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Commemorated on March
21st
Saint James, Bishop and Confessor,was inclined toward the ascetic life from
his early years. St James left the world and entered the Studite monastery,
where he was tonsured. He led a strict life, full of works, fasting and prayer.
Pious and well-versed in Holy Scripture, St James was elevated to the bishop's
throne of Catania (Sicily).
During the reign of the iconoclast emperor Constantine V Copronymos
(741-775), St James was repeatedly urged not to venerate the holy icons. They
exhausted him in prison, starved him, and beat him, but he bravely endured all
these torments. St James died in exile.
Troparion Tone 5
Shining forth in holy abstinence,/ as a Hierarch and Minister of God the
Word,/ thou didst rightly divide the inspired word of truth./ By thy virtuous
struggle/ thou dost confirm and reveal the grace given to thee/ and teach all to
worship the Savior's icon:/ and thou dost pray to Him for us all.
Kontakion Tone 8
Thou didst excel in the gifts of the priesthood,/ and by thy struggles didst
become illustrious in confessing the Faith./ Since thou art a fruitful branch of
Christ the True Vine,/ grant the new wine of forgiveness and salvation to those
who cry: Rejoice, O Father James.
Source: www.oca.org,
Menologian Software 2.0,
www.holy-transfiguration.org
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