When the Diocese of Grand Rapids celebrated on Tuesday the feast day of St. Philip and St. James the Less, two of Jesus' apostles, it shared an interesting historical note regarding the diocese.

"Today the Church celebrates the feast of Saints Philip and James, apostles who served Christ faithfully in the early days of the Church,” the diocese posted on Facebook Tuesday. 

In the winter of 1876, the original St. James Church that had been built in Whitehall was placed on skids and moved across White Lake's frozen surface to bring the church closer to where most parishioners lived, the post said. That site served as a church home for 82 years. 

“St. James and St. Philip, pray for us!” the post concluded.

Little is known about St. James — also called James the Less or James the Lesser — aside from the fact that he was one of the 12 Apostles, a report from Franciscan Media said. St. James the Less is not to be confused with St. James the Greater, who was also an apostle and became the first Bishop of Jerusalem. 

Sts. James and Philip are the patron saints of Uruguay, and their feast day is May 3; a report from Loyola Press said. Both men are described as faithful disciples of Jesus during the early years of the Church. James' nickname of "The Less" or "The Lesser" refers to the fact that he was either shorter or younger than the other apostle of the same name.

Although Sts. Philip and James died at different times and in different places, it is believed that their feast days are celebrated on the same day because their relics were brought to Rome at the same time, a report from EWTN said. In May 560, their relics were placed in a Basilica in central Rome, which has since been rededicated to Jesus' 12 Apostles.