ST. GERASIMOS OF JORDAN (MARCH 4TH)
A Contemporary Russian Icon of St. Gerasimos and His Pet Lion Edited by Bp. Joseph ( Ancient Church of the West ) St. Gerasimos of the Jordan, a shining light of the ascetic life, was born in the fifth century and became one of the great fathers of monasticism in the Holy Land. Drawn to the solitude of the desert, he forsook the world to dwell in prayer and fasting near the banks of the Jordan River. There, he founded a monastic community that combined rigorous ascetic discipline with charity, welcoming those who sought holiness through obedience and labor. His monastery became a beacon of spiritual formation, emphasizing the harmony between the eremitic and communal ways of life. St. Gerasimos was renowned for his humility and gentleness, not only toward his brethren but even toward the wild beasts of the desert. The most famous story of his life recounts how he encountered a lion suffering from a thorn embedded in its paw. With great compassion, the saint removed the thorn and t...
