Zeno
Zeno is a supplier for the Legate of Antioch: he supplies the Roman troops in Judea and all the cohorts of the East. He is a man rich man. His network of contacts extends throughout the empire. Despite this trade, he harbors a deep hatred for the Romans in memory of what they did to his Homeland, Greece.
In Antioch, he is evangelized by Sintica, herself Greek. Ill, Zeno's wife is treated and healed by her thanks to the "balm of Mary". This preparation, given by the Virgin to Sintica, had already miraculously healed Demetes the sailor, the Cretan sailor. After the death of John of Endor, Sintica's exile companion, Zeno takes her into his home. He has four children: three daughters and one son.
On a business trip, Zeno comes to deliver a letter from Sintica to Jesus. On this occasion, he follows him on some journeys (Emmaus of Tiberias, Tarichea...) The miracle of the Galazia, a sinner woman, and the teaching of Jesus touch him. He feels exposed when Jesus says to him:
- "Your Soul is misshapen, dirty, serpentine, bitter, ignorant, Good that your intellect is Good different from that of a barbarian. But inside this sealed Temple, there is an altar that waits, like the one in the Areopagus, and it awaits the same thing. It awaits the God true."[1]
Zeno ends up publicly following Jesus.[2]
His name
Zeno is also the name of a Cypriot philosopher who founded Stoicism: Zeno of Citium.
Where is he mentioned in the work?
EMV 459 EMV 460 EMV 461 EMV 462 EMV 463 EMV 486
Learn more about this character
Orthodox tradition mentions a Zenas (equivalent to Zeno) as a disciple of Saint Paul, and one of the "70 Disciples" (Troparion, Volume 3). He would have been the first bishop of Lydda, in Palestine.
Celebrated on January 4 by the Orthodox, he is not listed in the Roman Martyrology.
Paul mentions him in his letter to Titus.[3] He is said to be knowledgeable of the laws.
His practice of international trade had no Doubt been of great help in the local contacts of the apostle, as well as his knowledge of the laws and customs in force in each region.