Venerable Zosimas of Phoenicia

Life

This saint was born in the village of Synda, in the vicinity of the city of Tyre. He struggled ascetically near the city of Tyre in his own monastery. Having no cloud upon his conscience, he could see by his spirit into the distance and knew what was happening in the world. Thus he perceived and saw the fall of Antioch from the earthquake, and weeping bitterly he prostrated himself upon the ground and prayed to God not to destroy that city completely. It once happened that a lion killed and ate his donkey on the road. The saint commanded the lion to serve him in place of the donkey and carry the burden. The lion showed himself meek as a lamb before the saint, accepted the burden upon itself, and bore it to the gates of the city of Caesarea, where Zosimas freed and released it. Saint Zosimas reposed peacefully in the sixth century.