Saint Zozime
(5ème s.)
Confesseur. Il
appartenait à un monastère de l'actuelle Jordanie. Et c'est d'après ses dires
que l'on a tenté de reconstituer la biographie légendaire de sainte Marie
l'Egyptienne.
Zosimus of Palestine,
Hermit (RM)
5th century. Zosimus is said to have been an old Palestinian anchorite who
lived on the banks of the Jordan River. He is supposed to have discovered Saint
Mary the Egyptian, brought her the Eucharist one Easter, and found her dead the
next. The story goes on to say that he became her biographer, though there is
no evidence of it (Benedictines, Delaney, Encyclopedia).
Zosimus's
portrayal in art is that of a monk bringing the Eucharist to Saint Mary of
Egypt or talking to her across the River Jordan (Roeder).
Venerable Zosimas of Palestine
Saint Zosimas was born near the
end of the fifth century, and lived in a monastery by the Jordan River. He met
St Mary of Egypt (April 1), gave her Holy Communion, then buried her.
St Zosimas lived to be one
hundred years old, then fell asleep in the Lord around 560.
Zosimus and Mary of Egypt
In the reign of Theodosius the Younger, there lived in Palestine a holy
Christian named Zosimus who, having served God with great fervor in the same
house for 53 years, was divinely directed to leave his community for one near
the river Jordan, where he might learn how to advance still further on the path
of holiness. He found that the members of this community on the first Sunday in
Lent used to disperse in the desert to pass in solitude and penance the time
until Palm Sunday.
It was at that season, about the year 430, that Zosimus
found himself a 20 days' distance from his community, and sat down one day at
noon to say his psalms and to rest. Perceiving suddenly what appeared to be a
human form, he made the sign of the cross and finished his psalms. Then,
looking up, he saw a white-haired, sun-tanned naked figure, which he took to be
a hermit, but which ran away as he went towards it. He had nearly overtaken it
and was near enough to crave its blessing, when it exclaimed, "Father
Zosimus, I am a woman: throw your mantle to cover me, that you may come near
me."
Surprised that she should know his name, he complied, and
they entered into conversation. In reply to his inquiries the woman told her
strange story with many expressions of shame and penitence.
"My country," she said, "is Egypt. At the age
of 12, while my father and mother were still living, I went without their
consent to Alexandria. I cannot think without trembling of the first steps by
which I fell into sin, or of the excesses which followed."
She then described how she had lived as a public prostitute
for 17 years, not for money, but to gratify her lust. At the age of about 28,
curiosity led her to join a band of people who were going to celebrate at
Jerusalem the feast of the Holy Cross—and even on the journey she continued her
evil courses, corrupting some of the pilgrims. Upon their arrival in Jerusalem,
she tried to enter the church with the rest of the congregation, but an
invisible force held her back. After two or three ineffectual attempts, she
withdrew into a corner of the outer court, and for the first time a full
realization of her sinfulness swept over her.
Raising her eyes to an icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary, she
besought with tears the help of the Mother of Jesus, vowing herself to a life
of penance. With a lightened heart she was now able without any difficulty to
enter the church to venerate the cross, and as she returned to give thanks to
the mother of the Lord, she heard a voice which said, "Go over the Jordan,
and thou shalt find peace."
At a baker's where she
bought loaves she inquired the way to the Jordan, and started off forthwith,
arriving that same night at the church of St. John the Baptist on the bank of
the river. Here she made her communion and crossed the Jordan into the
wilderness, where she had remained ever since—about 47 years, as far as she
could judge.
She had seen no human being, and had lived on edible plants
and on dates. The winter cold and the summer heat had sorely afflicted her
unprotected body, and she had often been tortured by thirst. At such times she
had been tempted to regret the luxuries and the wines of Egypt in which she had
formerly indulged. These and other assaults beset her night and day almost
unremittingly for 17 years, but she had implored the intercession of the
Blessed Virgin, and the divine assistance had never failed her.
She could not read, and had never had any human instruction
in holy things, but God Himself had taught her the mysteries of faith. At her
request, Zosimus undertook not to divulge what she had said until after her
death, and promised to meet her again beside the Jordan on Holy Thursday of the
following year, to give her holy communion.
The next Lent, Zosimus made his way to the selected
meeting-place, bearing the Blessed Sacrament, and that same holy Thursday
evening beheld Mary standing on the opposite bank of the Jordan. After she had
made the sign of the cross, she proceeded to walk upon the water until she
reached dry ground beside the astonished priest. She received communion with
deep devotion, following it by the recitation of the opening words of the Nunc
dimittis. "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace,
according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." (Luke
2:29). From a basket of dates, figs and lentils which Zosimus offered, she
would accept only three lentils; and she thanked him for all he had done and
commended herself to his prayers. Then, with a final entreaty that he would
return a year later to the spot where they had first met, she departed over the
river as she had come.
Next year, when Zosimus went back into the desert to keep
this second appointment, he found Mary's dead body stretched out upon the
ground, while beside her on the sand were traced these words: "Father
Zosimus, bury the body of lowly Mary. Render earth to earth and pray for me. I
died the night of the Lord's Passion, after receiving the divine and mystic
Banquet."
Zosimus had no spade, but a lion from the desert came to his
assistance and with its claws helped him to dig her grave. Zosimus resumed his
mantle, which he treasured henceforth as a holy relic, and returned to tell his
brethren all his experiences.
He continued for many years to serve God in his community,
until a happy death released him in the hundredth year of his age.
Note: The history of Mary of Egypt was popular in the Middle
Ages, and is illustrated on the old glass windows of the cathedrals of Bourges,
Auxerre and elsewhere. (Lives of the Desert Fathers, pp. 335 354)
