Martha of Cappadocia

Saint Martha of Cappadocia was the mother of the Venerable Simeon the Stylite. She and her husband, Susotion, lived as Christians in the village of Sisan in Cappadocia. God blessed their marriage with a son, whom they named Simeon and, according to Christian custom, baptized. The Azbyka page tells of Martha only these things and the event at the end of her life, but gives no date of her death; the year 459 in the saint's file is the year of Simeon's death.

Simeon was born in the region of Syrian Antioch in the middle of the fourth century, of poor parents, tended his father's sheep, spent years in monastic struggle, then withdrew to the Syrian desert and began a new form of ascetic labour, the stylite life. He lived on a high pillar, praying almost without ceasing. His fame spread to many lands, and on the pillar people sought him from Arabia, Persia, Armenia, Georgia, Italy, Spain and Britain. He received the gift of healing and of foresight, the emperor Theodosius II honoured him, and the emperor Marcian, on his advice, convened the Fourth Ecumenical Council at Chalcedon in 451. Saint Simeon lived over a hundred years and died in prayer in the year 459.

After many years Simeon's mother, Martha, learned of her son, came to see him and, stopping at the entrance of the enclosure around the pillar, wept much. Simeon did not wish to see her and sent word: "Do not disturb me now, mother; if we are worthy, we shall see each other in the world beyond." She wished still more to see him, and the saint again sent her the request to wait a little in silence. Martha lay down before the door of the enclosure and there gave up her spirit to the Lord. Simeon learned of her death at once and ordered the body brought beside the pillar. Seeing his mother, he began to pray for her with tears. During the prayer movements were seen in the body of Saint Martha and a smile appeared on her face, and those who saw it marvelled and glorified God. She was buried beside the pillar, and the saint remembered his mother in prayer every day, twice. Soon after, the saint's pillar was exchanged for a new one, of forty cubits, on which he stood to his blessed end.

She is commemorated on 14 September, in the new style, on the day of the Venerable Simeon the Stylite.