Venerable James lived in the region around Cyrus of Syria from about 375 to about
468. He is commemorated on February 6th and November 26th.
By Theodoret of Cyrus
Since my account has entered on the narration of divine revelations, I shall narrate what I heard from this tongue incapable of deceit [James]. He told this story not out of vanity — for his godly soul is far removed from this passion —, but because a certain need compelled him to tell what he wished to hide. I was asking him to beg the God of the universe to make the crop clear of weeds and free it altogether from the seeds of heresy, for I was utterly tormented by the error of the abominable Marcion's having so strong a hold. To my earnest entreaty he replied, "You need neither myself nor some other intercessor with God, for you have the famous John, the mouthpiece of the Word, the forerunner of the Master, who constantly transmits this petition on your behalf." When I declared that I had faith in the prayers of this Saint as in those of the other holy apostles and prophets whose relics had lately been brought to us, he said, "Have confidence, since you have John the Baptist."
But not even so could I bear to keep silent. I pressed my inquiries all the more in my desire to learn why he made mention of this one in particular. "I wanted," he replied, "to embrace his beloved relics." When I said I would not bring them unless he promised to tell me what he had seen, he gave the promise, and I on the next day brought what he longed for; and ordering everyone to keep at a distance, he recounted to me alone the following.
"At the time," he said, "that you welcomed with Davidic choral singing the arrival from Phoenicia and Palestine of these city-guardians, a thought occurred to me whether these were in reality the relics of the famous John and not of some other martyr of the same name. Now one day later I got up at night for the hymnody, and saw someone clad in white who said, 'Brother James, tell me why you did not come to meet us on our arrival.' When I asked who they were, he replied, 'Those who came yesterday from Phoenicia and Palestine. While everyone welcomed us enthusiastically — the shepherd and the people, townsfolk and countrymen —, you alone did not take part in this veneration.' He was alluding to the doubts I felt. At this (James continued) I replied, 'Even in the absence of you and the others, I venerate you and worship the God of all things.'
Again on the next day, at the same time, he himself appeared: 'Brother James,' he said, 'look at the one standing there, whose raiment is like the snow in color, and before whom is placed a furnace of fire.' I moved my eyes in that direction and surmised it was John the Baptist, for he wore his cloak, and was stretching out his hand as if baptizing. 'It is the one,' he said, 'whom you have guessed it to be.'
And on another occasion (he continued), when you departed by night to their principal village, in order to punish them as seditious, and bade me address still more earnest prayer to God, I persevered without sleep entreating the Master. Then I heard a voice saying, 'Fear not, James. The great John the Baptist all night entreats the God of the universe; for there would have been great slaughter, had not the insolence of the devil been extinguished by his intercession.'"
After recounting this to me, he charged me to keep the knowledge to myself and not make others share it; but I, for the sake of the benefit, have not only recounted the story to many, but also entrust it to writing.
- From Philotheos History (or History of the Monks of Syria), ch. 21.
