Beheaded by Herod Agrippa near the feast of Easter

The first of the Apostles to receive the crown of martyrdom, this holy man stands as the inaugural witness to the ultimate sacrifice required of Christ's followers. His life was defined not by longevity, but by the singular, violent culmination of his faith, a moment where the earthly kingdom of Herod collided with the divine mandate of the Church. It is a testament to his primacy that he was the first to drink the cup of suffering, securing the honor of being the first among the Twelve to seal his testimony with his blood.