On May 1st, we will be celebrating and remembering Sts. Philip and James in our Divine Services.
The New Testament Gospels mention St. Philip as one of the apostles (Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:14, and Acts 1:13). But it’s in John’s Gospel where we get to know more about him. Philip was from Bethsaida in Galilee and was one of the first of Jesus’ disciples after Peter and Andrew. He also was instrumental in bringing Nathanael to Jesus (John 1:43-51). It was to Philip that Jesus posed the question about where to buy bread to feed the 5,000 (John 6:5). During Holy Week, Philip and Andrew brought some inquiring Greeks to Jesus (John 12:20-22). And on Maundy Thursday, Philip asked Jesus to show the Father to him and to the rest of the disciples (John 14:8). According to Tradition, Philip served as an Apostle in Phrygia, where he died and was buried.
St. James was a son of Alphaeus and was also called “the Younger” (to distinguish him from James, the son of Zebedee, “the Elder”). His mother, Mary, was one of the faithful women who stood at the cross of Jesus (Matthew 27:56 and Mark 15:40). The same New Testament apostolic lists that mention Philip also mention James. But, other than that, the New Testament makes no other mention of him. We also have no information about his Apostolic service or the circumstances of his death, except that he may have been martyred by being sawed in two.
Good article .
Also Alphaeus was the son of Clopus , and so his wife Mary , – or Mariam – the sister of The Virgin Mary , was called Mary of Clopus , – for recording purposes , so as to distinguish between both Marys being of or belonging to , the family of Joacham and Anna , grandparents of the Lord .
James Alphaeus , the brother of John Zebedee , died in44 A .D . as per Acts 12.2 . Both were given , or foster sons , of the Virgin Mary , and so were brothers .
The Virgin on her arrival at widower Joseph ‘ s home , raised Joseph ‘ s foster sons , his grand nephews , grand sons of his brother Clopus , James and Judas Alphaeus ; and she was known as Mary , mother of James and Judas . Joseph ‘ s older children Justus , Simon , Assia and Lydia , were married with families , and had homes of their own .
The Virgin ‘ s younger sister Mariam married Alpheaus , and then she became principal mother of James and Judas .
Ref . The History of Joseph The Carpenter ; The Gospel of the Nativity of Mary .
Also , Philip was one of the learned Disciples , – in Greek philosophy , before his call to discipleship ; and so later preached in that region .
He was a principal writer of the discourses of The Saviour , alongside Thomas , – a lawyer by
trade , and Matthew , a tax collector or record keeper , by trade .
The Gospel of Philip exhibits a condensed style , necessary for recording at the moment of discourse .
Ref . Pistis Sophia .
Further , St James Alphaeus is also known as James the Less , for after his Martyrdom , discourse amongst the followers states that there is one James – ” Less ” and one James with us – St James the Just being James Zebedee .
As the eldest son of his foster mother , The Virgin Mary ; James the Less according to Jewish custom , found it his want and necessity to watch over her and his step mother , and more so , he preached for followers and Church , and was not in hiding ; in those dangerous times prior to his Martyrdom , and prior to Herod ‘ s death in Acts 12 .
In James the Just ‘ s Apocalypse , his mother suckled both him and Jesus , and so he is younger than the James the Less of The History of James the Carpenter .
James the Just is always known as the Bishop of Jerusalem – and the Lord ‘ s Brother is always known as The Bishop of Jerusalem , and The Lord called James the Just his Spiritual brother in James ‘ Apocalypse .
James the Less , being James Alphaeus was not our first Bishop of Jerusalem .
As a Martyr , for his high caliber , he should be famed .
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Above should read , – Joachim and Anna , and The History of Joseph the Carpenter . More fully , James Alphaeus in discourse would have been , ” the James we are less . “