On Saturday, December 14, St. James Church of Evanston, IL, will celebrate its name day with a special service of veneration for the relic of its patron saint. The relic has traveled more than 5,000 miles from St. Kevork Armenian Church in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, on this special occasion.

St. James (also known as Jacob, or Hagop in Armenian) of Nisibis was a celebrated 4th-century ascetic and theologian. In A.D. 308 he was appointed as the second bishop of the Christian community in the Mesopotamian city of Nisibis-modern Nusaybin, situated near the Turkish-Syrian border. He was a signatory at the Council of Nicaea in 325, which devised the Nicene Creed (theHavadamk). St. James is also known as the first Christian to search for Noah's Ark-a piece of which he claimed to find on Mount Judi (Judi Dagh), some 70 miles from Nisibis. He died around A.D. 338.

Saint James of Nisibis 

Patron Saint of our Church

His Life

The date of the birth of St. James of Nisibis is unknown, but it is known that he died in the year 338.  He was educated in Caesarea, together with St. Gregory the Enlightener.  He lived a very pious life, in Nisibis, where he subjected himself to the very rigorous life of hermits of the times.  As a rhetorician and miracle worker, he enjoyed such widespread popularity that Patriarch Melitus of Antioch ordained him bishop in Amida and named him to the See of Nisibis (Medzbin), as a result of which he became known as the Patriarch of Nisibis.

St. James, being well endowed with administrative ability, served his people well, even in civil matters.  It is said that Persian monarch Shapur II, having succeeded in far-reaching military con- quests, on reaching Nisibis, besieged the city.  After 70 days of siege the attack failed to break the defenses due to the wise stratagem used by St. James.  It is probably based on this historical episode that St. Nerses the Gracious composed a beautiful sharagan (hymn) dedicated to St. James, starting with the words "Victorious and hallowed patriarch..."

St. James was an erudite theologian.  He participated in the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, in the year 325, when 318 high-ranking church leaders set forth the Articles of Faith known as the Nicene Creed.

There have been conjectures concerning St. James' racial lineage, it being thought that he was Assyrian. However, the unusual love and veneration shown this patriarch by Armenians point to a different tradition whereby he was thought to be the son of Khosrovuhi, an aunt of St. Gregory the Enlightener.  St. Gregory is thought to have assigned St. James to the challenging role of preaching and organization in the district of Sasoun.

Relics associated with Patriarch St. James                 

Relics of the Patriarch St. James of Nisibis are in the possession of a number Armenian Churches around the world- Holy Etchmiadzin, Holy Mother-of-God Armenian Church in Nicosia, Cyprus, the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia, in Antelias among the others.     

One such important relic of St. James of Nisibis can be found at St. Kavork Armenian Church in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The relic was encased in a gold hand-shaped reliquary in the 18th century and is on display in the church museum. With the blessing of the Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, this relic has been given to St. James Armenian Church, Evanston, Illinois on loan for this year's annual celebration of the Feast of St. James of Nisibis and our church's Name Day. 

St. James Church is beginning a new undertaking and needs your help. We are in need of volunteers willing to give a few hours of assistance to elderly members of the Chicago Armenian community with household chores, minor home repairs, shopping, rides or just companionship.

Parishioners who were dues-paying members in 2012 (i.e., current members) who wish to vote at the 2014 parish assembly must pay their 2013 dues by December 31, 2013.

Parishioners who were NOT dues-paying members in 2012 (i.e., new members) needed to have paid their 2013 dues by June 30, 2013 in order to be eligible to vote at the 2014 parish assembly. We encourage all parishioners who are not eligible to vote at the 2014 assembly to pay their dues by June 30, 2014 so that they can vote at the 2015 parish assembly