Blessed Jakov Varingez

Also known as

• Giacomo de Bitetto
• Giacomo of Bitetto
• Giacomo Varingez
• Giacomo Veringuez
• James of Bitetto
• James of Dalmatia
• James of Illyricum
• James of Sclavonia
• James of Zara
• James the Illyrian
• James the Slav

Memorial

• 27 April
• 20 April (Franciscans)

Profile

Son of Leonardo and Beatrice Varingez. Jakov re-located to Bari, Italy to escape Turkish invaders. There he felt a call to religious life and joined the Order of Friars Minor at the friary of Bitetto, Italy; he lived there nearly all the rest of his life. He served as cook, alms-beggar, gardener, porter, and sacristan. Known for being continually in prayer, he was given to ecstasies, noted as a miracle worker and for the ability to levitate. In his 80′s he worked with victims of the plague of 1482.

Born

• c.1400 in Zadar, Zadarska, Croatia

Died

• 27 April 1496 in Bitetto, Bari, Italy
• body incorrupt about 20 years after his burial, and parts of the body are still so today

Beatified

• 29 December 1700 by Pope Clement XI (cultus confirmation)
• 19 December 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI (decree of heroic virtues)

Canonized

• if you have information relevant to the canonization of Blessed Jakov, contact
     Fra Giovangiuseppe Califano, OFM
     Santuario Beato Giacomo
     70020 Bitetto (BA), ITALY

Patronage

• Bitetto, Italy

Additional Information

• Hagiography Circle
• Kirken i Norge
• Lives of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler
• Medieval Religion Listserv, by John Dillon
• Santi e Beati
• Santuario Beato Giacomo
• Wikipedia

MLA Citation

• “Blessed Jakov Varingez“. Saints.SQPN.com. 26 April 2013. Web. 24 May 2013. <>