St James, the first Bishop of Jerusalem
Acrylic and 23K Gold Leaf on Wood Panel
11.25" x 14.5"

This icon is the latest commission. The text in Arabic reads: St. James the Brother of the Lord, The First Bishop of Jerusalem. The saint is shown in white omophorion with large black crosses, wrapped around his shoulders and folded over his left arm; the phelonion is covered with a grid of black and white crosses.

James (Saint James the Just, James Adelphos (Grk. 'Brother'), James the Brother of Our Lord)  was not a blood brother of Jesus Christ,  as some believe. He was Joseph's son by a prior marriage. As a boy, he traveled with Joseph, the Ever-Virgin Mary, and the baby, Lord Jesus Christ, to Egypt. This James was the first to be elected to the episcopal throne of the Jerusalem Church, the records tell us.

St. James presided over the Apostolic Council in Jerusalem which heard the arguments regarding whether Gentiles would have to be circumcised after the Law of Moses. The Apostles' decision was a collective (conciliar) one, but recall that the Righteous spoke and delivered the Apostles' decision:

13 And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, "Men and brethren, listen to me: 14 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: 16 'After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up; 17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the Lord who does all these things.' 18 "Known to God from eternity are all His works. 19 Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20 but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath."   (Acts. 15: 13-21)

St. James is also known for his Catholic Epistle which illustrated the relationship between faith and works. Faith without works is dead. Our works grow from our faith; or, if not, we do not have faith.

He suffered marrytrdom when he refused to deny Christ to the Jews, Scribes and Pharisees, dying in AD 62.  As he was being stoned, he continued to pray for his executioners. (www.stjamesthejust.com)