Venerable James, Abbot of Zheleznoborov
Saint James of Zheleznoborov was born in the second half of the XIV century, a son of the noble Anosov (or Amosov) line, which had their lands at Galich (Kostroma Province) As a young man he became the disciple of Saint Sergius of Radonezh, who tonsured him, and he remained at Holy Trinity Monastery for several years. In 1392, with his Elder's blessing, Saint James retreated into the forest, seeking solitude at a place on the banks of the Tebza River, which was known as Iron Pines (Железный Борок) because of the deposits of iron ore in the Kostroma region.
The sanctity of his life, worthy of admiration, was already known during his lifetime. In 1415 Sophia (Synklētikḗ in monasticism, + 1453), the wife of Great Prince Basil (1389-1425), became seriously ill before giving birth. The Prince sent a message to Saint James begging him to pray for his wife, and asking him if she would live. The Saint advised him to pray to the Holy Martyr Longinus, and predicted the birth of his son, Basil the Dark. In 1450, that child, Great Prince Basil the Dark (1425-1462), visited the Monastery of Saint James and prayed there to give thanks for his victory over Prince Dēmḗtrios Shemyaka.
The grateful Prince Basil the Dark rewarded Saint James and gave him money to build a Monastery dedicated to the Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple, with a church in honor of the Holy Prophet and Forerunner John. Then the Tatars lay waste to the area around Galich. Saint James went deep into the forest with his disciples. When they returned, they found the Monastery in ruins. Everything had to be rebuilt.
The Saint built a church dedicated to Saint Nicholas, and he dug out ponds with the brethren. Following the example of the Trinity-Saint Sergius Monastery a strict cenobitic Rule was introduced. Many of the hungry and destitute people, displaced by the Tatars, were fed at the Monastery.
After many years of common ascetical labors, the monks entreated Saint James to be their Igoumen. With great humility, he agreed to their request and journeyed to Moscow, where he was ordained as a priest. Soon after his return to the Monastery, he became severely ill. Sensing that his death was near, Saint James appointed his disciple Dosίtheos to succeed him as Igoumen of the Monastery.
After partaking of the Holy Mysteries and giving the monks his final blessing, Saint James reposed on April 11, 1442 and was buried in the church of Saint John the Forerunner at the Monastery he had founded. On his tomb the monks placed his stone cross, hair shirt, and chains – evidence of his ascetical labors.
The relics of Saint James were found to be incorrupt on May 5, 1613. Now he is buried behind the left choir of the Monastery's cathedral church.
Official Church approval for the local veneration of Saint James of Zheleznoborov was granted before 1628; and the first chapel dedicated to Saint James existed as early as 1635 (in Borisoglebsky church in the city of Galich). There have been about fifty cases of sick people being healed at the relics of Saint James, including the demoniac Néphon, and the monk Theodosios, who lay paralyzed for three years, and recovered only after vowing before the Saint's relics that he would not leave the Monastery. Following these events a special icon of Saint James, with fifteen scenes from his life, was commissioned. On the side panels of the Icon some of the most famous healings were depicted (this Icon disappeared after the closure of the Monastery during the Soviet period).
The last miracles were recorded in the early twenties of the XX century, when Hieromonk Joasaph (Sazonov) served a Moleben before the Saint's relics. These events served as an excuse for Hieromonk Joasaph's arrest in 1924, when he was accused of committing "deceptive acts using the religious prejudices of the believing masses."
Saint James is commemorated on April 11, the day of his repose, on May 5, the discovery of his relics in 1613, on July 6 (Synaxis of the Radonezh Saints), and on January 23 (Synaxis of Kostroma Saints).