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James was a Christian Persian nobleman, born in the late fourth century. He capably served in the court of the Sassanid ruler Yazdegerd I, but when Yazdegerd began a persecution of Christians in the Sassanid Empire, James apostatized to keep his position. Heartbroken, James’s wife and mother wrote James a letter in which they rebuked his faithlessness, warned him of his coming judgment, and declared him cut off from all bonds of fellowship with them. Struck with guilt and shame, James began to shun his fellow courtiers and pagan acquaintances, loudly accusing himself and lamenting his apostasy. The new ruler, Bahram V, summoned James, who zealously proclaimed himself a Christian. Bahram angrily ordered that James be strung up in public and slowly dismembered. As the executioners began their bloody work, starting with his fingers and toes, James offered each severed body part to heaven. Soon James was left a mere trunk, with bloody stumps all that remained of his limbs; yet still the martyr joyfully praised his Creator, until he was finally beheaded, the first of many martyrs in the persecution under Bahram. James is surnamed Intercisus in Latin, meaning “cut apart” or “divided”.
AT Antioch, the holy martyrs Basileus, bishop, Auxilius, and Saturninus.
In Persia, St. James Intercisus, a distinguished martyr. In the time of Theodosius the Younger, he denied Christ to please king Isdegerdes, but his mother and his wife having for that reason withdrawn from his company, he entered into himself, and returned to the king to declare his faith in our Lord, whereupon the irritated monarch condemned him to be cut to pieces and beheaded. Countless other martyrs suffered at this time in the same country.
At Sebaste, in Armenia, the holy martyrs Hirenarchus, Acacius, priest, and seven women. Struck with the constancy of these women, Hirenarchus was converted to Christ, and with Acacius died under the axe, in the reign of the emperor Diocletian and under the governor Maximus.
In Galicia, on the river Caea, the Saints Facundus and Primitivus, who suffered under the governor Atticus.
At Aquileia, St. Valerian, bishop.
At Riez, in France, St. Maximus, bishop and confessor, who, from his tender years, was endowed with every grace and virtue. Being first superior of the monastery of Lerins, and afterwards bishop of the church of Riez, he was celebrated for the working of miracles and prodigies.
At Salzburg, in Austria, St. Virgilius, bishop, and apostle of Carinthia, inscribed among the saints by Sovereign Pontiff Gregory IX.
In India, on the confines of Persia, the Saints Barlaam and Josaphat, whose wonderful deeds were written by St. John Damascene.
At Paris, the departure from this world of St. Severin, monk and solitary.
℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
℟. Thanks be to God.