Saint of the Day – 30 March – St Zosimus (c570-662) Bishop and Confessor of Syracuse, Sicily, Abbot. Born in the region and died in Syracuse of natural causes in 662. A man of great wisdom and virtue. Also known as – Zosimo, Zozimus.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Syracuse, St Zosimus, Bishop and Confessor.”
Zosimo, was a young Monk who had been entrusted with the custody of the Tomb of Saint Lucy in Syracuse Monastery, due to his perceived ineptitude. One day, eager to see his parents again, he left the Monastery without notifying his Superiors. His parents, seeing him arrive with the air of a fugitive, scolded him and took him back to the Monastery. He was forgiven by the Abbot and returned to his role as “Guardian of the Tomb.”
This role he held for a long time because he was considered incapable of more demanding tasks. When the Abbot died, the Monks went to the Bishop to find out the name of their new Abbot. Zosimo was not among them, having remained behind as ‘useless.’ When the Bishop interviewed the Monks before him, he asked: “Are you all here?” “No” they replied, “’the Guardian of the Tomb of Saint Lucy’ is at home but he is of little importance.” “Bring him along” ordered the Bishop. And when Zosimo arrived: “Here is your Abbot” the Bishop solemnly affirmed.
Thus Zosimo, to everyone’s surprise, became the Abbot of the Monastery. In this role, he quickly emonstrated the richness of his wisdom and virtue, to the point that the people wanted him as their Bishop when that Office became vacant. Confirmed by Pope Theodore, he remained on the Episcopal Seat of Syracuse from 647 until his death in 662, leading the Diocese with kindness and wisdom.
AnaStpaul 