Zoticus of Constantinople, feeder of orphans, presbyter, hieromartyr
Dates of commemoration
Life
The Hieromartyr Zoticus, Protector of Orphans, an illustrious and rich Roman, was in the service of Saint Constantine the Great (306-337). When the emperor transferred the capital from Rome to Constantinople, Zoticus also moved there. Soon, however, spurning worldly honors, Zoticus was ordained to the holy priesthood, and he began to provide for the destitute and orphaned in his own home. Then, receiving funds from Saint Constantine, he built a place of treatment for the sick, a shelter for the homeless, where he took in those afflicted with leprosy, rescuing them from the soldiers, who had been ordered to drown them in the sea.
When Saint Constantine’s son, Constantius (337-361), an adherent of the Arian heresy, succeeded his father, Saint Zoticus was accused of receiving a large sum of money from the deceased emperor. When asked about this, Zoticus showed the emperor the homeless and sick home he had built. Constantius became angry, for he thought that Zoticus had purchased jewels with the money received from his father, and he wanted them back.
He ordered Saint Zoticus to be tied to wild mules, which dragged the saint over the stones. His whole body was lacerated, and the saint gave up his soul to God. A stream of pure water sprang forth at the place of his death, from which many received healing.
Source:
https://oca.org/saints/lives/2016/12/30/103692-martyr-zoticus-the-keeper-of-orphans
Holy relic type
unless specified otherwise below, "holy relic" means a fragment of a bone of the saint
Holy relic
Location of the holy relic in the Cathedral:
Relics cabinet in the Altar sacristy, reliquary #12
Troparion
Общий тропарь преподобному, глас 1:
Пустынный житель и в телеси Ангел / и чудотворец явился еси, богоносе отче наш (имярек), / постом, бдением, молитвою Небесная дарования приим, / исцеляеши недужныя и души верою притекающих ти. / Слава Давшему ти крепость, / слава Венчавшему тя, / слава Действующему тобою всем исцеления.
Иный тропарь, глас 8:
В тебе, отче, известно спасеся еже по образу: / приим бо Крест, последовал еси Христу, / и дея учил еси презирати убо плоть, преходит бо, / прилежати же о души, вещи безсмертней, / темже и со Ангелы срадуется, преподобне(имярек), дух твой.
Kontakion
Кондак священномученика Зотика, глас 2
За любовь Христову, преподобне, нищия возлюбив,/ и сих удоволил еси,/ и Небесное богатство ныне восприял еси, Зотике пребогате./ Сего ради вси тя почитаем,/ совершающе память твою.