St Simeon Stylites the Younger
Categories: monasticism, feast-days, spiritual-writings
Date: 24 May 2008 03:14:47
Troparion - Tone 1:
O Dweller of the wilderness and angel in the body!
You were a wonder-worker, O our God-bearing Father Simeon!
You received Heavenly gifts
Through fasting, vigil and prayer:
Healing the sick and the souls of those drawn to you by faith.
Glory to Him who gave you strength!
Glory to Him who granted you a crown!
Glory to Him who through you grants healing to all!
Kontakion - Tone 2:
O holy one, you longed for the things of the Spirit,
Turning away from those of the world.
You built a tower in which you lived as in another Heaven,
Shining with the splendour of miracles;
And now, O Simeon, you ever pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls!
Today is the Feast Day of St Simeon Stylites the Younger. The Stylites were Christian ascetics who built pillars and stood on them, lived on them even, where they prayed, fasted and preached. St Simeon [the Elder] is probably the best known of these Christian Saints.
From a worldly point of view, and I would even say from the point of view of many Christians, it's a pretty odd thing to do -- building a pillar and living your life up there. But there is something about the "madness" of these ascetics that has appealed to me ever since I heard of them. I have no desire to build a pillar and live atop it, but I can only have admiration for those who decided that, as an act of mortification against the flesh and the passions, that they would live out their lives in such extreme conditions.
I also find it interesting that, while they no doubt wanted to live a solitary life, they did, by natural curiosity and word-of-mouth, have many visitors: and, by means of a ladder, their disciples and those who had travelled to hear / see them, would be permitted to ascend the pillar and hear the words of wisdom the Stylite Saints would give. Preaching was also addressed to those below, and in the case of St Simeon the Elder, despite his austere life his sermons conveyed compassion and common-sense.
The Stylites, among many Saints, are also known for their many miracles of healing.
Through the prayers of St Simeon, and all the Stylites, Lord have mercy on us and save us. Amen.