St. James the Less, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, is often identified as the son of Alphaeus. He is sometimes referred to as "James the Less" to distinguish him from James the Greater, another apostle. His role in the early Christian community is noted in the New Testament, although little is known about his life and contributions. Traditionally, St. James the Less is believed to have been the first bishop of Jerusalem. He is often associated with the authorship of the Epistle of James in the New Testament, which emphasizes faith and good works. His feast day is celebrated on May 3rd in the Western Christian calendar.