Saint James Intercisus

James was a high official at the court of the Persian King Yazdegerd I in the early 5th century. To keep the king's friendship he gave up practicing his Christian faith, until his mother and wife wrote to him in sorrow, telling him they would have nothing to do with him while he denied Christ. Moved to repentance, he openly declared himself a Christian again. Under King Bahram V, around 421, he was condemned to a slow and cruel death, and his Latin name Intercisus means "cut to pieces."

Ancient accounts say he prayed and praised God through every moment of his suffering. He is honored in both the Eastern and Western Churches as "James the Persian."