'''James the Less''' (Saint James the Less in [[Catholic]] and [[Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] traditions), the son of Alpheus of Cleophas and Mary (who was either a sister or a close relative of the Blessed Virgin Mary). He wrote the epistle which bears his name.
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'''James the Less''' (Saint James the Less in [[Catholic]] and [[Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] traditions), the son of Alpheus of Cleophas and Mary, who was either a sister or a close relative of the Blessed Virgin Mary (for that reason, according to Jewish custom, he was sometimes called the brother of the Lord). He wrote the epistle which bears his name.