The Monks Asklepios and James, Syrian Ascetics

Commemorated on February 27

The Monks Asklepios and James, Syrian Ascetics, lived during the V Century. Blessed Theodorit of Cyr speaks of them. The Monk Asklepios led an ascetic life of temperance in his native village and did not suffer hindrance by constant association with many people. He had many imitators and followers. One of them was Blessed James, who secluded himself into a small dwelling near the village of Nimuza. Up until the end of his 90 years of life, the ascetic did not exit his hermitage, giving answer to those who came through a small aperture, made on a slant in the wall, such that no one was able to see him. He never prepared a fire nor lighted a lamp.