Holy Martyr James the Persian

Life

James was born in the Persian city of Klapi, or Vilatus, of Christian parents, raised in the Christian Faith and married to a Christian woman. The Persian Emperor Yezdigerd loved James for his talent and cleverness, and made him a true nobleman at his court. Flattered by the emperor, James was deceived and offered sacrifice to idols, to which the emperor also bowed. Hearing of this, his mother and wife wrote him a reproachful letter in which they lamented him as an apostate and a spiritual corpse, yet begging him at the end of the letter to repent and return to Christ. Moved by this letter, James bitterly repented and before the emperor boldly confessed his faith in Christ the Lord. The angry emperor condemned him to death, but with this provision, that his body be cut off piece by piece until he expired. The executioners literally fulfilled this command of their impious emperor, and first cut off James's fingers on his hands, then his fingers on his feet, then his legs, then his hands, then his shoulders, and finally his head. At each cutting the penitent martyr gave thanks to God. From his wounds came a fragrant smell like cypress. Thus this wondrous man atoned for his sin and presented his soul to Christ his God in the Heavenly Kingdom. He suffered around the year 400. His head is found in Rome, and part of his relics in Portugal, where he is celebrated on May 22.

From the Hymn of Praise

The Creator loses not penitent souls,True penitents He loves most of all.James renounced Christ the Living God,For the sake of a godless emperor, his flatterer.