Skip to content
Thursday, November 12
Prophet Ahijah the Shilonite
Sinaxarion

Venerable

James the Solitary

Hermit, venerated in the early Church.

Feast
November 26old style December 9
Era
5th century
Order
Venerables

Life

James the Solitary was a hermit of the 5th century and a disciple of Saint Maron, patriarch of the Maronites. James of Cyrrhus had been taught by Maron and then went off to live alone, without shelter, on a mountain not far from the city of Cyrrhus in Syria. He was known for his wisdom and his powerful gift of intercession; even the Byzantine emperor Leo asked his counsel in matters relating to the Council of Chalcedon.

He is commemorated on 26 November in the Orthodox Church, in Western Rite Orthodox communities and in the Eastern Catholic Churches of the Byzantine Rite.

Commemorated the same day November 26