The Nicene Age · AD 313–400
James the Presbyter
d. c. AD 376 (martyr) · Presbyter · Martyr · Adiabene (Sasanian Persia)
The Nicene Age
Who James the Presbyter was
Presbyter arrested and killed with Bishop Acepsimas. Distinct from James of Nisibis, who died in his bed in 338, and from every other James in the archive.
Named once in the sources within the horizon; no other ancient witness names him.
Also listed in martyrs.
Common questions
When did James die?
James the Presbyter is dated d. c. AD 376 (martyr) in the archive, which places James in the Nicene Age (AD 313–400). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
Which early sources mention James?
James the Presbyter is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from Sozomen. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was James from?
The archive associates James the Presbyter with Adiabene (Sasanian Persia).
Who were James’ contemporaries?
The archive links James the Presbyter to 2 other figures, including Acepsimas and Shapur II. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (1)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Ecclesiastical History II.13 (the persecution under Shapur II)
c. AD 445the bishop Acepsimas, with one of his priests named JamesSozomen · Ecclesiastical History II.13 · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 306 · The Council of Elvira, AD 306
- AD 311 · Galerius’ edict of Serdica, AD 311
- AD 313 · The Edict of Milan, AD 313
- AD 314 · The Council of Arles, AD 314
- AD 320 · Silvanus tried before Zenophilus, AD 320
- AD 325 · The Council of Nicaea, AD 325
- AD 339 · The persecution of Shapur II, AD 339
- AD 343 · The Council of Serdica, AD 343
- AD 361 · Julian’s pagan restoration, AD 361
- AD 366 · Damasus and the catacomb epigrams, AD 366
- AD 367 · Athanasius lists the 27 NT books, AD 367
- AD 372 · The martyrdom of Sabbas the Goth, AD 372
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put James.
- 1Adiabeneprovince only