Homilies from the Menaion for Every Day of the Year: September 19

 

The Month of September

The 19th Day

20. Those Who Live Holy and Piously Are Obeyed Even by Wild Beasts

(The Sufferings of the Holy Martyrs Trophimos, Sabbatios, and Dorymedon)

It is known that at the creation of man, God gave him authority over all animals in general, and over wild beasts in particular. It is also known that after the Fall he lost this authority. What do you think, brethren: did he lose it absolutely, or not? Know that he did not lose it absolutely, for the examples of the Saints prove the truth that even now, to those who live holy and piously, not only ordinary domestic animals but also wild beasts are obedient. There are a great many such examples in the Lives of the Saints. Let us bring forward two of them in confirmation of our words and for your edification.

The persecutor Dionysios decided to give the holy martyrs Trophimos and Dorymedon, for confessing the name of Christ, to be devoured by wild beasts. On the appointed day, Dionysios, together with his counselors, servants, and a great multitude of people, came to the arena, and the holy martyrs, naked and covered with wounds, were placed in the place where the beasts were to be released against them. First they released a she-bear, which, having rushed at them in fury, immediately afterward changed her fury into gentleness and turned her mouth away from them. Then they released a leopard, and it merely licked the feet of the Saints. Finally, they released a lion, and it became gentle before the martyrs like a lamb. And all the people, it is said, seeing such a wonder, marveled and recognized the power of our great God and Savior.

Here is another example. Once, the impious ruler Dometian, who lived in the land of Cilicia, went hunting with his servants. At one place, to his astonishment, he saw a multitude of wild beasts, and among them an old man walking about among them. This old man was Saint Zosimas the Hermit. The ruler took him for a sorcerer, ordered that he be seized, and when Zosimas had been brought before him, Dometian asked him: "How have you enchanted the wild beasts?" The Saint answered: "I know nothing of spells; but, being a Christian, I could not live in the city with unbelievers, and I went into the desert, where the Lord also subjected the wild beasts to me, and they remain with me for my consolation." The ruler ordered that Zosimas be subjected to tortures, and when these had ended, he again asked him by what sorcery he had enchanted the wild beasts. At this point the Saint said nothing more and only confessed himself to be a Christian. After this, Dometian ordered that he be hung head downward, that a stone be tied around his neck, and that his flesh be scraped with iron rakes. After these further tortures, he again asked: "Will you reveal your spells to me?" Zosimas answered: "Christ, my God, He sent the wild beasts to me for my consolation in the desert." Then the persecutor said: "If the wild beasts obey you, make at least one wild beast come here, and we will all believe in your God together with you." After this, Zosimas raised his hands toward heaven and cried out: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, hear me, Your servant, and let a lion appear here and serve me!" And suddenly a lion rushed in and began to support the stone that was upon the Saint's neck. Everyone who was there fled in terror. But the ruler cried out from the city wall: "Zosimas, restrain the lion, and we will set you free!" Zosimas commanded the beast to be gentle, and Dometian ordered that he be released from his bonds. The lion departed into the desert, "while Zosimas, of course, immediately gave up his spirit to the Lord because of the terrible tortures that he had endured at the hands of the persecutor." (Menaion, September 19)

From these two examples, brothers, you should become convinced of the truth that even after the Fall, man did not completely lose his authority over the animals, and that if he lives holy and piously, they will even now become obedient to him. Having become convinced of this truth, strive also to lead a holy and God-pleasing life, so that animals may not inflict wounds and death upon you, as unfortunately happens often nowadays, but may obey you. Remember what is said concerning this in the Prologue, in the account of Saint Gerasimos the Ascetic. It says there: "The Lord restores authority over animals only to those people who keep His commandments and live purely and blamelessly." Amen.

Questions for Discussion 20

1. Into what did the she-bear change her fury when she was released upon the holy martyrs Trophimos, Sabbatios, and Dorymedon?

2. What did the people recognize when they saw that the she-bear, the leopard, and the lion did not harm the Saints?

3. For what purpose, according to the words of Saint Zosimas the Hermit, did the Lord subject the wild beasts to him?

4. What did the persecutor Dometian promise Zosimas if a wild beast came to the place of the Saint's execution?

5. What kind of life should we lead so that the animals may obey us?

 

Source: The Cheti-Minei: Homilies for Every Day of the Year (Book 1: September, October, November) by Archpriest Viktor Guryev. Publication of the Russian Panteleimon Monastery on Mount Athos, 1896. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.