Read a Story about St. James in Armenian

St. James of Nisibis (Mdzbin) is among the most beloved of saints of the Armenian people.

The Feast of St. James of Nisibis is celebrated each year on the Sunday between December 12^th and 18^th.

The most beautiful story linked to St. James of Nisibis is the legend of his climbing Mt. Ararat in search of Noah's Ark.  He is known as the first man who ever tried to climb Mt. Ararat to quench this devout desire.

According to the story, St. James of Nisibis wanted to climb Mt. Ararat in order to find Noah's Ark.  Despite his old age, he set out to climb the huge mountain.  On the way, he stopped to rest and fell asleep.  In his sleep an angel approached him and told him that he was too old a man and that it would be humanly impossible for him to climb all the way to the top, but to satisfy his ardent desire and deep faith, the angel gave him a piece of Noah's Ark, saying to him, "Take this and satisfy your desire."  St. James, being content with this piece from Noah's Ark, returned home.  According to tradition, this piece of Noah's Ark is in our Holy See of Etchmiadzin.

St. James is actually an Assyrian by nationality and only partially Armenian.  Although his father was an Assyrian, he was related to St. Gregory the Enlightener, from his mother's side (St. James was the son of Khosrovuhi, an aunt of St. Gregory the Enlightener).  Moreover, the Assyrians at that time were in close relationship with the Armenians, as were the Parthians.  Assyrian Mesopotamia, known as Asorik, was virtually part of Greater Armenia, and there were many Armenians and Assyrians living together in that region using the Armenian language as their practical language.

St. James lived in the 4th century and as a young man was educated alongside St. Gregory in Caesarea, the famous educational center of Asia Minor.  Caesarea is adjacent to Armenia and is known as the Lesser Armenia (Pokr Hayk).

St. James was consecrated Bishop of the See of Nisibis of Mesopotamia by Melidos, Archbishop of Antioch.  His consecration took place in Amit (near Tikranagerd), and thus was known as St. James of Nisibis (or Mdzbin), after the name of his Episcopal See.  Historically within Armenian boundaries, Nisibis is now called Nisibin and is located in present day Turkey, near the boarder with Syria. 

While serving in Nisibis, St. James led his Armenian flock during times of crisis.  The Persian monarch Shapur II sent his army to the city and surrounded it.  After a 70-day siege, the Persian army failed to break through to the city, due to the wise leadership of St. James.  It is probably because of this historical episode that St. Nersess Shnorhali composed a moving hymn dedicated to St. James.  Now the traditional chant for the feast day, it starts with the words "victorious and hallowed patriarch".

St. James of Nisibis was one of the 318 participants in the first ecumenical council in Nicea in 325 A.D.  He became famous for his virtuous and pious life and asceticism.  He won fame and popularity especially for his miracles, for which he is often called skanchelakordz, which means "wonderworker" in Armenian.

Also a monastery at the foot of Mt. Ararat was built in the name of St. James.  However, it was destroyed in a sever earthquake in 1840.

Also honored during the Feast of St. James of Nisibis is the memory of Hermit Marougue and Bishop Melitos.  Hermit Marougue prophetically guessed that St. James would soon ascend the throne of Jnisibis, and Bishop Melitos of Antioch ordained and anointed him.

The Feast of St. James of Nisibis is the name day of those churches named after him and is the name day celebration of those whose names are Hagop (Jacob or James).