James the Confessor

Who they were

James was born in Constantinople around 750 and entered the monastery of Stoudios, renowned for its strict observance and its defence of sacred images, under the guidance of his mentor Saint Theodore the Studite, where he became known for his theological learning and apostolic zeal.

When the emperor Leo the Armenian launched a persecution against the veneration of icons as idolatry, James firmly resisted, writing theological treatises and preaching in their defence; for this he was imprisoned, tortured and finally exiled to the island of Proconnesus, where he died around 824. His feast is kept on 21 March.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.

Why that counted as sanctity

Monk of the Stoudios monastery in Constantinople, disciple of Saint Theodore the Studite, imprisoned and exiled to Proconnesus for defending the veneration of icons under the persecution of Leo the Armenian; feast 21 March.