James the Less

Saint James the Less
Statue of St. James the Less in the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran by Angelo de Rossi
Venerated in	All Christian denominations which recognize saints

James the Less (Greek: Ἰάκωβος ὁ μικρός Iakōbos ho mikros) is a figure of early Christianity. He is also called "the Minor", "the Little", "the Lesser", or "the Younger", according to translation, James is styled "the Less" to distinguish him from the Apostle James the Great (also called "James the Elder") with "Less" meaning younger or shorter, rather than less important. James the Great was the brother of John the Apostle.

James the Less has traditionally been commemorated along with St. Philip in the Western Christian calendars. In the Roman Catholic Church their feast day was observed on 1 May until 1955, when it was moved to 11 May to accommodate the Feast of St Joseph the Worker on 1 May. A later revision of the calendar moved the feast back to 3 May. In many other churches (for example, the Church of England) the feast has never moved from 1 May.

He is identified by 4th-century priest Jerome as the same person also called "James the Just" and "James, brother of Jesus" in the Bible, thought of by Jerome and others as really a cousin of Jesus.

Less consensually, he is also traditionally identified with James, son of Alphaeus, one of the Twelve Apostles.