(Theodora, wife of Justinian,
patroness of non-Chalcedonians)
The Life of Jacob Baradaeus
Next the Forty-ninth History, of the Blessed James (Jacob) the Bishop, the Brave and Valiant Combatant
It would not, therefore be easy for anyone to approach the task of relating the history of the blessed James without fear, a history which transcends all the extent of the limits of narrative, a man whose story is higher than all words and all understandings; but out of love of truth we will, through our poor language and in our contemptible writing, make both a memorial of a few of his own excellencies and a picture of the exhalation of his spiritual beauties. This saint therefore and veritable man of God from his boyhood, while he also was by his birth from Thella, was trained in the celebrated convent of the monastery called that of Fsiltha, but some cause summoned him together with the blessed Sergius whom we mentioned above, who also attained the honour of the high-priesthood (episcopacy) through the blessed James, with him first to go up to the royal city (Constantinople) on account of the faith. And, when they had been received with great honour by the believing queen (Theodora, wife of Justinian), and she had given them also a house and the rest of what they needed, thenceforth the blessed James dwelt alone in a little cell, in great retirement and arduous labours, and asceticism beyond measure, and in extraordinary poverty moreover in mode of life and in clothing, since he would cut one thick and ugly cloak of withes (?) into two, and out of its halves make what was required for his clothing and his scanty covering, and, though the blessed Sergius also as well did as he did and associated himself with him in fasting and vigil and constant recitation of service, yet he fell very far short of the standard of his retirement and his severe practices, on account of the communications brought by many who used to come to them and with whom he was required to speak; but the blessed James entirely refused to take part in these things, and refused also to appear during the day outside his cell.
(Theodora, wife of Justinian,
patroness of non-Chalcedonians)
When he had
been engaged for a period of about fifteen years in these labours in the same royal city
in his cell, then by the provision and at the instigation of the believing queen, he was
under pressure summoned to the episcopacy, together with another blessed man from the
country of Arabia whose name was Theodore; because the party of the believers (non-Chalcedonians)
had diminished and a deficiency had moreover arisen in the order of the priesthood over
all the commonwealth of the party the believers. And, when both had received the
high-priesthood, that is the blessed James that of the city of Edessa and Theodore that of
Hirtha of the Saracens, then he armed himself with divine strength, and went out to the
work of his ministry while he thenceforth began to pour out the priesthood derived from
him copiously over the regions in all the eastern districts, like a great river in the
days of springtime, having entered upon the high road of heroism at a vigorous spiritual
pace without ceasing or resting night and day, while in accordance with the saying of the
apostle he clothed himself in the breastplate of righteousness, and girded his loins with
the perfection of faith, and took hold of the shield of salvation, while he was at all
times carrying on a contest on behalf of the truth on the right hand and on the left, in
glory and in dishonour.
And so, in the
upper and lower countries, while he was running the vigorous course of heroism without
ceasing, from the Persian frontier even as far as the royal city of Constantinople, and
Alexandria, and all the countries, and fulfilling the work of the ministry to all the
orthodox believers, not only by organizing the clergy and the giving of the priesthood,
but also by consoling and comforting and edifying and strengthening and teaching all the
party of the believers everywhere; so that consequently his fame was carried over all
quarters, and in every country and city; so that all the synodite (Chalcedonian)
bishops from all sides were exasperated, and made threats against him to arrest him and
tear him in pieces. And, while they were running after him with menaces in all
quarters, he was sheltered by the divine grace, and was not delivered into the hands of
his pursuers, and of those who sought his life. For, whenever he went to any
district, he would complete all the work of his ministry in perhaps one night and one day,
and would pass the next night thirty or forty miles or more farther on. Whenever
news of him was heard in one district, and his pursuers went out after him, the brave man
would be found in his heroism fulfilling his work in another district, while those who
were running after him to the right and to the left were found beating the air, and,
exasperated and biting fingers, they would turn back with great shame, filled with
bitterness, contusion and gnashing their molars against the man mighty in his Lord, while
news of him was flying about today in one quarter and tomorrow in another. For his
part, he resolutely refused to allow even a travelling-companion to carry any gold
or silver or bronze with him, or any food upon the journey, though he would travel
extended stages at vigorous pace. On many days, they would traverse more than
the miles of a stage (a unit of distance between halting places), while he would
not consent to the fast and abstinence being broken; insomuch that on many days men could
not travel with him and minister to him more than a short time, since they could not
hasten on with his old age and support and endure his abstinence. He also
would not consent to avail himself of the use of an
animal for riding or for driving, but he used to accomplish his travelling on foot, since
besides being strengthened by divine grace he further also possessed a sound body by
nature. And thus he would accomplish the course along the road of righteousness, and
would make an addition to the party of the believers every day in every place, among
Greeks and Syrians.
As a
consequence, his fame, which was in every place, sorely exasperated the adversaries, and
disturbed them and made them run after him over the roads and districts and
quarters. And, when the report of him reached a place, the news of him would further
rouse excitement over an unlimited space in one day, while consequently pursuers and
horses would run after him in droves from all sides, meeting one another.
Insomuch that as chance would have it, those who were pursuing him often met the blessed
James himself, saying, "Have you heard any secret news of that deceiver James
anywhere there?" And he on his side would name to them a place no small
distance behind him, saying, "Yes, I have heard some men who were saying that he was
in such-and-such a place, and was going about there; and, if you set out, perhaps you will
catch him." Having heard these things from him as a piece of secret information
and supposing him to be in league with them, they would leave him to himself, and run
after him in accordance with the story that he had told them. And so their outward
eyes were closed as well as their inner ones, that they might not recognise the blessed
man.
It was not
these only who were exasperated and disturbed by the news of him, but also the king
himself (Justinian), who gave no small amount of gold to those who promised to
capture the blessed man -- including bishops, many monks, and several laymen. So
that many, when they saw his intentness and his eager desire and the gold that he gave for
the capture of the blessed man, and that everyone who promised to capture him received
from him a large quantity of gold, as much as he asked, they used consequently to deceive
the king, and promise and receive gold, from two hundred to three hundred darics, and go
out.
(Justinian, emperor 527-565 A.D.)
And there are some of them who, while they were making search with great diligence in every place, in deserts and on mountains and in cities and villages, were dazed and wearied, while they were unable to find the bondman of God on account of his abstemiousness, though these things continued to be carried on in this way for many years, indeed even till after king Justinian's death, while the blessed man was strengthened in his Lord, and was confident like a lion, and accomplished his ministry, causing the priesthood to flow like great rivers over the whole world of the Roman dominions. Consequently, if a man would take upon himself to say that a hundred thousand were ordained by him, I do not think he will depart from the truth; even as no small number of bishops and two patriarchs (Sergius and Paul) also received ordination from him and from others who were with him as is enjoined in the canons. First he took two admirable blessed men whose names are Eugene and Conon and entered the city of Alexandria, and there with other bishops, he made them also as well bishops, and so he went out; and with them he heroically performed the work of the ministry, which has been going on even down to this first year of the reign of Justin the king (A.D. 566). Though he has now reached an honoured old age, he does not fall short of the work of youth. For, as we declared at the beginning of the history that is concerned with him that cannot be told in proportion with what he really is, so also we state it now again at the end, having recorded a small portion of the conflict of the blessed man's contests and of his pursuits and his work for the glory of God -- who chose him and strengthened him and set him up in His church in the time of the persecution, in order that we may all be assisted by his prayers together with those of all the saints, Amen and Amen!
The history of the brave and valiant blessed man, James, the bishop and combatant is ended.
Next the Fiftieth History, Concering the Same Two Bishops, the Excellent and Divine Blessed Men, James and Theodore, Who Were Together in the Royal City at the Time of the Persecution, and Concerning the Active Work that was Performed by Them during the Same Persecution, by the Instigation and the Command of the Believing Theodora the Queen
Before these
things, therefore, in the sixteenth year of the reign of Justinian (A.D. 542), after the
time of the martyrdom of the blessed combatant for religion John, bishop of the city of
Thella at the hands of Ephraim of Antioch, when a lack of priests had consequently arisen
in the countries of the east and of the west, and especially of bishops, then the glorious
Hereth Bar Gabala, the great king of the Saracens, with many others asked the
Christ-loving queen Theodora to give orders that two or three bishops might immediately be
instituted by the orthodox in Syria. And, since the believing queen was desirous of
furthering everything that would assist the opponents of the synod of Chalcedon, she gave
orders and two blessed men, well-tried and divine persons, whose names were James and
Theodore, were chosen and instituted, one for Hirtha of the Saracens, that is Theodore,
and James for the city of Edessa.
And, while the
blessed Theodore exercised authority in the southern and western countries, and the
whole of the desert and Arabia and Palestine, as far as Jerusalem, the blessed James,
having armed himself with religion, and clothed himself in the zeal of heroism, extended
his course over all the countries not only of Syria and the whole of Armenia and of
Cappadocia -- all of which, down to the little ones, were especially distinguished and
strong in orthodoxy -- no less than Syria. And besides these, James ministered
in the countries also of Cilicia and then whole of Isauria and of Pamphylia and Lycaonia
and Lycia and Phrygia and Caria and Asia, and in the islands of the sea Cyprus and Rhodes,
and Chios and Mitylene, and as far as the royal city of Constantinople.
In which also, besides all the countries, he displayed the course of heroism, and filled
the ranks of the priesthood, and spread orthodoxy abroad. He not only
marshalled priests and supplied all quarters, but further also in keen religious zeal, he
did not shrink even from making provision for ordaining and appointing high-priests --
that is bishops -- also in every place. So that, since he was careful to
observe the regulations of the canons which command, that without three bishops, no bishop
shall be instituted, he contrived to bring with him two monks of good repute for
excellence of life, one from Cilicia and one from Isauria, and proceeded to the royal
city. And, having received the advice and perimission of the blessed
Theodosius patriarch of Alexandria (patriarch 536-567), who had been detained in the same
royal city by way of exile on behalf of the truth of the faith, the blessed James with the
above-mentioned monks directed his path to the city of Alexandria, after fully carrying
out the ministry of the priesthood in all the countries from the royal city as far as the
sea-coast of Lycaonia. And so he entered Alexandria, and after he had been in
communication with the saintly men there, in accordance with the mandate received from the
blessed Theodosius the patriarch, they assembled, and made these two blessed men bishops,
one whose name was Conon in the city of Tarsus of Cilicia, and the other whose name was
Eugene in the city of Seleucia of Isauria.
And James took
them and came back to Syria with admirable zeal. And so, in accordance with the
provision of the canons, they made metropolitans -- that is archbishops -- one whose name
was Dimet from the monastery of Aplithonia in the city of Laodicea, and another whose name
was John from the monastery of the house of Mar B'zy in Seleucia in Syria, and another
from those who were instituted at Alexandria who was mentioned above, whose name was
Conon, in Tarsus in Cilicia, and the other whose name was Eugene in Seleucia in Isauria;
and the other bishops also in Syria as follows: John from the monastery of the house
of Mar Bassus in Kenneshrin, and another whose name was Sergius from the monastery of
Aphthonia in Charrhae, and another whose name was John from the monastery of the house of
Mar Hanina in Sura Romanorum. And, when they had set up bishops for the
various cities of Syria as has been described, afterwards they went up to the royal city,
and in our presence they ordained a patriarch in Antioch, a man whose name was Sergius
from the city of Thella, who was living in the royal city and was versed in religious
learning. And, when Sergius had completed three years, be departe from the
world. After a time, again they ordained a man whose name was Paul from
Alexandria. About this man many controversies arose, and continue to the
present time when these things were written. Moreover, in the city of Amida
they ordained as metropolitan a man whose name was Eunomius, who had been exiled with
others among the same clergy of Amida, in the same royal city. And for the countries
of Egypt, by the mandate of the blessed Theodosius the patriarch, they ordained twelve
bishops at once in the royal city itself, for various cities of Thebais and of Egypt
besides a large number of clergy. They did this since the patriarch Theodosius
himself would not consent to ordain priests after he had left his see.
And afterwards,
the blessed James and his companions went out to the countries of Asia for the second
time, and they ordained four bishops in Asia: one in Ephesus, a man whose name was John
the Syrian, the converter of the pagans (and the author of this piece), and in
Smyrna a man whose name was Peter, and another whose name was John in the city of
Pergamum, and another whose name was Peter in the city of Tralles. And after
these things, they crossed to the island of Chios and set up a bishop in it, a man whose
name was Kashish from the monastery of John of Ephesus, both of whom were from the
monastery of the house of Mar John at Amida. And again they went back and
crossed to the regions of Caria, and there they set up two bishops, one whose name was
Paul in a city the name of which is Aphrodisias, and another whose name was Julian in a
city the name of which is Alabanda.
These are all
the bishops and archbishops, who are in number twenty-seven, besides two patriarchs whom
the blessed James ordained with all the other bishops, besides many clergy in all the
eastern and western countries. Many of all these were instituted in our presence, and with
regard to the truth of all these things we give confident and truthful witness that they
were done as above, and we have made a commemorative record of them for the knowledge of
posterity; but of the sublime manner of life of the blessed James, and his courage and
perfection, we have made a record in the preceding history.
The history of two bishops the excellent and divine
blesseed men, James and
Theodore, is ended.