Venerable Martyr Zoticus the Orphan-Keeper (feeder of the Poor)

Life

Zoticus was renowned by birth and by rank. Zoticus moved to Constantinople, cast off all worldly things from himself, and received holy orders. Zoticus founded a home for the poor, and in it sheltered lepers and served them. Zoticus was a personal acquaintance of Emperor Constantine the Great. For the gold taken from the emperor and spent on lepers, Constantius the son of Constantine seized Zoticus, bound Zoticus to a wild mule which was driven until Saint Zoticus died from his wounds. Zoticus suffered in the fourth century.