James followed Jesus as one of the 12 chosen disciples. This apostle James (for there were two) was the brother of John, and a member of Christ's inner circle of three, along with Peter and John. He proclaimed the gospel after Jesus' resurrection and was the first apostle to be martyred for his faith. James also was the first apostle to shed his blood for Christ. He was martyred in AD 44 (Acts 12:2) in Jerusalem. His martyrdom won him the title by which we distinguish him from the other apostle of the same name: "Saint James the Greater."
According to tradition, James traveled to Spain to preach the gospel before returning to Judaea and becoming a martyr. This tradition also claims that his body was taken by boat to Galicia, a region in northwestern Spain, and buried there. In the early 9th century his tomb was purportedly discovered in what is now Santiago de Compostela, and a church was built on the site of his tomb. In the Middle Ages his relics attracted Christian pilgrims from all over Europe.