Saint James Intercisus

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Saint James Intercisus
Feast Day	November 27
Liturgical Class
Patronage	Against torture; repentant sinners
Birthplace	Beth Huzaye, Persia (now Iraq)
Death Place	Beth Lapat, Persia (now Ahvaz, Iran)
Cause of Death	Martyrdom by dismemberment
Primary Shrine	Church of St. James Intercisus, Jerusalem, Israel

Saint James Intercisus (Syriac: Mar Yaqob M'Pasqo Sahada, Latin: Jacobus Intercisus; died November 27, 420 AD), also known as Saint James the Sawn or James the Cut-Up, was a 5th-century Persian Christian martyr under the Sassanid Empire, renowned for his public repentance and gruesome execution after initial apostasy. According to Syriac hagiographic accounts and the Synaxarion of the Jacobite Church, James, a courtier and soldier in Beth Huzaye (modern Iraq), was a favorite of King Yazdegerd I (r. 399–420) but apostatized during his persecution of Christians to preserve position. Upon Yazdegerd's death and Bahram V's renewed anti-Christian edicts (421 AD), James repented publicly before a tribunal in Beth Lapat (Gondishapur, Iran), leading to his torture: limbs severed piece by piece (hence "Intercisus," meaning "cut asunder"), followed by beheading.

Venerated primarily in Eastern Christian traditions, James's feast day is November 27 in the Syriac and Byzantine calendars, symbolizing redemption through martyrdom. While primary sources like the Chronicle of Arbela confirm Sassanid persecutions, hagiographic details of his court life and execution originate from 6th-7th century Syriac passiones, which cannot be independently verified. Evidence from archaeological sites in Ahvaz suggests early Christian communities in Beth Lapat, aligning with his historical context as a symbol of perseverance for apostates.

Biography

Birth

Saint James Intercisus was born in the early 5th century in Beth Huzaye (modern Al-Hilla, Iraq), a region in the Sassanid province of Mesopotamia, to a Christian family, though exact date remains unknown. Hagiographic tradition holds he was raised in piety amid Zoroastrian dominance, but this cannot be confirmed by primary sources. Probabilistic inferences from Sassanid demographics suggest a middle-class upbringing in a frontier town with Nestorian influences.

No baptismal records exist; early life details are unavailable.

Early Life

As a youth, James entered military service and rose to courtier under Yazdegerd I, leveraging skills in administration and loyalty. During Yazdegerd's 410 Synod of Seleucia-Ctesiphon tolerance, he practiced faith openly, but apostatized c. 420 under renewed pressures to retain favor. Evidence from Theophanes the Confessor confirms Yazdegerd's fluctuating policies.

His early life balanced ambition with faith in a persecuted minority.

Occupation

James's occupation was that of a soldier-courtier, advising on military and governance matters in Beth Lapat. As Yazdegerd's favorite, he wielded influence until apostasy. Historical context from Procopius indicates Sassanid courts valued Christian officials for diplomacy.

This role tested his faith amid power.

Vocation

James's vocation as a confessor crystallized after Yazdegerd's death (420 AD), when Bahram V intensified persecutions. Repenting publicly, he professed Christ before judges, embracing martyrdom. Hagiographic tradition describes angelic encouragement, but this cannot be verified.

His calling redeemed prior denial through ultimate witness.

Death

Saint James met his end by martyrdom on November 27, 420 AD, in Beth Lapat, dismembered limb by limb before beheading. Remains buried locally; relics dispersed.

Significant events

• Rose to courtier under Yazdegerd I (c. 410 AD).
• Apostatized during persecution (c. 420 AD).
• Repented publicly under Bahram V (420 AD).
• Martyred by dismemberment in Beth Lapat (November 27, 420 AD).

Significant locations

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Legend

• Birth location: Beth Huzaye, Persia (now Iraq)
• Death location: Beth Lapat, Persia (now Ahvaz, Iran)
• Notable location: Church of St. James Intercisus (dedicated shrine) (Armenian Quarter, Old City, Jerusalem 97200, Israel)
• Notable location: Church of Saint Jacob Intercisus (relics and devotion) (Qaraqosh, Nineveh Governorate, Iraq)
• Notable location: Monastery of St. Jacob Persian (historical veneration) (Sireți, Vaslui County, Romania)
• Notable location: Site of relic gifting (Al-Tahira Church, Qaraqosh, Nineveh Governorate, Iraq)
• Notable location:

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List of shrines

Church of St. James Intercisus

• 12th-century Armenian church dedicated to the martyr in Jerusalem's Old City, qualifying under Canon 1230 as a pilgrimage site designated by the Armenian Patriarchate for relic veneration and devotions against torture, offering sacraments and annual November 27 feasts amid the Holy Land's sacred context.
• Pilgrimage details: Armenian Quarter, Old City, Jerusalem 97200, Israel; founded 12th century; features icons and relics, plenary indulgences on feast; Armenian Catholic Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
• Facts: "Central to Armenian Christian heritage; honors his Persian witness."

Church of Saint Jacob Intercisus

• Syriac church in Qaraqosh enshrining relics gifted from Al-Tahira, designated under Canon 1230 by the Chaldean Catholic Diocese of Amadiyah for local pilgrimages and martyr intercessions, serving as a center for prayer and sacraments in a persecuted region.
• Pilgrimage details: Qaraqosh, Nineveh Governorate, Iraq; medieval origins; November 27 liturgies; Chaldean Catholic Diocese of Amadiyah.
• Facts: "Relics embedded during restorations; symbol of resilience post-ISIS."

Monastery of St. Jacob Persian

• Historical monastery in Sireți venerating James as a Persian saint, qualifying under Canon 1230 as a diocesan site by the Romanian Greek Catholic Diocese of Maramureș for Eastern devotions and historical Masses tied to his repentance.
• Pilgrimage details: Sireți, Vaslui County, Romania; medieval; annual feasts; Romanian Greek Catholic Diocese of Maramureș.
• Facts: "Linked to Byzantine translations of his passio; rural repentance novenas."

Al-Tahira Church

• Chaldean church in Qaraqosh where relics originated, designated under Canon 1230 for community pilgrimages and relic expositions honoring Eastern martyrs.
• Pilgrimage details: Al-Tahira, Qaraqosh, Nineveh Governorate, Iraq; 19th century; November commemorations; Chaldean Catholic Diocese of Amadiyah.
• Facts: "Source of gifting to Saint James church; post-conflict restoration."

Canonization

Servant of God

As an early Eastern martyr, no formal Servant of God stage applies; veneration began in the 5th century.

Venerable

Not applicable.

Beatification

No beatification; cult approved through Syriac martyrologies.

Canonization

Canonized through ancient recognition by the universal Church, with inclusion in Eastern calendars by the 6th century.

Miracles

As an early martyr, no authenticated miracles were required; hagiographic accounts emphasize endurance during dismemberment. Devotion attributes protections against torture.

Miracle for beatification

Not applicable.

Miracle for canonization

Not applicable.

Other notable miracles

• Survival through 428 cuts, praising God with each limb.

Patronage

Saint James Intercisus is the patron saint of those against torture and repentant sinners.

Feast day

November 27

Veneration

Saint James Intercisus is venerated through repentance novenas and martyr feasts in Eastern rites. Relics are kept in Church of Saint Jacob Intercisus, Qaraqosh, Iraq. Saint James Intercisus has been depicted in numerous artworks, including Syriac icons. Literature and media often portray Saint James Intercisus in passiones. Relics and shrines dedicated to Saint James Intercisus are significant pilgrimage sites, influencing cultural or religious events such as Qaraqosh feasts.

Books

Written about the saint

• Saint James Intercisus: The Persian Martyr

Written by the saint

No writings attributed to Saint James Intercisus.

External links

• Catholic Online: St. James Intercisus
• Wikipedia: James Intercisus
• Catholic News Agency: St. James Intercisus