it is
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from the fibade of Egypt and the deserts
of Palestine and Syria
to the caves and cells of Mount Athos
and even Beyond to the vast forests of
Northern Russia
these are the chronicles of the desert
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in the Arid desert of Palestine under
the scorching Sun
OS walked by the bank of the River
Jordan immersed in prayer
as he walked a terrible sound caught his
attention distracting him
as the Elder looked around
he spotted a massive lion in the shade
of a tree roaring in agony
instead of fleeing from the Beast
made the sign of the cross
and approached the suffering creature
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as he came closer he saw that the lion
had a terrible Thorn stuck in his paw
which was swollen and leaking pus
the lion
sensing the Sanctified nature of the old
man
lifted his paw towards him
looking him straight in the eyes and
wordlessly begged for his help
erasimus filled with compassion for the
suffering creature
took the wounded paw into his hands and
pulled out the thorn
then
he cleaned the wound and wrapped it in
cloth
once he finished
he began to walk away
expecting the wild beast to return to
the Wilderness where it belonged
but instead
the lion Rose and meekly followed him
like an obedient disciple
this event is in line with what Saint
Isaac the Syrian once described
The Humble person approaches the wild
animals
and the moment they catch sight of him
their ferocity is Tamed
they come up and cling to him as to
their master
wagging their tails and licking his
hands and feet
for they smell on him the same smell
that came from Adam before the
transgression
such a humble and holy man was
abayerasimos
who through many years of ascetic
struggle and Solitude in the barren
desert
had cleansed his soul of every Earthly
passion
purified his heart
and was in a state of theoria
Union with God
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his soul was filled with love for all
creation
it was that Divine love radiating from
him which tamed the wild beast
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as the sun was setting behind the dunes
Saint gerasimos returned from the
Wilderness to his monastery followed by
the wild animal
there he was greeted by his astonished
disciples
Who full of curiosity inquired about the
strange lion
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after their Elder had explained what
happened in the desert
the lion was quickly welcomed into the
Brotherhood
from that day on the lion lived
peacefully among them
the monks were Amazed by the wild
animal's change of nature
he became like a Meek lamb and was
Inseparable from his master yarasimos
who fed him bread and lentils
for there was no meat in the monastery
life in the monastery was strict and
their days were filled with hard work
therefore
abagirasimos decided that their newest
member the lion
should also be put to work
the monks owned a donkey which they used
to haul water from the River Jordan for
their needs
so the lion was tasked with guarding the
donkey when it went outside the
monastery to graze alongside the river
the lion diligently performed his
assigned task
protecting the donkey from any danger
lurking in the desert
but
one day
as he watched over the Donkey
the lion seeking Shelter From The Fierce
Desert Sun
lay in the shade of a tree and soon fell
asleep
as he slept
a merchant traveling from Arabia was
passing by with his camels
and seeing the donkey unguarded he
captured it and took it with him
soon after the lion woke up and unable
to find the donkey anywhere was in great
distress
after hours of searching feeling
defeated
the lion returned to the monastery with
his head hanging low
when yarasimo saw the lion returning
alone
he inquired
where's the Donkey
but the lion in response hung his head
lower in silence
the Elder asked again
have you eaten him
may the Lord be blessed then you shall
not leave this place but stay and
perform the donkey's job and serve the
Brotherhood
from that day on the lion performed his
Penance diligently
going down to the river every day and
bringing buckets of water back to the
monastery
this continued for many months until one
day as the lion was nearing the river on
his daily route
he spotted the merchant who stole the
donkey passing nearby leading three
camels loaded with wheat and the
monasteries donkey following them
seeing him
the lion furiously roared and sprinted
toward the man
who terrified ran as fast as he could
leaving the donkey and the camel's
behind
the lion however did not pursue the
thief
instead
he took the donkey's reins in his mouth
and led him back to the monastery with
the camels and their cargo following
behind
roaring joyfully the lion approached
Elder yerasimos and showed him what he
had found
with a sad smile
the Elder turned to the monks around him
and said
we had falsely accused the lion saying
that he had eaten the Donkey
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thus erasimos named the good lion
yordanis
and all the monks admired the wisdom of
this animal
spent the next five years by his Elder's
side never leaving the monastery for
very long
but one day
while yordanis was away
Saint hirasimos fell asleep in the Lord
the Brotherhood now orphaned shed many
tears
and buried their beloved Elder next to
the Monastery Church
soon after
the lion returned and searched
everywhere for his Elder
seeing the lion in distress
one of the monks Abba savatios said to
him
Jordan is
our Elder is no longer with us
he departed to be with the Lord
the monks offered the lion food but to
no avail
the more they tried to explain that the
Elder was gone and to comfort him
the more dismayed the lion became
frantically trying to find yarasimos
finally
seeing that their efforts were leading
them nowhere
said to the lion
since you don't believe us come with us
and we will show you the place where our
Elder rests
when they arrived Abba savatios
venerated the cross at the Elder's grave
then he knelt beside it and wept for his
Abba
seeing this
jordanis roaring in pain and grief
banged his massive head on the ground
unable to keep living without his
dearest Elder
the mighty Beast fell at
abayyarasimosa's grave
and with a last heart-wrenching Roar
perished
seeing the love which Jordan is had for
their spiritual father
the brothers took the body of the once
wild and fierce animal
and buried it near the resting place of
his cherished Elder
this is just one of the many examples we
have of saints forming deep bonds with
wild animals
but how does this happen
in the words of Saint Isaac the Syrian
what is a merciful heart
it is a heart on fire for the whole of
creation
for humankind for the birds for the
animals even for demons
and for everything that exists
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this experience of the Saints with wild
creatures is a miracle
one that shows the healing nature of our
Union with God
the more man comes close to God
the more he becomes as Adam was before
the fall
then the relationship of man and God is
healed
restoring also the relationship between
man and creation
Saint paisios the athenite when
describing his life in the wilderness
and Solitude of Athos once said
at my calivi
I not only have birds of the air
but all the animals come here
jackals hairs ferrets turtles lizards
snakes
they get their fill from the Overflow of
my love
and I am satisfied myself when they are
satisfied
and all of us together
the beasts the cattle the birds and the
reptiles praise bless and Worship the
Lord
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Earth
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foreign
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[Applause]
Earth
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