JAMES (St.), called the Great, the son of Zebede, and the brother of John the evangelist, was born at Bethsaida, in Galilee. He was called to be an apostle, together with St John, as they were mending their nets with their father Zebede, who was a fisherman; when Christ gave them the name of Boanerges, or Sons of Thunder. They then followed Christ, were witnesses with St Peter of the transfiguration on mount Tabor, and accompanied our Lord in the garden of olives. It is believed that St James first preached the gospel to the dispersed Jews; and afterwards returned to Judea, where he preached at Jerusalem, when the Jews raised up Herod Agrippa against him, who put him to a cruel death about the year 44. Thus St James was the first of the apostles who suffered martyrdom. St Clement of Alexandria relates, that his accuser was so struck with his constancy, that he became converted and suffered with him. There is a magnificent church at Jerusalem which bears the name of St James, and belongs to the Armenians. The Spaniards pretend, that they had St James for their apostle, and boast of possessing his body; but Baronius, in his Annals, refutes their pretensions.