A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

6. DIACONUS (the DEACON) or of EDESSA. It is doubtful of what church Jacobus was deacon. Baronius contends for Heliopolis in Coele-Syria, but Pagi and Assemani think he belonged rather to Edessa. He appears to have lived about the middle of the 5th century, and is known only as the author of Vita S. Pelugiae Meretricis Antiochiae, "The Life of Saint Pelagia, the Harlot of Antioch," written in Greek, of which a Latin version, by one Eustachius, is given by Surius, in his De Probatis Sanctorum Vitis, ad diet VIII. Octbr. The little that is known of Jacobus is gleaned from this work. (Compare Baronius, Annal. Eccles. ad Ann. 451, cap. cxxvii.; Pagi, Critice in Baronium; Assemani, Bibl. Orient. vol. i. p. 258.)