Thursday 23 October 2025

Holy Apostle James, Brother of the Lord

Thursday of the 20th week after Pentecost

No Fast Tone 2

Holy Apostle James, Brother of the Lord

Saints commemorated

  • Saint of the day Antiochian commemoration

    James the Brother of the Lord

    James the Brother of the Lord (died c. 62) — styled by the Greek Church Adelphotheos, "Brother of God," and by the whole tradition "James the Just" — was the first bishop of Jerusalem and head of the mother church of Christendom for some thirty years. The Orthodox tradition knows him as a son of Joseph the Betrothed by an earlier marriage, and so the Lord's brother in the household of Joseph; Paul calls him simply "the Lord's brother" and counts him among the apostles and the "pillars" of the Church. He presided over the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15), gave his name to the most ancient complete eucharistic liturgy still in use, and by his ascetic holiness and ceaseless prayer for his people earned the surname "the Just." According to Hegesippus he was cast down from the pinnacle of the Temple and clubbed to death; according to Josephus he was stoned by order of the high priest Ananus. His feast is October 23. He is distinct from James the son of Zebedee (April 30) and James the son of Alphaeus (October 9).

  • Saint Macarius the Roman of Mesopotamia (?)

  • Ignatius of Constantinople

    Ignatius, Patriarch of Constantinople (c. 798–877), born Nicetas, was a son of the emperor Michael I Rhangabe. Deposed and castrated as a boy when his father was overthrown, he became a monk, then abbot, and twice Patriarch of Constantinople (847–858 and 867–877). A rigorist of unbending conscience, he excommunicated the powerful Caesar Bardas and was driven from his throne, which passed to the learned layman Photius — the beginning of the "Photian schism" that divided the Byzantine Church and strained relations with Rome. Both Ignatius and Photius are numbered among the saints. Ignatius is commemorated on October 23, the day of his repose.

British Isles and Ireland

  • St. Elfleda of Glastonbury, Virgin (936)
  • St. Ethelfleda, abbess of Romsey (c.970)
  • St. Clether (c.520)

Troparia & kontakia

Kontakion — Tone 4

The Only-begotten God the Word of the Father, when He came to sojourn among us in these last days, O divinely-eloquent James, declared thee the first shepherd and teacher of Jerusalem, and a faithful steward of the spiritual Mysteries; wherefore we all honour thee, O Apostle.

Troparion — Tone 4

A rule of faith and an image of meekness, a teacher of temperance, hast thou shown thyself to thy flock; therefore thou hast attained the heights by humility, and riches by poverty. Father and hierarch Ignatius, entreat Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Troparion — Tone 4

As a disciple of the Lord, O Just one, thou didst receive the Gospel; as a martyr, thou art unturning; as the Brother of God, thou hast boldness; as a hierarch, thou canst intercede. Entreat Christ God to save our souls.

Readings

Epistle

Philippians 3.1-8

1Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. 2Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 3For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 4Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Galatians 1.11-19 (St James)

11But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. 13For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: 14And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. 15But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, 16To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: 17Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. 18Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. 19But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.

Gospel

Luke 9.49-56

49And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. 50And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us. 51And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, 52And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. 53And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. 54And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 55But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 56For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

Matthew 13.54-58 (St James)

54And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? 55Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 56And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? 57And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. 58And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.