My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
Saint Iakovos, the Glorious Great-Martyr of Christ, was from Persia. He lived during the years of Emperors Arkadios in the East (383-408 A.D.) and Honorios in the West (395-423 A.D.), the sons of the great Theodosios (379-395 A.D.). He abided in Veethlavan of Persia, situated in the land of Elouzeesion. Then, Isdigerdis (399-425 A.D.) and Bahram V, his son, ruled over the Persians. They were cruel and pitiless men. They forced the Christians, whomever they found, to worship, as they did, the senseless idols.
Now Iakovos was a lord of merit, notable, and of good service to the nation. He was honored and beloved by all, as he was wealthy, knowledgeable, and virtuous. He therefore was first in the palace, and the king exceedingly loved him. He bestowed on him great importance and abundant gifts. So much did Isdigerdis and his son Bahram love Iakovos that they did not wish to be separated even one hour from him. They displayed such favor that they had him as a brother, for he was well-mannered and his family prominent. This came about so that they could cunningly lure him to impiety; for Iakovos was a Christian from childhood, just as his parents and wife were pious and faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, these villains tried hard to estrange him with gifts and gratuities. They elected to be good natured and discreet, and to persuade him with benefits and flatteries rather than with threats and torments. However, this marvellous Iakovos, who resisted at first, was defeated by the many generous favors of the ruler and–alas!-was captured. He denied the Most Sweet Christ and worshipped the demons, and became one in spirit with the king.
It was circulated around the land that Iakovos had denied Christ. This news came into the ears of his mother and spouse, who were wounded in their hearts upon hearing these unexpected words. Since they were not present to censure the words uttered by his tongue, they sent him a letter, saying thus: "It was not proper to thy nobility to exchange falsehood for the truth, to defraud the Faith for the honor of men and temporary rewards, which pass by as a dream and disperse like smoke, and to love the perishable and temporary kingdom, and abandon immortality and eternity…we pray to the true God not to desert thee, as He is compassionate, but to receive thy return…the Master Whom thou has denied will receive thee with open arms and rejoicing. If thou shouldest disdain our advice and tears, when thou shalt reach the divine trial, thou shalt be punished in torments endlessly, and thy weeping shall be in vain."
Upon reading the letter from his mother and wife, Iakovos, cried bitterly and repented from his heart of the former things and beat his breast, lamenting and crying before the Master to forgive the iniquity, as He is compassionate. In imitation of Manasseh and Saint Peter’s repentance, he studied the Holy Scripture and recalled the bitter punishments. Certain idolaters learned the reason for his disquiet and they reported him to the king, whose heart was wounded on hearing such things. Infuriated, he summoned Iakovos for questioning and inquired if he were a Nazarene. Iakovos answered boldly and eagerly, "Yes, I am a slave of my Lord Jesus Christ." The king’s rage grew, but he remembered their previous friendship, so he did not make a display or an outburst of anger. He tested Iakovos with flattery and by promising gifts, but at other times, he threatened hideous punishments and tortures, to see, perchance, if he would waver. But the cowardly king was not effective, because the Saint now thirsted for Martyrdom.
The blessed Iakovos, in order to cause the tyrant to slay him quickly. The king realized it was impossible to pervert him. Therefore, he took counsel with a certain senator, who recommended such severity that upon hearing it, the king shuddered. But our true Martyr did not shrink back upon hearing such a sentence, rather, he hastened to the stadium with excessive joy and eagerness. The executioners tied the hands and feet of the Martyr. Afterward, they placed his right arm on the anvil, saying to him, "Behold what will happen to thee for thy disobedience. We have been instructed to cut off thy members one by one: thy fingers, hands, feet, ankles, knees, and finally thy head. Therefore, come to reason before thou dost taste these horrors… The Saint answered them, "Weep not for me, O wretched ones, but lament for yourselves and your children, as you will go to everlasting damnation with your gods…I though, for one day’s pain, shall inherit the Kingdom of my Lord Jesus Christ and, also, indescribable joy and everlasting bliss." After saying these things, he noticed that the executioners were readying their tools to cut off his limbs. Consequently, he asked for time that he might offer up prayers to the Lord. He then prayed that God might strengthen and assist him to complete the contest and receive the crown of Martyrdom.
They then began the martyrdom of the holy Iakovos. The executioners first cut off his thumb, Then, they severed the fingers of his left hand, one by one; and he was grateful at the cutting of each, saying an appropriate praise and hymn. Then they proceeded to cut off the toes of his feet, one by one, in order to subject him to even more pain. The torture continued as they cut off the thighs of the martyr and finally they cut off his honorable head, and thus, he acheived all those indescribable blessings: "Eye hath not seen, and ear hath not heard, and neirther hath it entered into the heart of man the things which God prepared for those who love Him" [1 Corinthians 2:9).
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 