Zeno of Gaza

Abba Zeno of Gaza was one of the Desert Fathers quoted in the Apophthegmata Patrum (Sayings of the Desert Fathers).

Quotes

Wortley, John (2014). Give Me a Word: The Alphabetical Sayings of the Desert Fathers. Yonkers, New York: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. ISBN 978-0-88141-497-4. 

• Abba Zeno, the disciple of the blessed Silvanus, said: “Do not dwell in a famous location or stay with a person of renown, and do not ever lay a foundation so you can build yourself a cell.”
  • Saying 1

• They used to say of Abba Zeno that when he was staying at Scete he came out of his cell by night meaning to go to the marsh but he lost his way; he spent three days and three nights walking around. Exhausted, he became faint and fell down to die.
  Then there stood before him a youth with bread and a bottle of water. “Get up and eat,” he said to him.
  Up he got and prayed, under the impression that it was a vision but, in response, the other said to him: “Well done,” so he prayed again a second time and likewise a third and he said to him: “Well done,” so the elder got up, took, and ate.
  After that [the youth] said to him: “The more you walked around, the further you were from your cell, but get up and follow me.”
  Immediately he found himself at his cell, so the elder said to him: “Come in and offer a prayer for us.”
  When the elder went in the [youth] disappeared.
  • Saying 5