Holy Martyr Zosimas the Hermit (IV)

The holy Martyr Zosimas the Hermit lived in the fourth century. Once, while hunting, Domitian, the governor of Cilicia, came upon a monk who was talking calmly and kindly with the wild beasts gathered round him. At the sight of the hunters the beasts took fright and scattered. They asked the monk who he was and why he lived in this wilderness, and he answered: my name is Zosimas; I am a Christian, and I prefer living with the beasts to being in the city beside the enemies of Jesus Christ. Domitian threatened: “If thou worshippest the Nazarene, I will torture thee cruelly in public at Nazareth and force thee to deny Christ,” and then asked the saint by what power he tamed the wild animals. The old man replied: “I am a Christian, and every soul obeys Christ.” The godless seized the father who hoped in the Saviour, took him to Nazareth and brought cruel torments down upon him. The saint was hung head downwards with a large stone tied to his neck, and they began to tear his body with iron hooks. The executioners said to the martyr: “If the beasts obey thee, command one of them to appear here, and then we too shall believe in thy God.” Zosimas besought the Lord in prayer, and suddenly a huge lion came running to the place of torture. Everyone scattered in terror, while the lion came up to the saint and lightened the stone tied to his neck. The governor asked Zosimas to restrain the beast, and ordered the executioners to take the saint down so as to bring him to the emperor; but Zosimas committed his holy soul to the Lord there and then (Saint Zosimas is also commemorated on 4 January).