On October 30, the name day is celebrated by all those who bear its name Zoran, Zorica, Zorka, Zornitsa.
On this day, the church honors San Zinovio and his sister, Santa Zinovia. S. Zinovius and his sister San Zinovius lived in the third century. They spent their lives in the Cilician city of Aeg or Egei. Their parents were pious people. He raised them in the Christian faith. They were orphaned early on. Their youth was spent in alms to the poor and in a holy life. Zinovy received the gift of miracles from God. He healed the sick through prayer and the laying on of hands. Soon his upbringing, his miracles and his virtues made him famous throughout the Cilician region. The Aegean Christians elected him bishop.
San Zinovio zealously fulfilled his duties as bishop. He successfully taught his flock by word and example. During Diocletian’s persecution, the imperial dignitary Lysias went to the city of Aegean to persuade Christians to renounce their faith. The brothers Claudio, Asterio, Neon and their sister Teonilla suffered martyrdom for Christ. It was Zinovy and Zinovy’s turn. Lysias called the bishop.
“I won’t talk to you for long,” Lisio told him. – Choose one of the two: life or death! Life – if you worship our gods. Death – if you don’t renounce your God!
– Life without Christ is death! Bishop Zanovius answered firmly. – And bodily death for Christ is eternal life. I want to die here and live forever with Christ God in heaven!
– Let’s see if your Christ will help you! said the dignitary and ordered the bishop to be beaten severely. The cruel tortures began. When she learned that her brother was suffering for Christ, Zinovia ran to court. She stopped in front of the executioner and shouted in a loud voice: -I am a Christian! As my brother I confess the Lord God! I confess the Savior of the world.
After looking impressively at the dignitary, Zinovia continued: – Order them to torture me too. I want to die the same death as my brother. Lysias began to exhort the young woman. He tried to get her to renounce her faith. It represented for her all the horror and disgrace of a death sentence in front of all the people. Zinovia remained adamant.
Then the angry pagan ordered that she and her brother be placed on an iron coffin, under which they would light a fire. And this order has been fulfilled. – Well, does your Christ help you? – Lysius mockingly asked the martyrs, ridiculing their faith.
“He is unknowingly with us,” Saint Zinovy replied.
– He refreshes us with the dew of his grace and we do not feel the torture – added sister Zinovia.
By order of the furious Roman dignitary, the martyrs were removed from the coffin and thrown into a cauldron of boiling tar. Here too they remained unharmed and sang a song of praise to God. They were sentenced to death. The martyrs joyfully went to the place where they would be put to death. Along the way they prayed:
– We thank you, Lord, for honoring us to commit ourselves to a good enterprise, to finish the road, to keep the faith. Make us partakers of your glory and number us among those who are favorable to you, because you are good forever! The holy martyr Zinovius and his blessed sister Zinavia were killed with a sword. A voice from heaven called them to eternal life and imperishable crowns. With joy they surrendered their souls to God. This happened in the year 285.
