5th century
Venerable Gerasimus of the Jordan
An ascetic from Lycia who in the 5th century founded a lavra near the River Jordan and, according to tradition, was accompanied by a tame lion.
Biography
Gerasimus was born in Lycia in the 5th century and from a young age devoted himself to monastic life. According to tradition, he was drawn for a time to Monophysite teaching but was corrected after advice from the ascetic Euthymius and returned to Orthodox belief.
In 451 he became a monk in the Jordan desert and later founded a monastery there, as many disciples gathered around him. He lived with strict restraint in food and sleep. According to tradition he was accompanied by a lion he had tamed, which served him by carrying water. He died at the end of the 5th century.