Saints Philip and James

Apostles

Feast Day

May 3

Life

d. 62

Born

Bethsaida (Philip); Galilee (James)

Saint Philip the Apostle, a native of Bethsaida in Galilee, was among the first disciples called by Jesus (John 1:43-45). The Gospel of John records his role at the multiplication of the loaves (John 6:5-7), his bringing of the Greeks who wished to see Jesus (John 12:21-22), and his request at the Last Supper, Show us the Father (John 14:8-9). According to early traditions preserved by Eusebius and Polycrates of Ephesus, Philip preached and was buried at Hierapolis in Phrygia.

Saint James, called the Less to distinguish him from James son of Zebedee, is identified in Catholic tradition with James, son of Alphaeus (Mark 3:18), one of the Twelve, and with James the Brother of the Lord (Galatians 1:19), first bishop of Jerusalem. He presided at the Council of Jerusalem in approximately 49 AD (Acts 15) and is the traditional author of the Letter of James. According to the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus (Antiquities 20.9.1), James was stoned to death in Jerusalem in 62 AD by order of the high priest Ananus.

The two apostles share a feast day because the relics of both were translated to the Basilica of the Twelve Apostles in Rome on May 1, 560, when the basilica was dedicated. Their joint feast on May 3 follows the post-Vatican II reform of the General Roman Calendar.