However, from the Middle Ages onward, a strong Western tradition emerged according to which his bodily relics were transferred to Galicia in northwestern Spain. According to this tradition, his disciples transported his body by sea and buried him there. Centuries later, a cathedral was built over the grave in Santiago de Compostela, which became one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Christendom.
In the Catholic Church, the feast day of Saint James is celebrated on July 25. He is the patron saint of Spain, and his name—Santiago—is deeply embedded in the country’s culture. In a medieval legend, James appeared as a heavenly knight during battles between Christians and Moors, earning the title Matamoros, “slayer of the Moors.”
In iconography, James is often depicted with apostolic attributes: the sword symbolizes his martyrdom, and especially in connection with Santiago de Compostela, he is shown with pilgrim symbols such as a staff, shell, and pouch. He is venerated as the patron saint of pilgrims, and his image has held a central place in Western Christian art.
Three aspects characterize the life of James: his closeness to Jesus, his public witness of the faith, and his martyrdom. He was one of those who shared Jesus’ most intimate moments and who witnessed miracles, the Transfiguration, and Christ’s suffering. His faithfulness endured unto death, and his memory lives on in the Church’s liturgy, popular devotion, and pilgrimage traditions.
The importance of James is not limited to his own life and death. The role of the apostles as founders of the Church and transmitters of the faith—as the first bishops—is particularly evident in how their memory has shaped the identity of Christian communities. James represents the ideal of steadfastness and consistency for the Church: he was present from the beginning, walked at the side of the Lord Jesus, and remained faithful to the end. He is not a writer of theological letters like Paul, nor a mystic like the evangelist John, but a man of action and testimony whose mission was to bring the Gospel to others at any cost.
The shared memory of the apostles has united Christians in both East and West throughout history. Saint James is a powerful example of this. As millions of pilgrims have walked toward the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela over the centuries, they have not only journeyed into the past, but also into the future—in search of and rediscovery of the faith, hope, and love that the apostle’s witness proclaims. Many Finns, too, walked this path already in the Middle Ages, beginning their pilgrimage from churches dedicated to Saint James in Renko and Rymättylä.
KATT
Sources
- St. James the Greater. Catholic Encyclopedia. New Advent.
- Pyhä apostoli Jaakob, pyhän Johannes Teologin veli. Orthodox Church of Finland. Synaxarion.
- Wikipedia (German): Jakobus der Ältere.
- Turun Sanomat: “Kun Jaakob astuu kulkueessa kadulle.”
- The New Testament: The Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles
- Wikipedia (Finnish): Luettelo Suomen keskiaikaisista kivikirkoista (List of Medieval Stone Churches in Finland)