Orthodox Icon of St. Gerasimus

Saint Gerasimus of the Jordan COPYRIGHTED ART. Do not copy or deep-link to without prior permission from "Come and See" Icons, Books & Art.

March 4th
Troparion (Tone 1)
Thou didst shine as a desert dweller, a summit of ascetics and a reflection of the angelic life; thou wast made radiant with the light of the Spirit, O Gerasimus, adornment of the righteous. Therefore thou healest unfailingly those who cry: Glory to Him Who has strengthened thee; glory to Him Who has crowned thee; glory to Him Who through thee works healings for all.

Kontakion (Tone 4)
Aflame with heavenly love thou didst prefer the desert's hardship to all the pleasures of the world. Wherefore a wild creature served thee and became obedient till death. God glorified thee with signs and miracles: in thy prayers remember us also, O Godbearing Father Gerasimus.

St. Gerasimus became a monk in the Egyptian Thebaid, then went into the Jordan valley to found a community of about 70 monks with a particularly strict rule of asceticism. He once saw a lion roaring in pain because of a thorn in its paw. The saint blessed himself with the sign of the Cross, then approached the lion and removed the thorn. The lion was immediately tame and followed Gerasimus to the monastery. He remained there until Gerasimus died. Then he died of illness. St. Gerasimus was at the 4th Ecumenical Council in Chalchedon, 451. He at first leaned toward the Monophysite heresy, but was persuaded of the truth by St. Euthymius, and was a great champion of Orthodoxy at the council. He reposed in 475. His scroll reads: "A wild animal has obedience in the Name of the Lord."

This Icon is by the hand of Arlene Tilghman.

Order # ati-04