Commemorated on October 23
St
James took upon himself the arduous task of foolishness for Christ in
his youth. Most of the details of his life are unknown, but the Lord
glorified him after death.
In the year 1540, on the third day
of Pascha, a large block of ice floated up against the current along
the River Msta to the village of Borovichi (in Novgorod district), and
on this block of ice stood the coffin (made from an oak log) without
cover, in which the body of the youth lay. Shunning the holy relics,
peasants with poles pushed the block of ice back into the river, but it
returned to the shore. This was repeated three times. That night the
youth appeared in a dream to the elders of the village, who had seen him
upon the ice-flow, and said, "I am also a Christian just like you.
Don't push me away. My name is James. I am the namesake of St James, the
Brother of God."
The relics of the holy youth were first
placed in a chapel, then in 1544 were transferred to the Descent of the
Holy Spirit church. Then the annual commemoration of the saint every
year on October 23 was established. The Lord, having glorified his
God-pleasing one, granted the relics of St James a curative power. A
Feastday with Matins was established in 1572. The Iconographic Manuals
describe St James: "A youth, bare, girded with a piece of cloth." In
1657 Patriarch Nikon sent part of the relics to Valdai, to the Iveron
monastery.
SOURCE:
SAINT OR FEAST POSTED THIS DATE 2014(with 2013's link here also and further:, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 and even 2007!):
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