Symeon Succeeds James

Let us go on to what follows. After the martyrdom of James and the capture of Jerusalem that followed at once, it is said that those of the apostles and disciples of the Lord who were still alive came together from every direction to one place, along with those who were the Lord’s relatives according to the flesh, for most of these too were still living. All of them together took counsel as to whom they should judge worthy to succeed James. [a] With one mind they all approved Symeon the son of Clopas, whom the Gospel also mentions, as worthy of the throne of the community there. He was a cousin of the Savior, as they say; for Hegesippus records that Clopas was Joseph’s brother. [b]