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Saint James of Nisibis

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Saint James of Nisibis
Feast Day July 15
Liturgical Class
Patronage Nisibis, theologians, ascetics
Birthplace Nisibis, Mesopotamia
Death Place Nisibis, Mesopotamia
Cause of Death Natural causes
Primary Shrine Cathedral of Termoli, Italy


Saint James of Nisibis (c. 270 – c. 338), also known as Jacob of Nisibis, Jacob the Great, or the “Moses of Mesopotamia,” was a Syriac saint, monk, and bishop of Nisibis, celebrated for his asceticism, miracles, and role in the First Council of Nicaea (325). Born in Nisibis, Mesopotamia (modern Nusaybin, Turkey), possibly to Prince Gefal of Armenia, he embraced solitude as a youth, living as a hermit in the mountains, subsisting on wild plants and wearing goat skins. Chosen bishop of Nisibis around 309–320, he founded its basilica and theological school, mentoring Saint Ephrem the Syrian. At Nicaea, he defended orthodoxy against Arianism, signing the Nicene Creed. Tradition credits him with climbing Mount Ararat to find Noah’s Ark, receiving a wooden relic from an angel, now preserved at Holy Etchmiadzin, Armenia. During the Persian siege of Nisibis (337–338), his prayers reportedly summoned gnats to repel Shapur II’s army. He died of natural causes in Nisibis around 338. Canonized pre-Congregation, his feast day is July 15 in the Roman Catholic and Syriac Orthodox Churches, mid-December or December 15 in the Armenian Apostolic Church. He is patron of Nisibis, theologians, and ascetics.[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_of_Nisibis)[](https://armenianchurch.us/the-saints/st-james-of-nisibis/)[](https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2021/01/13/100169-saint-james-bishop-of-nisibis)

His relics, initially buried in Nisibis, were moved to Edessa after the city’s cession to Persia in 363, then to Constantinople in 970, with fragments donated to Hildesheim Cathedral in 1367. His theological writings, including an 18-chapter *Discourse* on faith, love, and fasting, requested by Saint Gregory the Illuminator, are noted for clarity and warmth. The School of Nisibis, under his influence, became a key Christian learning center. His miracles, like reviving a feigned corpse and creating a healing spring, enhanced his veneration across the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox, and Armenian Apostolic Churches.[](https://stjameswatertown.org/our-parish-3/our-patron-saint/)[](https://sanctoral.com/en/saints/saint_james_of_nisibis.html)[](https://catholicsaints.info/saint-jacob-of-nisibis/)

Biography

Birth

Saint James was born around 270 in Nisibis, Mesopotamia, a trade hub on the Roman-Persian border. Some sources claim he was the son of Prince Gefal of Armenia or of Parthian origin, possibly related to Saint Gregory the Illuminator, though details are uncertain.[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_of_Nisibis)[](https://stjameswatertown.org/our-parish-3/our-patron-saint/)

Early Life

From youth, James sought solitude, living as an anchorite in the mountains near Nisibis. He practiced severe asceticism, eating fruits and greens, wearing goat skins, and praying under the open sky. During Emperor Maximian’s persecution (284–305), he became a Confessor of the Faith, enduring suffering for his bold witness. His piety drew visitors, including Bishop Sheria of Arbela.[](https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2021/01/13/100169-saint-james-bishop-of-nisibis)[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_of_Nisibis)

Occupation

James was a monk, bishop, and theologian. Chosen bishop of Nisibis between 309 and 320, possibly succeeding Babu, he built the city’s first church (c. 313–320) and founded the School of Nisibis, where he taught. He attended the First Council of Nicaea (325), opposing Arius and affirming Christ’s divinity. His *Discourse* (18 chapters), written for Gregory the Illuminator, covered faith, prayer, and anti-Jewish polemics. He mentored Ephrem the Syrian, shaping Syriac theology.[](https://armenianchurch.us/the-saints/st-james-of-nisibis/)[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_of_Nisibis)[](https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=3881)

Vocation

James’s vocation was asceticism, evangelization, and theological defense. As a hermit, he lived in extreme austerity, gaining foresight and miracles. As bishop, he protected Nisibis from Persian sieges (337–338, 350), notably through prayers that unleashed gnats on Shapur II’s army, forcing retreat. His Ararat quest, inspired by the hermit Maroukeh, aimed to affirm Noah’s Ark, yielding a relic and a healing spring. He converted pagans in Persia, performed healings, and revived a feigned corpse tricked by beggars, cementing his fame.[](https://sanctoral.com/en/saints/saint_james_of_nisibis.html)[](https://stjamesevanston.org/our-church/about/saint-james-of-nisibis)[](https://orthodoxwiki.org/Jacob_of_Nisibis)

Death

James died around 338 in Nisibis, likely of natural causes, during or shortly after the first Persian siege. Some sources, like Ephrem’s *Carmina Nisibena*, suggest he died during the siege, with his intercession credited for the city’s survival. Buried within Nisibis’s walls, his relics were later transferred to Edessa (363), Constantinople (970), and Hildesheim (1367).[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_of_Nisibis)[](https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2017/01/saint-james-bishop-of-nisibis.html)

Significant events

  • Embraced anchorite life, c. 280.
  • Became Confessor during Maximian’s persecution, c. 284–305.
  • Consecrated bishop of Nisibis, c. 309–320.
  • Built Nisibis’s first church, c. 313–320.
  • Attended First Council of Nicaea, 325.
  • Protected Nisibis from Persian siege, 337–338.
  • Died, c. 338.
  • Relics moved to Edessa, 363.

Significant locations

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Legend

  •   Birth location: Nisibis, Mesopotamia
  •   Death location: Nisibis, Mesopotamia
  •   Notable location:
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Parishes

Saint James of Nisibis

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Canonization

Servant of God

James’s recognition as a Servant of God began post-mortem, with miracles like the gnats at Nisibis and healings at his tomb, recorded by Ephrem and Gennadius, fostering veneration.[](https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2017/01/saint-james-bishop-of-nisibis.html)

Venerable

No formal Venerable declaration was recorded, as his sainthood predates modern processes. His cult spread through Syriac and Armenian traditions.[](https://armenianchurch.us/the-saints/st-james-of-nisibis/)

Beatification

No distinct beatification occurred, as his miracles and episcopal role ensured early veneration.[](https://catholicsaints.info/saint-jacob-of-nisibis/)

Canonization

James was canonized pre-Congregation, with no recorded date or canonizer. His feast is July 15 in Roman Catholic and Syriac Orthodox Churches, mid-December or December 15 in the Armenian Apostolic Church, per the menology.[](https://stjameswatertown.org/our-parish-3/our-patron-saint/)[](https://armenianprelacy.org/2024/12/12/st-james-of-nisibis/)

Miracles

James’s canonization rested on miracles, including the gnat swarm repelling Persians, a healing spring at Mount Ararat, and reviving a feigned corpse, verified by contemporaries like Ephrem.[](https://sanctoral.com/en/saints/saint_james_of_nisibis.html)[](https://stjamesevanston.org/our-church/about/saint-james-of-nisibis)

Miracle for beatification

No specific miracle was required, as his veneration predates formal beatification.[](https://armenianchurch.us/the-saints/st-james-of-nisibis/)

Miracle for canonization

Key miracles included the gnat swarm (337–338), the Ararat spring, and the corpse resurrection, per hagiographies.[](https://sanctoral.com/en/saints/saint_james_of_nisibis.html)

Other notable miracles

Patronage

Saint James is patron of Nisibis, theologians (for his *Discourse*), and ascetics (for his hermitic life), reflecting his spiritual and intellectual legacy.[](https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=3881)

Feast day

His feast is July 15 in Roman Catholic and Syriac Orthodox Churches, mid-December or December 15 in the Armenian Apostolic Church, with hymns by Saint Nerses the Graceful.[](https://stjameswatertown.org/our-parish-3/our-patron-saint/)[](https://armenianprelacy.org/2024/12/12/st-james-of-nisibis/)

Veneration

James is venerated across Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox, and Armenian Apostolic Churches. Pilgrimages honor his relics at the Cathedral of Termoli, Italy, and fragments at Hildesheim Cathedral, Germany. The Noah’s Ark relic at Holy Etchmiadzin and the Ararat spring draw devotees. Armenian churches, like Saint James in Watertown, Massachusetts, celebrate his December feast with readings from Krikor of Nareg’s encomium. His School of Nisibis and mentorship of Ephrem sustain his theological influence.[](https://stjameswatertown.org/our-parish-3/our-patron-saint/)[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_of_Nisibis)[](https://www.ilooys.com/post/2016/12/17/saint-james-of-nisibis)

Books

Written about the saint

Written by the saint

External links

References

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