Venerable Cosmas (+1323)

The Venerable Cosmas of Zographou came from Bulgaria. In his youth he avoided marriage and, in secret from his parents, went away to Mount Athos. The blessed one was received as a novice in the Athonite house of Zographou. A long time passed before he was tonsured a monk, after which he was appointed ecclesiarch. At the feast of the Annunciation in the Vatopedi monastery, the Mother of God was pleased to show Cosmas visibly how she cares for the land that is her lot. With the abbot’s blessing Cosmas went out into the wilderness and shut himself away in a cave. Before his death Saint Cosmas received the holy Body and Blood of Christ, gave thanks to God and fell peacefully asleep. The Lord glorified His chosen one wonderfully. On the day of his burial a great multitude of beasts and birds gathered by the cave, as if they felt the loss suffered by the Holy Mountain; the mournful cries of animals and birds could be heard from the forest. This happened in 1323.