Thursday, 24 May 2018

# Saints

Saint Simeon Stylites the Younger

mage: St. Simeon Stylites the Younger (orthodox icon)

The 24th of May is the feast day of Saint Simeon Stylites the Younger (521 – May 24, 592). He is also known as Saint Simeon of the Admirable Mountain (Arabic: مار سمعان العمودي الأصغر mār semʻān l-ʻamūdī l-asghar).

Saint Simeon Stylites the Younger was born in Antioch in Syria which is the present-day Turkey. Simeon wanted to live a life of penance and austerity due to his great love for God. His mother, Martha is also a saint. He became attached to a monastery of hermits as a young boy and their spiritual director, John lived on top of a tall pillar, also known as a style. The holy hermits who lived on top of the styles, were known as stylites. Saint Simeon the Younger imitated John and stayed on another smaller pillar close to his. Saint Simeon had three different pillars during his life time, each one higher than the next until he died. His last pillar was 12 meters high. He was ordained a deacon and a priest and his disciples would climb a ladder to receive Holy Communion from him. Saint Simeon worked many miracles and he was known for his great sanctity. Many people from distant countries would come for his blessings, cures, prophesies and to hear his spiritual advice. After he died, his pilar was a place of pilgrimage and its ruins still exist today.

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