Zosima of Kalutia

Holy Martyr Zosima of Kalutia (Kalita) was a blacksmith in the village of Kalita and suffered in Asia Minor, in the time of Diocletian (284-305), together with his brothers Alexander and Alphaeus.

The shepherd Mark had been seized near Antioch of Pisidia for his open confession of the faith. Thirty soldiers who seized him were turned to the faith by him and were beheaded at Nicaea, and Mark was handed over to torments. To make the instruments of torture, three brothers who were blacksmiths from the village of Kalita, Alexander, Alphaeus and Zosima, were summoned, but the iron would not yield but melted, and the smiths' hands went numb. Hearing a voice that called them to suffer together with Mark, the brothers believed in Christ. After heavy torments molten tin was poured down their throats (28 September). Mark was beheaded after tortures at Claudiopolis (21 September); when his head was brought into the temple of Artemis, all the idols fell and were shattered. The witnesses of the miracle, Nicon, Neon and Heliodorus, together with maidens and boys, believed in Christ, confessed their faith and died as martyrs at Maromilia (13 July).

Saint Zosima is commemorated on 11 October, in the new style, together with his brothers and the other martyrs.