St. James, first Archbishop of Jerusalem +62 AD

St. James, first Archbishop of Jerusalem +62 AD

June 19th is the commemoration of the dukhrono of St. James the Just +62AD according to the Liturgical Calendar of the Syriac Orthodox Church. Mor Yac'ub was the first Archbishop of Jerusalem. He is the brother of Jesus by virtue of being born to a previous wife of Joseph. He was called 'James the Just' because he was a righteous man who was steadfast in prayer, frequently found alone in the church, praying on his knees so often that they became hard as camel. He wrote the general Epistle in his name. Mor Yac'ub formulated the Divine Liturgy known as the Anaphora of St. James. This is the oldest form of worship in the history of Christianity. This form of worship is the 'Holy Qurbono' preserved & handed down through the centuries by the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch. Persecutors of James demanded a denial of his faith in Jesus Christ in public. He instead affirmed his faith that Christ, our Lord & Saviour, is the Son of God. They threw him down from the top of the church. Even though he survived the fall, he was subsequently beaten to death with a fuller’s club. Thus Mor Yac'ub attained the crown of martyrdom. St. John of Dara in his 'Commentary on the Eucharist' (quoting Sts. Basil, Epiphanius, & John Chrysostom) states that Christ himself entrusted the Qurobo to James on third day of the week of Pentecost; who then communicated St. John the Apostle who finally communicated St. Mary the mother of God. The Syriac Orthodox Church continues to use a part of the prior Qurobo in preparation of the next lahmo (Eucharist Bread) thereby maintaining the unbroken connection to the Holy Apostles for the last 2000 years. Mor Yac'ub is commemorated every Sunday in the Thubden d-Qadishe (5th Thubden/Dypthic) of the Syriac Orthodox Church Holy Qurbono; describing him as, “Jacob, the first Archbishop of Jerusalem, the Apostle & martyr”. Biography adapted from 'Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church' Oh Mor Yac'ub! Plead for us before God's throne of grace. Amen. BL14504