The Holy Venerable Martyrs of Athos: James and His Disciples, the Hierodeacon James and the Monk Dionysius (+c. 1520)

The holy Venerable Martyr James was tonsured a monk on Mount Athos. He settled in the deserted Iveron skete of Saint John the Baptist, restored it, and began his ascetic labours under the guidance of the elder Ignatius. By unwearying labour the Lord’s chosen one gained such purity of soul that he was counted worthy of divine visions. Like the Apostle Paul, he was shown the blessedness of the Kingdom and the torments of hell. By a gift from on high the saint saw plainly the secret intentions and thoughts of everyone who came to him, and he had also been granted by the Lord the gift of working miracles. When he came to Aetolia with his disciples, the blessed James worked many miracles: he healed the sick and taught everyone. Countless people gathered round the saint. Ill-wishers denounced the venerable father to the Turkish authorities, saying that he was gathering the people and might start a rebellion. The tormentors used these false rumours as a pretext and demanded that the blessed one deny the Orthodox faith. In reply Saint James and both his disciples, the hierodeacon James and the monk Dionysius, firmly confessed Christ. For this they endured long torture from the godless, and at last, on 1 November 1520, committed their souls to the Lord in suffering. The holy relics of the venerable martyrs, glorified by miracles, were laid in the monastery of Saint Anastasia (commemorated 22 December) near Thessalonica, in the town of Galatista.