Zosimus the Hermit

Zosimus the Hermit was an ascetic who resided in the wilds of Cilicia and Palestine in the 3rd century AD. He would be tortured by Diocletian during his great persecution. During the torture he converted a Roman guard to Christianity because Zosimus was not injured by the torture. After being released he traveled to a Rechabite hermitage. He spent 40 years at the hermitage. Afterwards, he left to spread the teachings of the Rechabites.

Saint Zosimus
Venerated inRoman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church Eastern Catholic Church
CanonizedPre-Congregation
Feast3 January Roman Catholic 4 January Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Catholic

Biography

Zosimus was tortured during the persecution of the Church under Roman Emperor Diocletian but persevered in his Christian faith. After being tortured he was left miraculously unharmed which led to the conversion of Zosimus' guard Athanasius who accepted the Christian faith and baptism.

Eventually both Zosimus and Athanasius were released. Zozimus traveled by camel, and later by wind to a place called the "Abode of the Blessed," Markes, or "Blessed Ones." The Abode was a mountain hermitage far from human society in Palestine.[1] When he arrived he saw a wall of clouds which he was lifted across by two trees. At the abode he found a group of Rechabites. Zosimus lived there for 40 years. While there he abstained from wine, bred, and social interactions. Afterwards, he left to spread the Rechabite teachings. In order to stop him, the Devil and several demons tortured him for 40 days. However, Zosimus banished the demons and lived on.[2] During Zosimus's life he would meet a penitent at the Jordan river.[3] It is commonly accepted that much of the story surrounding Zosimus is fantasy.[4]

Saint Zosimus the Hermit and Saint Athanasius his disciple are commemorated on 4 January by the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic Churches.

See also

References
  1. Gould, Sabine Baring (1874). The lives of the saints. 12 vols. [in 15].
  2. Davila, James R. (2005). The Provenance of the Pseudepigrapha: Jewish, Christian, Or Other?. BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-13752-3.
  3. D'Anvers, N. (1902). Lives and Legends of the Great Hermits and Fathers of the Church, with Other Contemporary Saints. G. Bell.
  4. The Ante-Nicene Fathers: Translations of the Writings of the Fathers Down to A. D. 325. Christian Literature Company. 1897.
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