JACOBITES, in church history, a sect of Christians
in Syria and Mesopotamia; so called, either from Ja-
cob a Syrian who lived in the reign of the emperor
Mauritius, or from one Jacob a monk who flourished in
the year 550.
The Jacobites are of two sects, some following the
rites of the Latin church, and others continuing se-
parated from the church of Rome. There is also a
division among the latter, who have two rival patri-
archs. As to their belief, they hold but one nature
in Jesus Christ; with respect to purgatory and prayers
for the dead, they are of the same opinion with the
Greeks and other eastern Christians: they consecrate
unleavened bread at the eucharist, and are against con-
fession, believing that it is not of divine institution.