We have many saints who are in peaceful relations with dangerous animals. There is a Catholic Saint whose life is associated with a lion. Saint Gerasimos, the abbot, happened to heal a lion.
Gerasimos, a fifth-century abbot, lived with seventy monks in the desert east of Jericho, a mile from the River Jordan. They led a simple lifestyle, slept on mats made of reeds, had cells without doors, and observed silence, except during common prayer. Their food consisted chiefly of water, dates, and bread. Gerasimos has been living a life of penance in reparation for his sinful life as a youth, under the influence of certain heretic group. He used to eat very little, just enough for keeping him alive.
One day, while walking along the Jordan, Gerasimos happened to see a lion roaring in pain and agony because a large splinter pierced one of its paws. Overcome with compassion for the suffering beast, Gerasimos removed the splinter, drained and cleaned the wound, and bandaged. The lion, instead of returning to its cave, accompanied the monk to the monastery and became the abbot’s devoted pet. The whole community was amazed at the lion’s calm and peaceful behavior and feeding on bread and vegetables.
In the monastery, the lion was entrusted with a special task of guarding the donkey that was pasturing along the Jordan. But one day, the donkey strayed back, and was stolen by a passing trader while the lion happened to sleep for a while. After the unsuccessful search the lion returned to the monastery, with its head hanging low. The inmates of the monastery assumed that the lion had killed and devoured the donkey. As a punishment, the lion was asked to do all the jobs the donkey has been doing, like carrying water each day from the river to the monastery in four earthen jars.
Months later, it happened that the trader was coming along the Jordan with the stolen donkey and three camels. The lion recognized the donkey and frightened the trader. Later, taking its lead rope in his jaws, the lion led the donkey back to the monastery with the camels following behind. The monks realized their mistake, became ashamed of misjudging the lion. The same day Gerasimos gave the lion a new name: Jordanes, for the river.
For five more years, the lion continued to be part of the monastery. When his master passed away, Jordanes lay down on the grave, roaring with grief and beating his head against the ground. Finally, Jordanes rolled over and died at the last resting place of Gerasimos.
The traditional icon of Saint Gerasimos focuses on an event of physical contact between a monk and a lion.