St. James The Greater, Step-Brother of Jesus: Question for the Orthodox

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adstrinity

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Merry Christmas to all.

Re: the entry into Bethlehem to enlist into the census, the Orthodox have this belief and an Icon (which I have seen before but cannot find now) to show that St. James the Greater was a son of St. Joseph, and step brother to Jesus. He was around 14 to 18, I think, when the census was taken and when Joseph & Mary were en route to the census, St. James the Greater was there as well. The icon depicts this.

If this is the case, how come St. James was not mentioned during the Nativity story, or the circumsicion story?

IF I have the above information correct, what more can you all tell us about this? Thank you.
 
adstrinity said:
Merry Christmas to all.

Re: the entry into Bethlehem to enlist into the census, the Orthodox have this belief and an Icon (which I have seen before but cannot find now) to show that St. James the Greater was a son of St. Joseph, and step brother to Jesus. He was around 14 to 18, I think, when the census was taken and when Joseph & Mary were en route to the census, St. James the Greater was there as well. The icon depicts this.

If this is the case, how come St. James was not mentioned during the Nativity story, or the circumsicion story?

IF I have the above information correct, what more can you all tell us about this? Thank you.
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The Scriptures say he was the son of Zebedee and brother to John.

(from NewAdvent)

His parents seem to have been people of means as appears from the following facts.

Zebedee was a fisherman of the Lake of Galilee, who probably lived in or near Bethsaida (John 1:44), perhaps in Capharnaum; and had some boatmen or hired men as his usual attendants (Mark 1:20).
Salome was one of the pious women who afterwards followed Christ and “ministered unto him of their substance” (cf. Matthew 27:55, sq.; Mark 15:40; 16:1; Luke 8:2 sq.; 23:55-24:1).
St. John was personally known to the high-priest (John 18:16); and must have had wherewithal to provide for the Mother of Jesus (John 19:27).
 
adstrinity said:
Merry Christmas to all.

Re: the entry into Bethlehem to enlist into the census, the Orthodox have this belief and an Icon (which I have seen before but cannot find now) to show that St. James the Greater was a son of St. Joseph, and step brother to Jesus. He was around 14 to 18, I think, when the census was taken and when Joseph & Mary were en route to the census, St. James the Greater was there as well. The icon depicts this.

If this is the case, how come St. James was not mentioned during the Nativity story, or the circumsicion story?

IF I have the above information correct, what more can you all tell us about this? Thank you.
Click to expand...
That is interesting. I’ve not seen that Icon, nor heard that before anywhere.

It is common knowledge among Orthodox Christians that St, Joseph was a widower with children from his 1st wife who were older than Mary.

If St. James was 15 @ the time of Jesus’ birth, then it does make him older, just barely, than the Theotokos.

The first responder to you post seems to make a good arguement that it is very unlikely for St. James to be Jesus’ step-brother.

I’m interested to see what the other Orthodox Christians have to say about the matter and if they’ve ever heard of it before.
 
adstrinity said:
Merry Christmas to all.

Re: the entry into Bethlehem to enlist into the census, the Orthodox have this belief and an Icon (which I have seen before but cannot find now) to show that St. James the Greater was a son of St. Joseph, and step brother to Jesus. He was around 14 to 18, I think, when the census was taken and when Joseph & Mary were en route to the census, St. James the Greater was there as well. The icon depicts this.

If this is the case, how come St. James was not mentioned during the Nativity story, or the circumsicion story?

IF I have the above information correct, what more can you all tell us about this? Thank you.
Click to expand...
Not to sound trite but this falls into the category of “what difference does it make”?

Yours in Christ
Joe
 
Wildkit said:
All one asked for was an answer. Is that trite? 🙂
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I think he’s never heard of that idea either, but just wants to know if it really matters if he is Jesus’ step-brother or not…Does it really change the dynamic of the Gospel Message of Salvation?

Being that I’ve never heard of it before, I’m just curious as to if any other Orthodox Christians have heard of this or not? In the whole scheme of things it doesn’t really matter one way or another, but it does make me curious.

I’m starting to wonder though if it is a Coptic Tradition/Icon or an Eastern Catholic Tradition/Icon or Oriental Catholic Tradition/Icon, rather than an Eastern Orthodox Tradition/Icon.
If there even is an Tradition/Icon, the OP thinks they remember seeing it somewhere, but is not able to find it.
 
adstrinity said:
Merry Christmas to all.

Re: the entry into Bethlehem to enlist into the census, the Orthodox have this belief and an Icon (which I have seen before but cannot find now) to show that St. James the Greater was a son of St. Joseph, and step brother to Jesus. He was around 14 to 18, I think, when the census was taken and when Joseph & Mary were en route to the census, St. James the Greater was there as well. The icon depicts this.

If this is the case, how come St. James was not mentioned during the Nativity story, or the circumsicion story?

IF I have the above information correct, what more can you all tell us about this? Thank you.
Click to expand...
I’ve looked around, Adstrinity, and it’s James the Lesser I think you are thinking of, not James the Greater.
 
Wildkit said:
All one asked for was an answer. Is that trite? 🙂
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I don’t have an answer. It has no bearing whatsoever on my salvation or yours. 👍

I’ve seen people (including myself:o) time and time again make huge deals out of issues such as this. I’m not saying that the OP is doing this, I just think we shouldn’t lose sight of what is truly important. 🙂

Yours in Christ
Joe
 
I saw the icon on this forum, nonetheless.

I am wondering about it because it doesn’t match up to some things, BUT, the Orthodox (though, now that one mentions it, it could be an OO tradition) don’t believe in these things for nothing.

comeandseeicons.com/j/cap54.htm

I knew it wasn’t for nothing.

Anyway, the icon was of, like I said, the Holy Family and St. James going to Bethlehem to register. St. James was walking beside the donkey on which the Theotokos was riding. …Ring a bell?
 
adstrinity said:
I saw the icon on this forum, nonetheless.

I am wondering about it because it doesn’t match up to some things, BUT, the Orthodox (though, now that one mentions it, it could be an OO tradition) don’t believe in these things for nothing.

comeandseeicons.com/j/cap54.htm

I knew it wasn’t for nothing.

Anyway, the icon was of, like I said, the Holy Family and St. James going to Bethlehem to register. St. James was walking beside the donkey on which the Theotokos was riding. …Ring a bell?
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Oh thanks for the link…I didn’t see in it about the ringing of the bell, but I’m sure back in those days bells were as good a toy as like a gameboy to entertain teenagers on a long trip. It was nice of St. James to share his inheritance with his step-brother!
 
adstrinity said:
I saw the icon on this forum, nonetheless.

I am wondering about it because it doesn’t match up to some things, BUT, the Orthodox (though, now that one mentions it, it could be an OO tradition) don’t believe in these things for nothing.

comeandseeicons.com/j/cap54.htm

I knew it wasn’t for nothing.

Anyway, the icon was of, like I said, the Holy Family and St. James going to Bethlehem to register. St. James was walking beside the donkey on which the Theotokos was riding. …Ring a bell?
Click to expand...
I think you are reading too much into things my friend. The Orthodox Church has no “official” teaching on this subject. I would venture to say a fairly large majority (if they ever take time to think about it) believe St Joseph had children from a previous marriage, others believe Jesus’ brothers are actually cousins or something else. What is absolutely unquestioned (and what truly is important) is the fact that Mary remained a virgin her entire life.

Yours in Christ
Joe
 
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