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Great Saints of the Orthodox Church - Venerable James the Confessor, Bishop

James was inclined toward the ascetical life from a young age and became a monk at the Studite monastery. He led a strict life of prayer, fasting, and labor. Due to his great virtue, he was elevated to Bishop of the church in Cantania, Sicily. During 9th century during the iconoclast uprising, he championed the cause of icons together with St. Theodore the Studite as far as the royal house in Constantinople. He was repeatedly urged to renounce the holy icons, but he refused. He was starved and beaten in prison, but he bravely endured the suffering. St. James died in exile.