There are several Saint James, but the most famous is Saint James the Greater (1st century), apostle of Jesus Christ. Son of Zebedee and brother of John, he was one of the closest disciples of Christ. After the resurrection, he preached in Judea and, according to tradition, evangelized Spain before returning to Jerusalem. He was the first apostle martyr, executed by Herod Agrippa around the year 44. His body is said to have been transported to Galicia, where his tomb in Santiago de Compostela became a major place of pilgrimage. He is the patron saint of Spain and of pilgrims.
