Apostles

THE APOSTLES : M.M.NINAN
"Saint James, also called James, son of Zebedee, or James the Greater
Palestine
(born , Galilee,
James and his younger brother, the apostle St. John, are designated Boanerges (from the Greek
boanerges), or
According unreliable tradition, following Pentecost, St. James preached in Spain, and upon his
return to Jerusalem the Jews would argue with him vehemently concerning the Holy Scriptures.
None could withstand his wisdom.
Following the Pentecost the disciples shared the world between them. Big James left for the
Iberian Peninsula where he is reported to have stayed for approximately 2 years. In 44AD he
returned to Jerusalem at the peak of the persecution, where he was promptly beheaded by King
Herod.
Legend tells us that his followers took his body to the port of Jaffa (modern day Tel-Aviv) where
they found a boat made of stone, guarded by an angel, waiting for them. This boat transported the
martyred disciplePadr in Galicia, North West Spain.
If you visit PadrAlameda. In this church you will find the "Pedron", a large stone which is reported
to have been used to moor the stone boat carrying the body of St James, and from which the town
gets its name.
The body was transported to a hillside approximately 23kms north of Iria Flavia and was buried,
remaining undiscovered for nearly 800 years. In the 9th century AD a hermit named Pelayo is
reported to have had vision of a large bright star surrounded by a circle of smaller stars pointing to
a spot somewhere in the Libradmountains. The hermit reported his vision to the Bishop of Iria
Flavia, Theodomir, who decided to investigate Pelayo
St James was proclaimed patron saint of Spain by the King Alfonso II, who built a church and
monastery over the tomb in honour of the saint. Because of Pelayo's vision the place was named
Campus Steliae or field of stars, which later became Compostela. News of the discovery of the
tomb quickly spread and the pilgrimage or Santiago begins.