FEAST OF ST. JAMES OF NISIBIS (SOURP HAGOP)

This weekend, the Armenian Apostolic Church is commemorating the Feast of St. James of Nisibis.

St. James is the First BISHOP of Nisibis, Mesopotamia (309-338). He was renowned in the Syriac Church for his learning and holiness and for building a basilica and founding the theological school of Nisibis.

It is known that St. James of Nisibis had the Divine Vision of climbing
the Mount Ararat, where with the help of the Angel found the sacred relic of Noah’s Ark and brought it to the Armenian people.

He is one of the clergymen participating in the Nicene Council 325. He was the nephew of St. Gregory the Illuminator and together with him had been brought up and
educated in Caesaria. Died in 338 at Nisibis of natural causes; relics of the Saint at Edessa.

St. Gregory of Narek has dedicated a hymn to St. James of Nisibis. On the day of the Feast the memories of Hermit Marougue and Bishop Melitos are also commemorated. Hermit Marougue prophetically suggested that St. James would soon ascend the throne of Nisibis, and Bishop Melitos of Antioch ordained and consecrated him.

18 Dec 2004 by Press Office