Background
Simeon Stylites was born in Sis, now the Turkish town of Kozan in Adana Province. Sis was in the Roman province of Cilicia.
Simeon Stylites was born in Sis, now the Turkish town of Kozan in Adana Province. Sis was in the Roman province of Cilicia.
A shepherd, Simeon entered a monastic community, but, because of his excessive austerities, he was expelled and became a hermit. His reputed miracle-working generated popular veneration to such a degree that, about 420, to escape the importunities of the people, he began his pillar life northwest of Aleppo. His first column was 6 feet (2 m) high, later extended to about 50 feet (15 m). He remained atop the column until his death, permanently exposed to the elements, standing or sitting day and night in his restricted area, protected from falling by a railing, and provided with a ladder to communicate with those below or to receive meagre gifts of food from disciples. Eventually his pillar became a pilgrimage site. Visitors sought spiritual counsel, relief from sickness, intervention for the oppressed, and enlightenment in prayer and doctrine. Simeon apparently converted many people, and he influenced the Eastern Roman emperor Leo I to support the orthodox Chalcedonian party during the 5th-century controversy over the nature of Christ. Simeon’s reputation inspired ascetics, both men and women, to emulate and surpass his austerities, some stylites appearing as late as the 19th century in Russia. His feast is January 5.
Simeon inspired many imitators. For the next century, ascetics living on pillars, stylites, were a common sight throughout the Christian Levant.
He is commemorated as a saint in the Coptic Orthodox Church, where his feast is on 29 Pashons. He is commemorated 1 September by the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches, and 5 January in the Roman Catholic Church.
