11 works, Today, September 1st, is Simeon Stylites' day, his story illustrated #244

Unknown artist

Simeon Stylites, end of 6th century

Gilded silver

Height: 26.9 cm; width: 25.5 cm

Louvre museum, Paris, France

Simeon Stylites was a Syriac ascetic saint who achieved notability for living 37 years on a small platform on top of a pillar near Aleppo. The Greek word style means "pillar". He is known formally as Simeon Stylites the Elder.

Simeon was born in Sis, in the Roman province of Cilicia. After the division of the Roman Empire in 395 A.D., Cilicia became part of the Eastern Roman Empire. 

Unknown artist

Saint Symeon the Stylite

I have no further description, at this time

Simeon developed a zeal for Christianity at the age of 13, following a reading of the Beatitudes; eight blessings recounted by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. He entered a monastery before the age of 16. But his brethren judged him to be unsuited to any form of community life. They asked Simeon to leave the monastery.

Unknown artist

Simeon on the slopes of Sheik Barakat Mountain

I have no further description, at this time

He shut himself up in a hut for one and a half years. After one and a half years in his hut, Simeon sought a rocky eminence on the slopes of Sheik Barakat Mountain. He chose to live within a narrow space, less than 20 meters in diameter. But crowds of pilgrims invaded the area to seek him out, asking his counsel or his prayers, and leaving him insufficient time for his own devotions. This eventually led him to adopt a new way of life.

In order to get away from the ever-increasing number of people who came to him for prayers and advice, leaving him little if any time for his private austerities, Simeon discovered a pillar among ruins in nearby aladah in Syria, and formed a small platform at the top. 

Unknown artist

Simeon; a bread delivery

I have no further description, at this time

Unknown artist, Made in Syria

Relief of a Stylite Saint, 5th–6th century

Basalt

33 1/4 x 29 15/16 x 7 5/16 in. (84.5 x 76 x 18.5 cm)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

The bearded stylite saint in monk’s garb sits atop his column as a dove, a messenger of God, places a wreath over his hood. One of his followers climbs a ladder, swinging a censer to help evoke his aid. Found near Qal‘at Sem‘an, the saint may be Saint Symeon the Elder whose pilgrimage site there drew the devout from across the ancient world, including Ghassanid Arab Christians who protected the Byzantine borders in the region. More on this work

For sustenance small boys from the nearby village would climb up the pillar and pass him parcels of flat bread and goats' milk. He may also have pulled up food in buckets via a pulley.

Burges, William A.R.A., born 1827 - died 1881

St. Simeon Stylites, c. 1861

Drawing

 Victoria and Albert Museum, London

The work illustrates a poem by Tennyson about a 5th-century Syrian saint who lived on a small platform on top of a pillar for 37 years.

William Burges, (born Dec. 2, 1827, London, Eng.—died April 20, 1881, London), one of England’s most notable Gothic Revival architects, a critic, and an arbiter of Victorian taste.

During Burges’s apprenticeship he studied medieval architecture, visiting the Continent to gain firsthand impressions. In 1856 he received the first award in an international competition for the Cathedral of Lille, France. He designed the Cathedral of Brisbane, Australia, in 1859 and in 1862 St. Finbar’s Cathedral of the Church of Ireland in Cork.

In 1864 Burges met the man who would be his most important patron: the passionate medievalist John Patrick Crichton Stuart, 3rd marquess of Bute. In 1865 Burges started an extensive restoration of Cardiff Castle for the marquess; he made many extensions to the existing residential apartments and directed an elaborate scheme of interior decoration, and he worked on the project until his death. In 1875 he began a similar project at nearby Castle Coch, also at the direction of his patron. Burges adopted the Victorian Gothic style for his own home (Tower House) in London (1875–80). A fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects and an associate of the Royal Academy, he wrote architectural treatises and published (1870) his drawings. More on William Burges

Unknown artist

Simeon , ca. 1800

Russian icon

17.5 x 13.2 cm
I have no further description, at this time

The first pillar that Simeon occupied was little more than 3 meters (10 ft). He later moved his platform to others, the last in the series reportedly more than 15 meters (50 ft) from the ground. At the top of the pillar was a platform, which is believed to have been about one square meter and surrounded by a balustrade.

Unknown artist

Saint Simon Stylites the elder stands in a pulpit

I have no further description, at this time

Saint Simon Stylites the elder stands in a pulpit at the top of a column, curing the people below him with his blessing. Below left, a man (epileptic?) being released from possession by a devil (the devil is flying out of his mouth); below right, a crippled man with a crutch, a woman with a baby in swaddling clothes, and a priest. More on this work

The new pillar attracted even more people, both pilgrims who had earlier visited him and sightseers as well. Simeon was available each afternoon to talk with visitors. By means of a ladder, visitors were able to ascend within speaking distance. He preached against profanity and usury. In contrast to the extreme austerity that he practised, his preaching conveyed temperance and compassion, and was marked with common sense and freedom from fanaticism.

Unknown artist

Holy Emperor Theodosius II

I have no further description, at this time

Reports of Simeon reached the church hierarchy and the imperial court. The Emperor Theodosius II and his wife Aelia Eudocia greatly respected the Simeon and listened to his counsels, while the Emperor Leo I paid respectful attention to a letter he sent in favour of the Council of Chalcedon. Simeon is also said to have corresponded with Genevieve of Paris.

Unknown artist, French school of the early 17th century

St. Genevieve as patroness of Paris, between circa 1615 and circa 1625

Musée Carnavalet, Paris

I have no further description, at this time

Patriarch Domninos II of Antioch visited the monk, and celebrated the Divine Liturgy on the pillar.

A double wall was raised around him to keep the crowd of people from coming too close and disturbing his prayerful concentration. Women, in general, were not permitted beyond the wall, not even his own mother, reportedly telling her, "If we are worthy, we shall see one another in the life to come." 

Unknown artist

Saint Martha, Mother of Saint Symeon the Stylite

I have no further description, at this time

She submitted to this, remaining in the area, and embraced the monastic life of silence and prayer. When she died, Simeon asked that her coffin be brought to him. He reverently bade farewell to his dead mother.

Simeon spent 37 years upon the pillar. He died on 2 September 459. A disciple found his body stooped over in prayer. The Patriarch of Antioch, Martyrios performed the funeral of the monk before a huge throng of clergy and people. They buried him not far from the pillar.

Unfortunately, on May 12, 2016 the pillar within the church took a hit from a missile. More on Simeon Stylites

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