St. James the brother of Christ is commemorated every year on October 23rd. Yesterday @stjohntpa commemorated him by celebrating the original Divine Liturgy written by St. James in 70 AD.
In the Eastern Orthodox Church we rarely celebrate the Divine Liturgy of St. James. This Divine Liturgy is the Liturgy that the Roman Catholic Church celebrates for Mass every Sunday.
The year 70 AD was a monumental year for Christianity. Most secular religion historians mark this as the year Christianity became its own religion instead of being a “denomination” of Judaism (we consider the founding of the Church to have taken place in Acts 1). Before 70 AD Christians we’re going to Solomon’s Temple to worship God and early Christians we’re still keeping the Jewish holidays. Not only did Christianity get their own religious service in 70 AD but this is the year that the Roman Empire sacks and destroys the Temple. These two major events defined our beautiful religion as we know it and it was partially accomplished through the hand of St. James.
St. James the brother of Christ isn’t actually the brother of Jesus. He was the son of Joseph from a previous marriage before he was betrothed to the Virgin Mary. Jesus’ older “brothers” (Simon, Judas, and James) are all briefly mentioned in the Gospels along with His “sisters”. Jesus is the only offspring of our blessed Virgin Mary.
P.S.
My goal is to use this Instagram to further my journey on my path to ordination of His heavenly priesthood. I plan on updating everyone on the way and putting weekly devotions and/or posting cool and interesting stories about the Saints. #axios #karterios
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