Thursday, April 7, 2011

Saint Zosimas Of Palestine

From Mystagogy:


Apr 4, 2011 (3 days ago)Saint Zosimas of Palestine
 
from MYSTAGOGY by J.Sanidopoulos
 
 

 
Righteous Zosimas of Palestine, also called Zosima, is commemorated as a saint on April 4.






Saint Zosimas was born in the second half of the fifth century, during the reign of Emperor Theodosius the Younger. He became a monk in a monastery in Palestine at a very young age, gaining a reputation as a great elder and ascetic. At the age of fifty-three, now a hieromonk, he moved to a very strict monastery located in the wilderness close to the Jordan River, where he spent the remainder of his life.





He is best known for his encounter with St. Mary of Egypt (commemorated on April 1). It was the custom of that monastery for all of the brethren to go out into the desert for the forty days of Great Lent, spending the time in fasting and prayer, and not returning until Palm Sunday. While wandering in the desert he met Saint Mary, who told him her life story and asked him to meet her the next year on Holy Thursday on the banks of the Jordan, in order to bring her Holy Communion. He did so, and the third year came to her again in the desert, but he found that she had died and he buried her. St Zosimas is reputed to have lived to be almost one hundred years of age.





All that we know of Zosimas' life comes from the Vita of St. Mary of Egypt, recorded by St. Sophronius, who was the Patriarch of Jerusalem from 634 to 638. This Vita is traditionally read as a part of the Matins of the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, on the fifth Thursday of Great Lent.
 

 
Apolytikion in the First Tone


Let us the faithful praise Zosimas the offspring of the wilderness, the angel in the flesh and the boast of monastics. With him, let us acclaim holy Mary of Egypt whose life transcended the limits of nature. Together, let us cry to them: Glory to him who strengthened you! Glory to him who sanctified you! Glory to him who through you works healing for all!





Kontakion in the Third Tone

Let us all praise the righteous Zosimas, the boast of monastics, and with him, Mary who in the desert lived the angelic life. Let us cry to them in faith: deliver from harm and corrupting passions, those who celebrate your radiant memory!

No comments:

Post a Comment