Zebinas of Syria

Holy Venerable Zebinas of Syria was a hermit in Syria in the fifth century, in a group of ascetics whose guide was Saint John, a disciple of Saint Limnius.

John lived on a hill beaten by the winds, feeding only on bread and salt and wearing heavy chains; when someone planted an almond tree on the hill so that he could take shelter in its shade, he ordered it cut down, so as not to give his body any rest. Moses, Antiochus and Antoninus followed the same path. Zebinas, who labored on the same mountain, reached a great old age and never sat down during his rule of prayer, only leaning at times on a staff. The people round about honored him and received great help through his prayers. His disciple Polychronius spent day and night in fasting and vigil; he had no chains, but at prayer he laid on his shoulders a heavy oak root that he had dug up himself. By prayer he asked for rain in a time of drought and filled a stone vessel with oil for those in need. With Polychronius lived the disciple Moses, who followed the severity of his life. Another disciple, Damian, withdrew to the monastery called Hiera and had in his cell only a small box of lentils, from which he fed himself.

All of them reposed in peace, in the fifth century, in Syria. Saint Zebinas is commemorated on 8 March (a movable date, new style).