Saint James Intercisus
Martyr in Persia
A Persian nobleman and royal favorite, James apostatized from his Christian faith before returning to it under the influence of his family. In 421, he suffered an exceptionally cruel martyrdom in which his limbs were amputated one by one before his beheading. His epithet Intercisus means 'cut to pieces' due to the nature of his torture.
Guided reading
4 reading sections
SAINT JAMES INTERCISUS, MARTYR IN PERSIA (421).
Apostasy and return to the faith
James, a Persian nobleman favored by King Yazdegerd, abandons Christianity out of complacency before repenting under the influence of a letter from his family.
James l Jacques A 5th-century Persian martyr, famous for having been dismembered for his faith. ived in Be th Lapat (P Beth-Lapéta City in Persia where the saint resided. er sia). Perse Empire where the martyrdom takes place. His birth, his wealth, his rare qualities, and the positions he held, along with the favors he received from t he king ( Isdegarde King of Persia under whom James initially apostatized. Yazdegerd), had made his name famous. All these advantages became a dangerous temptation for him, and he succumbed to it. Indeed, the prince having declared war on Christianity, he had the cowardice to sacrifice the true religion he had hitherto professed for the favor of his master. His mother and his wife felt deep pain at his fall; they fervently solicited his conversion and wrote him a letter of reproach which made the strongest impression on James. He no longer appeared at court, distanced himself from all those who might have seduced him, and renounced forever the advantages that had caused his downfall. The king (Bahram V, successo r to Yazd Vararanes King of Persia, successor to Yazdegerd, who ordered the martyrdom of James. egerd), informed of his change, summoned him. James generously confessed that he was a Christian. Bahram, beside himself with anger, called his ministers and the judges of the empire to deliberate on the new kind of death to be inflicted upon a man he claimed offended the deities of the country. It was decreed that if the alleged criminal did not abjure Christianity, he would be tied to the rack and his limbs would be cut off one after the other. No sooner was the sentence published than the whole city rushed to see such an extraordinary execution. The Christians offered fervent prayers to God that He might deign to grant His servant the grace of perseverance.
The trial before Vararanes
The new king Vararanes condemns James to progressive dismemberment after the latter publicly confesses his Christian faith.
When James had arrived at the place of execution, the executioners approached him and displayed before his eyes the instruments that were to be used to torture him. They then seized his hand and stretched out his arm with violence. But before striking him, they exhorted him to obey the king to deliver himself from the cruel torments he was about to suffer. But the soldier of Jesus Christ stood firm. The executioners having cut off his right thumb, he offered this prayer: "Savior of the Christians, receive this branch of the tree. It is true that this tree will rot; but it will regain its greenery, and I am assured that it will be crowned with glory!" The judge appointed by the king to witness the execution could not hold back his tears. He began to cry out to the Martyr along with the other spectators: "You have done enough for your religion; do not let a delicate body like yours be torn to pieces. You have riches: give a portion of them to the poor for the salvation of your soul; but do not die in this manner." — "The vine," replied the Saint, "is in a state of death during the winter, but it revives in the spring. How could the body of man, even if torn to pieces, not revive?" When the executioners had cut off his index finger, he cried out: "My heart has rejoiced in the Lord, and my soul has been transported in the salvation he has provided me. Receive, Lord, this other branch."
The martyrdom by dismemberment
James underwent the successive amputation of his fingers, toes, and limbs, giving thanks to God at each stage until his final beheading.
They then noticed the joy with which his soul was flooded and which manifested itself even on his face. At each finger they cut off, he gave thanks to God. The executioners moved from the right hand to the left. However, the judges implored him to have pity on himself and to save his life. "Do you not know then," the Saint replied to them with gentleness, "that he is not worthy of God who, after having put his hand to the plow, looks back." The executioners successively cut off the toes of both his feet. He praised the Lord at each amputation and showed a new joy. Seeing that he no longer had fingers on his hands or toes on his feet, he said quietly to the executioners: "Now that the branches have fallen, cut down the trunk. Do not let yourselves be moved by compassion for me; for my heart has rejoiced in the Lord, and my soul has risen toward Him who loves the small and the humble." They then cut off his feet, hands, arms, legs, and thighs. His trunk, deprived of all its limbs, was still alive and continued to bless the Lord. Finally, one of the guards struck off his head and thereby ended his martyrdom. The type of torture he suffered earned him the name Intercis Intercis A 5th-century Persian martyr, famous for having been dismembered for his faith. (that is to say, hacked).
Burial and attributes
The martyr's remains are secretly buried by the Christians, and the axe becomes his primary iconographic attribute.
The Christians gathered his scattered limbs and enclosed them with the torso in an urn, which they buried in a place unknown to the pagans.
The axe, the presume d instru La hache Presumed instrument of martyrdom and iconographic attribute of the saint. ment of Saint James's martyrdom, is his ordinary characteristic.
Godescard, suppleme nted with Godescard Hagiographer and translator, primary author of the source. the Characteristics of the Saints by Father Cahier.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Held high office at the Persian court
- Temporary apostasy under King Yazdegerd
- Conversion and return to the faith following a letter from his mother and his wife
- Condemnation by King Vararanes
- Martyrdom by successive amputation of limbs (fingers, hands, feet, arms, legs)
- Final beheading
Quotes
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Savior of Christians, receive this branch of the tree. It is true that this tree will rot; but it will regain its greenery, and I am assured that it will be crowned with glory!
Source text (Godescard) -
The vine is in a state of death during winter, but it revives in the spring. How could the body of man, even if cut to pieces, not revive?
Source text (Godescard)