Our Holy Father Zossima of Phoenicia.

Commemorated June 8 in the Orthodox Christian Menaion

From the Prologue

This saint was born in Synda, in the neighbourhood of Tyre, and laboured in asceticism in his monastery nearby. Having not the shadow of a cloud on his conscience, he could prophesy, see far into distant things and behold what was happening in the world. In this way he was able to witness the fall of Antioch during the earthquake, and, weeping bitterly, he prostrated himself on the ground and prayed to God that the city should not be completely destroyed. It once happened that a lion met him on a path and killed and ate his mule. The saint commanded the lion to serve him in the mule's place, and to carry the load. The lion became as meek as a lamb, took the load upon itself and carried it to the gates of Caesarea, where Zossima gave it back its liberty and let it go. St Zossima entered peacefully into rest in the sixth century.

From The Prologue From Ochrid by Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich
©1985 Lazarica Press, Birmingham UK