Great Martyr James the Persian (+421)

The holy Great Martyr James the Persian came from a rich and noble Christian family living in the Persian city of Beth Lapat, and he had an Orthodox wife as well. The couple brought up their children in piety and instilled in them a love of prayer and of Holy Scripture. James held a high office at the Persian royal court. Once, during a campaign, he was captivated by the king’s favour, did not dare to confess his faith openly, and offered sacrifice to the idols together with the lawless ruler. When James’s wife and mother learned of this, they were greatly grieved; they wrote him a letter of rebuke and called him to repentance. When he had read the letter, James wept aloud and asked God’s forgiveness. The saint’s fellow soldiers heard him praying to Christ and denounced him to the king. Strengthened by the Holy Spirit, James courageously confessed Christ at his interrogation. This time no threats or persuasions of the king could turn him away from the true faith. Then the autocrat, full of wrath, ordered the blessed one’s soul to be driven out of him by torture. They cut off James’s fingers and toes one by one, and then his hands and feet. The saint prayed without ceasing and gave thanks to God that he had been given the chance to redeem the sin he had committed by suffering. At last the blessed martyr was beheaded; this happened in 421.