There is scant and insufficient information about the monk. The only news that has reached our time is that the Monk James, whose secular name has not been preserved in the chronicles (there is a version that he was baptized John), was born in the 14th century into a pious and very wealthy family of the Galician noblemen Amosov. The deep and sincere attitude of the pious people of that time, among whom Jacob's parents belonged, had a decisive influence on his entire spiritual makeup.
Even at a very young age, the boy discovered a special desire for a pious life. The unusual way of life in the young boy partly disturbed his virtuous parents, who did not know which chosen vessel of grace was being prepared for the peace of God in him. "My child! "Why do you exhaust yourself so much at such a young age?" they asked their son. But the boy, who was young in years, but experienced in spiritual life and wisdom, meekly listened to the remarks of his parents and answered them: "My parents! Your words are incomprehensible to me. I have read a lot of Divine books, but nowhere have I seen parents wishing the worst for their children, but always the best. What could be better for a person than to receive the Kingdom of heaven? Those who have pleased God with their good lives and, rejecting the world, followed Christ, have also received from Him the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven, which is why I strive to imitate their exploits." 
Having lost his parents at an early age, who left behind a significant estate, Jacob distributed it without a shadow of regret to those in need of timely help. 
Tradition tells us that after passing through the school of monastic obedience under the guidance of St. Sergius of Radonezh and with the blessing of the great Abba Sergius, James leaves his monastery to lead a monastic life in silence. Driven by an understandable love for his native Galich, moving through the deep forests further and further north, the Monk Jacob finally reaches the small village of Iron Borok, 40 versts from Galich, lost in the depths of a centuries-old forest forest, which got its name from the iron ore deposits located here, which the locals were engaged in.
At the place of the miraculous vision, he erected the Cross of Christ and, having asked permission from the inhabitants of the nearby village of Borok, cut down and built himself a small cramped cell with his own hands, in which he settled for desert exploits. God alone knows his spiritual exploits, which are only partially evidenced by the iron chains that have survived to our time and the heavy cross that he laid on himself to exhaust the flesh and save the spirit. In addition, two fairly large ponds currently exist as a monument to his hard physical labor. Until recently, there was also a well dug by his hands. The Holy Lake, located 15 versts from the monastery, is also attributed by tradition to the labors of the monk.
But the silent life of St. James was soon disrupted by people who began to come to the ascetic's silent desert to receive his blessing and ask for his prayers for themselves and their loved ones. In this way, a small monastic brotherhood was formed, living in separate small cells, more or less remote from each other. 
St. James had an exceptional influence over this monastic brotherhood. His moral influence on his companions was great and beneficial: it was not for nothing that people left their homes and families, it was not for nothing that monks left well-maintained monasteries in the desert to a young ascetic rich in spiritual poverty and strong faith in God and his Providence.
The Desert Brotherhood was multiplying in numbers every day. All he needed was the temple of God to be a real monastic monastery. Then the Rev. Jacob went to Moscow, where around 1390 he received the rank of hieromonk from Metropolitan Cyprian and a diploma for the construction of the temple.
And after a short time, a small wooden church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist and the Baptist of the Lord grew up in a remote forest thicket. Having accomplished this important and urgently needed task for his young brotherhood, the monk established a dormitory for the brethren, commanding them not to call anything their own, but to have everything in common.
Great feats of self-mortification, spontaneous poverty, purity of heart, unceasing fervent prayer, and the exaltation of mind and heart to God made St. James a great vessel of grace. A sincere and faithful servant of his master Christ, he receives from Him great gifts of grace: strength and power over demons, wonderful insight and the gift of miracles.
Shortly before his death, the Monk James accepted the rank of abbot of the Zheleznoborovsky monastery, presumably from the holy Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia Jonah. According to one version, after many years of joint labors, the monks asked St. James to be their abbot. He humbly submitted to their request and, being already in old age, went to Moscow, where he was invested with holy orders. Shortly after his return, he died on April 11, 1442.
Another version calls the date of death of St. James 1451. Saint Jonah, wishing to end the civil strife, accompanied by a council of saints and a whole army, went to Galich in 1448 to exhort the criminal Shemyaka. Along the way, he visited the Zheleznoborovsky monastery and, according to this version, ordained the monk to the rank of abbot.
The date of death on April 11, 1442 is now considered the most likely and is indicated in most sources about the life of St. James and in the church calendar.

Having fallen into a terminal illness and feeling the approach of death, the Monk James appointed one of his disciples, Dositheus, as abbot of the brethren.
The brethren listened with emotion to the last instructive words of their mentor and, falling down to him, tearfully asked his forgiveness and the ever-present protection of their monastery. "Although you are separated from us in body, be close to us in spirit," the monks said. "God will not forsake you, my children, and this is the place," the monk replied and, sighing, continued: "My children! Enter the belly in a narrow and deplorable way, but a wide path leads to destruction."
After receiving the Holy Mysteries and giving the brethren a blessing, the saint gave his soul to God. His body was buried in the monastery he founded. His stone cross and chains were placed on the tomb of the monk, as evidence of his prayer exploits.
156 years after the death of St. James, the humble Abbot of Zheleznoborovo, Joseph, collects the short records and oral traditions that existed and gives the faithful his conscientious work, which bears the stamp of clear authenticity and is free from the admixture of fantastic embellishments. Since then, the life of St. James, written by Joseph, who presided here in 1598-99, has become a reference book for worshippers of the sacred memory of the monk, although popular faith in him received indisputable confirmation much later, namely, on May 5, 1613, when the incorruptible relics of the saint of Christ were discovered and witnessed.