THE LIFE OF ABBA ZACHAIOS OF HOLY SION
Procopios the lawyer, who came from Porphyreéa, told us this about Abba Zachaios: There was a deadly plague in Caesarea, and I was very worried that my children might die. I did not know what to do. Should I send and bring them home? No man can flee from the wrath of God. Should I leave them there? They might die without me seeing them. Not knowing what was best to be done, I said: “I will go to Abba Zachaios, and whatever he says, that will I do.”
So I went to Holy Sion, which is where he was always to be found, but I did not find him. I came into the inner court of the Church of Saint Mary the Mother of God, and there I found him, standing in a corner of the court. I told him about my sons. When he heard this, he turned towards the east and continued reaching up towards heaven for about two hours without saying a word. Then he turned towards me and said: “Take heart and do not be distraught: your children shall not die in the plague. In fact, two days from now, the plague shall abate in Caesarea.” And it came about as the elder foretold.