Simeon Stylites the Younger

Saint Simeon Stylites the Younger, also called Simeon of the Wondrous Mountain, was a sixth-⁠century ascetic who spent most of his life on a pillar near Antioch. The Church remembers him as a spiritual father and wonderworker, honoured even in his lifetime.

He was born at Antioch in 521. His father, John, came from Edessa, and his mother, Martha, is also venerated as a saint (4 July). When Simeon was six his father died in an earthquake. The child went to a monastery on a mountain near Seleucia and joined a community of ascetics gathered around the stylite John, who became his guide. While still a boy he had a pillar raised for himself near John's; in a letter to Thomas, keeper of the Holy Cross at Jerusalem, he says he was living on a pillar when his first teeth fell out. On the occasion of one of his moves to a new pillar, the patriarch of Antioch and the bishop of Seleucia ordained him deacon, during the short time he stood on the ground. For eight years he stayed beside John's pillar, so near that they could speak to one another.

After his teacher's death Simeon increased his labours. His life involved strict fasting, water and soaked lentils, and tradition speaks of fearful temptations from demons followed by consolation from God. From sunrise until the afternoon he read and copied Holy Scripture. He was ordained priest and served the Divine Liturgy; his disciples climbed the ladder one by one to receive Communion from his hand. He is said to have had the gift of healing and of knowing the thoughts of others; the historian Evagrius, who visited him for counsel, testifies to this. Even his icons are said to have brought healing. Patriarch Ephraim of Antioch visited him, and the emperor Maurice held him in great esteem.

In 541 he moved to the Wondrous Mountain near Antioch, where his disciples later built a monastery. According to some accounts he lived on the final pillar for the last forty-⁠five years, in all about sixty-⁠eight years on pillars, and preached from it. His writings include thirty homilies on self-⁠control and the struggle against the passions, two letters to the emperors Justinian and Justin II (the one to Justin, on punishing the rebellious Samaritans, is cited in the acts of the Seventh Ecumenical Council), and hymns and troparia on the earthquake. His life was written by his disciple Arcadius, later bishop of Cyprus, and by Nikephoros Ouranos.

The saint reposed in 596 (other accounts say 592 or 597), at about the age of seventy-⁠five. The place remained a pilgrimage site until the thirteenth century. The Church celebrates him on 24 May.