James the Persian

Great Martyr James the Persian.

The great martyr James the Persian was a Christian noble at the Persian court in the fifth century who, to please the king, denied Christ. Rebuked by the grief of his mother and his wife, he came to himself, repented, and confessed his faith before the king, for which he was condemned to a slow death by dismemberment; he endured it with prayer, and for this he is called the Cut-to-Pieces.

His repentance and endurance have made him one of the most venerated martyrs of the East. He is commemorated on November 27.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, James the Persian is commemorated on November 27. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on December 10 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

Iakovos, James, Jacob

Also commemorated on November 27

• Pinouphrios the Venerable

  Venerable, Πινούφριος

  Venerable Pinouphrios of Egypt, the abbot who fled honour to live as an unknown novice.

• Nathanael the Venerable

  Venerable, Ναθαναήλ ο Όσιος

  Venerable Nathanael of Nitria, who did not leave his cell for many years.

• Gregory of Sinai

  Venerable, Γρηγόριος ο Σιναΐτης

  Venerable Gregory of Sinai, teacher of hesychast prayer on Athos and in Bulgaria.

• Theodosius of Trnovo

  Venerable, Θεοδόσιος του Τυρνόβου

  Venerable Theodosius of Trnovo, disciple of Gregory of Sinai and teacher of hesychasm in Bulgaria.

• Damaskenos the Studite

  Hierarch, Δαμασκηνός ο Στουδίτης

  Saint Damaskenos the Studite, Bishop of Liti and Rentini, author of the Thesauros.

• James of Rostov

  Hierarch, Ιάκωβος Ροστοβίας

  Saint James the Wonderworker, Bishop of Rostov.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.