E06666: The Greek Martyrdom of *Zosimos (martyr of Anazarbus in Cilicia, S02505) tells of the hermit Zosimos, who, with the help of a talking lion, manages to convince his pagan persecutor of the truth of God before mysteriously disappearing into the chasm of a rock. Written probably in Cilicia, possibly around the 5th century or later.

Martyrdom of Zosimos (BHG 2476-2477)

Summary:

§ 1: When the comes sacrarum largitionum (κόμης τῶν θείων λαργιτιόνων) Dometios arrives in Cilicia on his journey to the East, saint Zosimos is brought before him. Zosimos is a hermit living in the mountains, like John the Baptist and Elias, in the company of wild beasts who follow him during the day as he performs the daily prayer offices; after Vespers, he releases the beasts and continues to perform the night-time offices before resting. His wish is to thus temper the savagery of the animals and produce from among them a martyr for Christ.

§ 2: The magistrate Dometios, while holding court at Anazarbus, proceeds to interrogate Zosimos. The hermit confesses to being a Christian and accuses people of behaving savagely in that they worship creation instead of the Creator, while the animals know God and worship him, the Creator. Dometios attempts to persuade him to sacrifice to the pagan gods, to no avail. He then has the saint's ears pierced with hot irons, but this does nothing to dissuade Zosimos. Next the saint is thrown into a boiling cauldron full of foulness, but God brings forth rain from a cloud, and the cauldron becomes colder than snow. Zosimos emerges unscathed and promises to persuade the persecutor that animals recognise God.

§ 3. Zosimos is hung upside down with a rock hanging from his neck. He prays God to send a lion with a 'spirit of speech' (πνεῦμα λαλοῦν), to embarrass Satan and his servants. A lion appears, roaring but not harming any of the onlookers, and places itself under Zosimos, supporting the weight of the rock. The taxis [τάξις, often denoting a magistrate's retinue of officials] and the people flee, leaving Dometios alone. He too attempts to flee, but the lion catches him at the entrance and forces him to remain upon his throne, speaking to him in a human voice and exhorting him not to fear. The beast then returns to supporting Zosimos' rock.

§ 4: When those who had fled hear the lion speaking in a human voice and realise that it has not harmed anyone, they all return to the praetorium. This encourages the magistrate, who urges them to slay the lion for him. The lion objects, saying it is willing to shed its blood for Christ together with Zosimos, but wishes to speak first in defence of the faith (ἀπολογία). The magistrate consents to this. After an initial dialogue, the lion gives him a lecture on how the Word of God was born of a virgin, became subject to human nature and died in order to save humanity from death, and how on the last day he will return to judge the world. Dometios acknowledges that it is good to believe the lion's words, and he has Zosimos taken down from his hanging position.

§ 5: Dometios confesses again that it is good to believe the lion's words, if they are true. He would like to send the beast to the emperor in order that he too might partake of the divine doctrine, and reward the lion with double rations (διπλὰς ἀννώνας). Zosimos, however, prays and makes the sign of the cross over the lion, and sends it away. The beast leaves the city, harming no-one and returns to Zosimos' mountain dwelling, and proclaims the Gospel to the other wild animals.

§ 6: Zosimos now tells Dometios that he has treasure in his dwelling, which he wishes to bequeath to the magistrate. Dometios, believing that the hermit speaks of a material treasure, sends him there together with Athanasios the court clerk (κομενταρήσιος, i.e. commentariensis). When they arrive at the dwelling, the wild animals pay respects to Zosimos in various ways. Seeing this, the clerk is terrified and declares his faith in Christ, but confesses that he fears being tortured by his master. Zosimos encourages Athanasios and baptises him.

§ 7: Finally, Zosimos lifts his hands towards the heavens, gives thanks to God and prays Him to receive their souls lest further trials compel them to renounce Him. At once a chasm opens in the rock, and receives into it Zosimos, Athanasios, and the lion.

Text: Halkin 1952, 254-261.
Summary: N. Kälviäinen.