Saint James, Bishop of Nisibis

Life

As a hermit he lived in summer in the open field, and in winter in a cave. Once he came down to the city of Nisibis, to see how the Christian faith was prospering and how Christians were living. But there he was elected bishop. He participated in the First Ecumenical Council and defended Orthodoxy from the heresy of Arius. It happened once that the impious Persians attacked Nisibis with an army. Saint James with a procession went out to the city ramparts, and himself climbed upon the rampart and walked along the ramparts, not fearing the enemy arrows that were aimed at him. Walking thus, the saint prayed to God that God would preserve the city and the faithful in this manner: by sending flies and gnats upon the Persians, and thereby drive them away from the walls of the city of Nisibis. He did not, therefore, ask for death to the enemies nor any kind of destruction and defeat, but only a small annoyance that would drive them away from there. And God heard the prayer of His beloved one and sent many flies and gnats upon the Persians, and drove them away and saved the city of Nisibis. Saint James lived long and honorably, and peacefully ended his life in deep old age, in the year 350.