Venerable James the Faster (VI)

The Venerable James the Faster (VI) laboured near the Phoenician city of Porphyreon. He lived for fifteen years in a cave, and for his exceptional piety received from the Lord the gift of wonderworking. Through his influence many of the local inhabitants were converted to the law of Christ. Then James moved to another cave and spent thirty years there. The devil sent the saint a terrible trial: once James healed a girl possessed by an evil spirit, and afterwards fell into sin with her. Shaken by the torment of conscience over the sin he had committed, the monk wandered for a long time in the desert, finding shelter nowhere, and went so far as to decide to abandon monasticism and return to the world; but the most merciful Lord did not allow the repentant soul to fall. Wandering in the desert, James came upon a monastery and confessed his sin before the abbot and the brethren. Despite the abbot’s advice to stay with them, James again made for the desert; at last he met a desert-dweller full of grace and wisdom, who also offered to let James stay with him. James did not stay, but, strengthened and encouraged by his conversation with the desert-dweller, he shut himself up in a cave and for ten years besought the Lord with repentance, tears and lamentation for the forgiveness of his sin. God received the monk, strengthened by his prayers, and again granted him the gift of wonderworking. Saint James lived in his cave until his death and was buried there.